The age-herald., 1901-02-26
FRANCE IS LOOKING TO AMERICAN COAL FIELDS

discharged without protest months pre- viously; others yet. most original of all, ship builders of St. Nazalre, struck be- cause they considered the time allowed for midday meal too long, and they ac- cordingly demanded that 1t should be re- duced! This last strike lasted about three hours. At the end of that brief space of time the employers uncondition- ally surrendered.
 But with others 1t has been more seri- ous, marking not only a depreciation sf the home market which will have far reaching results, but also a condition of general ferment which should not be taken too lightly. The Minister of Com merce may be right in declaring com pacently that numerous strikes pre- claim prosperous conditions, since work men become exacting only when their ser- vices are essential. Yet if this be true, 1t is equally certain that widespread and prolonged diet of strikes does not contribute to a nat'on's welfare. and the causes which gave rise to them augsr no. good for the future.
 The Government opposition Is taking a view of the situation which, If rather gloomy, is nevertheless not totally un- reasonable. The Gaulois, the Royalist or gan that maintains an aristocratic tone save when seeking terms to attack cer- tain Republican officials whose greatest crime Is never having done anything re- marks on the subject:
 Disorders are noticeable not only in the great centers of France where prom inent agitators are at work. They are occurring everywhere, and are rapidly multiplying. If there have never been as many strikes in great factories there has never been such widespread uneasi- ness in rural districts. The hatred of the beggar for the prosperous citizen has never been as bitter and as openly ac- knowledged. Never have idlers and vaga- bonds so seriously menaced workers and overseers. Wherever a dozen workmea are brought together a plot is being matched to rob the master. Four friends cannot meet in a public place without planning the sack of neighboring castle and shaking their fists at gentlemen pass ing by. Formerly the poor may have thought of all this, but they did not cry 1t out on the housetops. Now a mere nothing will slice to change these cries into deeds. Scarcely a signal will be TO- quired; one arm raised in menace will bring down million blows, A revolution in Paris might infilct serious injury to France; revolution in the country would mean annihlation. And 1t is with this that we are threatened The trend Of recent events points enthusiastically to a general uprising All evil emotions are aroused and seething. Revolutionary poison Is flowing freely in the country's arteries. working to destroy the civiliza- tion accomplished by twenty centuries"
 Another Revolution Imminent.
 The ideas of these revolutionists are amazingly vague, be 1t said in passing An intelligent man who was vehmenL.y denouncing everything and everybody connected with the government, and cry ing for desperate remedies to put things to rights. was asked a few days ago whom he would select as chief to lead himself and his fellow citizens to fame and forture, national and personal The duo dOrleans and Napoleon are weak pretexts ridiculed by their very sup, porters; there is not really popular gen. eral in the army there Is not a politician of note save those at the head of the Republic. Who reTnains7" he was asked No one," replied, with unruffled calm, the radical revolutionist, Tor least, no one that we know at present. i've rs our revolution first, and the events will necessarily produce the man. We havo history to prove this But we must begin by turning everybody out" Which may comfort those that expect to do --.e turn ing; but there are others who remember the Commmune of 1871
 FRANCIS WARRINGTON DAWSON.