FRANCE, ANNAM, AND CHINA. 143 



territorial rights and of national Sovereignty, which rest on the in- 

 disputable principle of national right and national existence. 



No true friend of France can witness without regret the de- 

 velopment under a Republic of a restless and adventurous colonial 

 policy founded on force, a policy which cannot promote the real 

 interests of France. 



The Government of the Republic, whose watchwords are Liberty, 

 Fraternity, and Equality, should have been strong enough to resist the 

 clamour for cheap military glory, and to consider the true interests 

 of the Republic of Peace. 



French honour was not from the first involved in Tonquin. ,_ The 

 glory of the French arms cannot surely have been promoted by an 

 expedition against these miserable barbarians. 



Everyone must acknowledge that the first necessity for France, at 

 present, lies in the consolidation of her Government, and the recovery 

 by wise statesmanship of her rightful position and influence in 

 Europe. 



It is of little avail that France should be able to establish herself 

 in Tunis, to make an attack on Madagascar, to distribute flags to the 

 tribes on the Congo, to annex an Eastern State, or to plunge into a war 

 with China, if in Europe she is still forced to watch every movement 

 of Germany with bated breath, and to shape her foreign policy in 

 obedience to her great rival. 



An Empire, whether Imperial, Monarchical, Republican, or 

 Colonial founded on force in defiance of all laws, moral, or divine, 



" Wading through slaughter to a Throne," 

 " And shut the gates of mercy on mankind," » 



can never stand, as history has proved, because it is not founded 

 on the affections or confidence of the people, nor on the immutable 

 principle of righteousness and justice. 



* Byron. 



