The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-14
FRANCE AND THE Beers.
The Reasons Why Frcnchmen Take
Sides Against England

| doubt that in a general way. for S1me time
past. public opinion in France has shown
ltselt little disposed TO favor the English
II is evident that there is no open rivalry.
Serious persons know how to render due
homage to the great qualities of the Eng
| fish race. but the time OF our entente
cordisle" with France seems to be past.
The sentiments OF the French nation mani
fest themselves with much clearness and
energy with respect to South African
affairs.
Quite apart from the general misunder-
standings. which contribute to maintain
between the two nations a disagreeable
state of friction. it appears that various
reasons. either resulting from the French
character itself or from immediate molest-
| ing interests. suffice to explain the atti-
tude of the French people That people.
| and IL 1t be one of its weaknesses. it is
also one of its glories. by instinct always
| espouses the side OF the weaker against
the strong. This is sentiment that COM
bines both generosity and raillery. The
| Frenchman is pleased to see the small
| chastise the mighty. and mocks at the
strong when he is vanquished by the weak.
| There is no malice about it. it is simply
a trait of the national character. which
is often more generous than calculating.
( One may observe. in fact. that of all the
manifestations in France in favor of the
! Beers. Frenchmen showed themselves
| rather amused spectators than active enc
| mics to the English.
As in the fable of the Lion and the
| Flea" one smiles to see the iniinitesimal
| insect escaping the angry assaults of the
king Of beasts and forcing the latter to
| retreat ingloriuGsly.
When it is also taken into considera
ton that right and justice seem to be on
| the side of the Beers. whatever may be
the casuistic subleties with which the con-
trary view is presented. it will be under
stood that French sympathies should be
with the Beer Army rather than with the
British troops. But it is right TO remark
| that, IL numerous criticisms have appeared
in the French papers, or have been evil
dent in the conversation of French people
as TO the attitude OF the War Office in
London. or against the tactics of the gem
erals. every one is unanimous in render
ing homage to the bravery of the English
soldiers. This proves that there is no es-
pecial hatred against the English nation.
but rather spirit of irritation against
the Government, and against certain poll
ticians and Spectators in London.
II should not be forgotten. either. that
very large French financial interests are
involved in the Transvaal. At different
times some persons have been disposed to
think that an English victory would have
been advantageous to those interests.
They have since discovered their mistake.
The English have not hestated to say
that II they proved victors the gold mines
would be made to pay all the expenses of
the war. In view of this declaration IL
would be difficult to see why the numerous
shareholders in the gold mines should
wish for the defeat of the Beers. The
triumph of the English would necessarily
prove prejudicial to their interests. and
the majority OF them have already come
to realize this fact.
Thus. then. reasons of sentiment nat
ural to the character of the people. as we'll
as reasons of interest and profound con-
viction. induce Freuchmen to espOuSe in
this question the cause of right against
an unjust aggression. Such are surely
the motives that have influenced French
opinion In taking sides in this affair
against England. And IL should not be
forgotten that the French attitude is cor
roborated by almost the unanimous public
opinion Of Europe.
Without exception. Frenchmen have no
wish to embitter England's dispute. On
the contrary. they recognize il as their
duty and interest TO use every effort to
bring about peace. and TO further such an
agreement between the contestants as
would safeguard the rights and interests
of both. The French nation believes that |
no reDroach could with fairness be laid |
upon Der OF acting or feeling in this Trans !
vaal matter except in good faith and the |
strictest iinpartiality.
IL. ~
abusive Intervention OF the English press
in French affairs Of a distinctly internal
character sravely irrtated vast part Of
the French population. Nor can 1t be de- !
ried that the restless ambition Cf the Lon !
don Cabinet in colonial matters. and par
ticulariy in one such incident in which |
France had exceptional rights to feel at |
fronted without referring at all to Egyp- !
tian questlonsD has frequently accumulated I
and aggravated British disputes with !
French diplomats. All this naturally /
creates spirit OF irritation among French !
men that Is hardly conducive TO the devel- !
cpment Of national sympathy for Eng !
land. Nevertheless, however. France re- |
tains many memories of the former cor
dial relations that existed with the country !
across the Channel. Individual relations |
between Frenchmsu and EngIishmen re- /
main cordial. and the stories that represent /
f.iiRliSU iitu anu huultH Us ufluE ihSuiteu
in the streets OF Paris and other French /
cities are Infamous calumnies. IF anything I
else were needed to disprove them the |
Traditional courtesy OF the Gallic race i
should alone suffice.
Whatever. therefore. may he said con-
corning the attitude CT France with respect |
to the Transyaal war. the fact remains that /
French public opinion is actuated by no
specific hostility toaard Great Britain. but
fheT h.,
side in the International quarrel impresses
fair minded Frenehmen as the one that is
right and just.
Brynn aud SchIcH.
To the Editor OF The Tines:
Would it weaken Bryan TO pu: A,miisl schley
on the ticket with him. ". II. H.
On the contrary. it should strengthen
him. Admiral Schley is one of the most
popular men in the country. The trouble is
that he does not agree with Mr.. Bryan OIL