Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-21
JOHNNY AND JOHN.

Advicss from both Paris and
London state that the Fashoda in
oident is by no means closed. A goodly
portion Of the French press is very de-
FAINT touching the matter, and England
has put her foot down with resounding
thud which. we are told, means that she
purposes to stand on her rights, or
Egypts rights. in the premises at all
hazards.
At North Shields Wednesday afternoon
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, British Chan
cellor Of the Exchequer, made an address,
in which he stated, in so many words
that Great Britain would go to war over
the issue. If need be, and the Paris cor
respondent of the London Standard sums
up French sentiment regarding the case
in these words: IF England keeps on
saying that Marchand must go France
will reply that Marchand will stay, and
If he be removed forcibly, there can be
little doubt as to what the consequences
will be-" In the mean time, France is
pushing war preparations. Extraordi-
nary activity reigns at her arsenals war
materials are being rushed aboard OF her
naval vessels. and French naval officers
on leave Of absence have been ordered
TO return TO their ships. On the face of
things. it would seem that the situation
is acute. and that John Bull and johnny
Crapaud are about to grapple in a death
struggle again.
But the fact is, that nothing is more
improbable than that France and Great
Britain Will get at each others threats
over the Fashoda question. on both sides
of the channel the issue is being pushed
prominently to the fore "for home con-
sumption" When Kitchener found Mar
chand at Fashoda, Lord Salisbury could
not say less than he did say in defining
the claims and policy of Great Britain
regarding the territory in which Mar
chand had established himself His de-
claration struck the popular key and
little. later Lord Rosebery. the Liberal
leader, and former Liberal Premier.
seized his opportunity 10 so bow-shot
beyond Salisbury in laying down the law
that would guide Great Britain in the
tangle. Rosebery's aggressive speech-his
challenge 10 France, as IL was termed
by some-evoked even more hearty Ie-
Spouse from the masses than Salisbury's
declaration, and, therefore. 1t was ma
tural that when Sir Michael Hicks Beach,
a prominent member of the government,
came TO treat the subject he went bow
shot beyond Rosebery. 1T was natural
that he should have sought TO take out
OF tho sail of the Liberals whatever wind
Rosebery's challenge" might have taken
out Of the sail of his own party.
10 AS to France, the Fashoda issue as is
well known, is only one Of a combination
of issues, the agitation Of which has pro-
ducod dangerous internal conditions. and
is tending TO weaken the government. II
II can DO segregated from the combina-
ton. 80 as To divert public atten-
ton 10 it TO tho subordination
OF the other questions. and at the same
time the people can be led to believe that
IL is proposed TO deal with it firmly, the
government will be in much better posi-
ton 20 cope with the home situation.
With the French nation there is nothing
like new excitement for changing the
current OF evonts and the drift OF senti-
mSnt In view OF this, the virtual adj
mission that France has heretofore made
OF the business OF Great Bntain's Fasho-
Ga claim. and the Continental compn-
cations that ought 10 deter France from
entering upon war with her trans
channel neishbor, II is logical to conclude
that the French war preparations ara
intended only as Il tub ts a whale "
therefore. SIN opsn though 1t may be.
there IL little reason to believe that the
Fashoda incident is destined 10 prove
the Pandoras box som. OF the foreign
correspondents would seem 10 fear.
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Pittsburg special. in announcing the
closing OF the German National Rant 90