The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-09
England md Franco in West Africa.
Thomas Gibson Bowles. NJ r., in the
Forum

.S''is@s W. III inc
Forum.
The aims OF the French colonial party
are, In truth. most ambitious and far
reaching. They dream OF a French en-
pire extending over the whole Of North
ern Africa, from the Mediterranean To
the Congo. and from Senegambla to the
Red Sea: and so high do their fantastic
RANCHES run. tina. they seriously affect to
look TO the day when ST. Louis on ina
Senegal. connected with Algeria by rail-
way, shall become the one great entire
rot for all the seaborne produce destined
FOR Europe, OF South America and the
racine. These are the unbr!dled exag-
gerations OF the enthusiasts: but there
Is solid ground for the BELLE that even
practical statesmen in France have con-
ce'ved, and are even now ATTEMPTING to
carry out, plans scarcely less ambitious
plans which aim at nothing less than
the extension OF French dominion from
the southwestern limits OF Algeria in a
direct line OF a thousand miles to Cape
Bianco, and a similar extension from
Senegambia eastward. by Timbuctoo and
the northern and eastern shores of Lake
Tchad, TO join up with the French Congo.
vast region on the northern and west
ern banks OF the river bearing that name.
The effect OF this stupendous movement.
were n to be carried out would be To in
close between French territory and the sea
Morocco, upon which France has long
been believed TO have designs, and on the
other side, 10 inciose similarly between
French territory and the sea the posses
sions Of all other countries on the Guinea
coast
The scheme Is one well fitted 10 strike
the French ma2ina'icn: but II could not
he carried out. could scarce indeed be NJ.
tempted, without an intoleran.e strain
uroH the resources Of France such as
cou,dly hardly for long he endured. For
X IL TO hs remembered that. In all but n
few cases, the so~eailed colonies Of France
are not profitable colonies, or indeed col-
ontes at all. but only costly and unrroa,-
able chains OF military stations. Their
plan and purpose Is not commercial. bur
political, their end and object liz less gain
than glory: and their Immediate use
and importance re IN this rather than in
aught else, viz. thag they tend to an1uae
and satisfy the French people al home.
who otherwise might become disseminated
or night even look TOO keenly toward
that Rhine ny which their lost provinces
lie. hut which II Il 4 condition 90 the So
called Russian alliance thar they rnnst
not 81 present SO nluch sc think about
Nor could 70 wei he different with 4
stationary. If rot diminishing. r0pti.atfon.
France has no spare sors 10 send cat 80
form colonies a1a inhsh.t them. Tho
Frsnchmen IN her colonies are not sturdy
pioneers who intend 20 make their home
I'm tire country and whose fortunes are
bound mp with r. together with a few
sad. enforced exiies whose one thought
IS regret for their dear Paris and whose
one ambition is 10 return a. soon rs NAV
he 10 the unmatched delights OF the Bou-
levard des Capgcices Such trade az
there Is is due 10 the artificial fostering
OF Il severely exclusive tariff. and such
navigation as exists IS carried on BY lines
OF vessels barely Kept aaoat by extrav-
sgart subsidies Yet, however dlsapr>o.r.-
,g me balance eheet cf she colony, how
ever paipaS,e It's Improbable character
however costly IN men ard money .ts
maintenance, the belief Is general IN
Franee that a great material result has
been attained if oaiy the nofartous fo--
.s-rer and his poisonous merchandise car
be kepf out-fuoss especially the parsie-
uiarly poisonous merchandise Of the par
tgaulariy nefarious English.