THE COLONIAL EXl'AXSIOX OF FRANCE 229 



their slaves. As to Napoleon, Europe was the field of his ambition. 

 If he thought of India, it was that he might strike his enemy at her 

 most vulnerable jtoint. Had he cherished the designs ascribed to him 

 by Seeley, he would never have sold Louisiana to the United States. 

 His wars left France diminished, not only in Europe, but also in other 

 parts of the world. The strategic position of the Indian Ocean, the 

 A island of Mauritius, was ceded to England, and with it, through the 

 astute governor of that island, was raised the problem of Madagascar. 



THi: BKGINNIi\GS OF THE NEWER EXPANSION IN AFRICA AND ASIA 



The Restoration was timid in its defense of French colonial rights. 

 Its power, restored by foreign bayonets, was so unsteady at home that 

 it could do little abroad and cared to do but little; yet it was this 

 same Bourbon government that inaugurated the newer expansion, 

 Avhich was destined to better fortune. This expansion, unlike that 

 of J^ngland, was not the result of a Avell-concerted design, but of imper- 

 ative necessity. The Algerians, unmindful of. the lessons which they 

 had received in 1815 from Admiral Decatur, and in 1817 from Lord 

 ICxmouth, were desolating the Mediterranean coasts, and especially 

 the coasts of France. France reluctantly took Algiers. The Orleanists 

 accepted the campaign in Algeria as a troublesome inheritance, and 

 gallantly attempted its never-ending conquest. Here France faced 

 some of the most fearless warriors of the world — men whose braver^' 

 was heightened by religious fanaticism. England has never found 

 upon her path such an ethnic and religious barrier. Some public men, 

 even as lateas 1845, })roposed to abandon the province to its own fate. 

 This, fortunately, was not done ; but, on the contrary, the French flag 

 was planted upon French Kongo and Grand Bassam,in Africa, and 

 upon important groups of the Polynesian islands. 



During tlie Second Empire colonial interests did not receive the 

 attention which they deserved. Colonial preeminence in distant lands 

 demands the preeminence of colonial interests at home. Not art, not 

 philosopliy, not science, not social life, but colonial aims, should l)e 

 first in the national thouglit. This was far fi'oni the case during the 

 Second Empire. However, the pacification of Algeria was )>rogress- 

 ingand Frenc^h rule was extending southward. Napoleon encouraged 

 the enlargement of Senegal eastward and took possession of ()l)ok, 

 near the lied Sea; New Caledonia, in the i'acilic, and Cochin Ciiina, 

 in Asia, 



