Taw papers by the last American mail contain -some interesting intelligence with regard to the Franco=Chinese dispute. This has been already printed in our columns: but for the sake of clearness we now reproduce such extracts us offer subject for comment. And the first fact which will strike most of our readers is that the celebrated Fournier Memorandum about which so much has been said seems to be growing fraitfal in rather nnpleas sant consequences to its gallant author, Already Captain Fournier has been so much hurt at the criticisms it las evoked as to have challenged M. Rochefort, 8 well-known journalist, to mortal combat, in the course of which the Captain got wounded in the right hip. Unfortunately we wot yet aware of the nature of M, Rochefort's strictures but it ie to be hoped, for the sake of Captain Fournior's left hip, and all hie other limbs, that the Paris newspapers moderate their expr wise ho will ran a fair chance of being crippled for life. On the 12th of Octo-bor, @ telegram was sent from Berlin to New York upon the subject of the unfortunate document which is doing 80 much mischief. It runs:—
A note is published, evidently from the charges regarding the Tientsin Treaty. Chinese Legation, polling the French points out that Captain Fournier fails to state whether ho consented to the erasures in that Treaty or not. A note attached to the Treaty, and, mid, in Li Hung Fournier himself erased two paragraphs in chang's hind-welting, states that Captain the Treaty.
OE course this refers, not to any Treaty, but to the Fournier Memorandum of May 17th; and it is a pity that editors and correspondents at home should not jorve greater accuracy in their references to it. But the meaning of it is clear enough. The charge of for-gory brought by the Frouch against the Viceroy of Chibli romains, after six months, entirely unsubstantiated; and Captain Fournier is still silent when asked whether he was a party to the assures or not. Now we cannot help thinking that Captain Fournier would consult his own honour to very much better purpose by stating plainly what ocourred in the Viceroy's Yamen on the 18th of May than by challenging French editors and wounding them in the neck. A sword-thrust proves nothing; the word of an officer may be accepted as proving a good deal.
jot be denied that Captain Four-friends are both surprised and ed by his strange reticence; for it is simply incredible that a man cap Lave such a short memory as to forget whether he erased certain passages in adoocument drawn up by himself, or whether he did not, The next point to whioh reference is made is that of American mediation. The sentence quoted from the Times, in which slight hope was entertained of the success of Mr. Rassell Young's good offices on the ground that his ready sympathy with Li Hung-chang showed more kindness of heart than diplomatic talent, reads almost like an echo of what we ourselves wrote apou the 8th of October. Bat a Washington despatch of the 8rd October is decidedly more puzzling. This reads as follows Inquiry at the Department of State today failed to elicit either a confirmation or denial of the despatch in the London Times, cabled to America, stating that the United States iter, Mr. John Russell g-chang that the French t_had requested the mediation ited States Government. It has learned, however, that Mr. Young visited the has Obive, ad that in, which i verity mil re he hi chang, hi cted_to convey any requ of Franco for mediation. Mr. Young, prior to thi had had several conferences with th roy to ascertain whether China was di to take any steps toward a settlem the controversy with France. Hi recent was for the same purpose, Neither France nor jowover, has made a request for medi Both countries, it, seems, favour such a mode of settling their dispute, but neither is willing to take the initiatory step.
What is supposed to be implied in the mysterious formula "it lins been learned" we do not pretend to guess. Bat if the announces is intended as authoritative it onlls for prompt contr diction, We have it on the highest possible authority that the proposal to which reference is hero made was conveyed by Mr, Young to the Viceroy in obedience to a telegram from President Arthar at the request of the French Government; and it was of such a nature as, we believe, to render the office a not very agreeable one to the American Minister. The Nation, in commenting upon this episode, says it sourcely knows whether the story is jured or improved by the fact that it is accompanied in the telegrams by a positive denial that the French Govern-mont had asked the United States to aot as mediator, "It seems worth while to enquire, however," concludes the Nation, " considering how our last attempt at mediation ended, what Mr. John Russell Young is actually doing at his post." Now we have never, as our readers are well aware, been admirers of Mr. Chester Holoombe, and we make no secret of our satisfaction that his connection with the Am Legation in Peking is at an end. Bat we do Mr, Holcombe the justice to acknowledge his familiarity with the present position of affairs, and are gind that the American newspapers have so good an authority to appeal to upon the subject. It was on the 20th July, says Mr. Holcombe, that China first appealed to the United States to mediate between her and France; and at that time France declined to avail herself of the offer, That she should have assumed so unyielding a position is regreUnble in face of the fuct that China offered to submit the question of indemnity and the whole issue to the United Stater, and declared herself willing to abide by any decision that might be delivered in the matter. With this in view, Mr. Holcombe expressed somescepticism respecting Lheannounce= ment that France was then seeking the assistance she Jad previously rejected, which, he remarked, seemed burely cor sistent with her former attitude; and if had not higher authority for the as" surance that such was nevertheless the case we might be disposed to accept view as the correct one, Wo believe that Mr, Holoombe is strictly accurate in asserting tint the only rebuff which Li Chung-tang suffered at the hands of the Imperial Govern~ ment was the cousare he received for not reporting to the Yamen the foot that Captain Fournier had presented to him the Memorandum of Muy 17th, together with the fuct of his having rejected it. Here, there can be no doubt, the Viceroy noted wankly. Had he simply made a formal report of Captain Fournier's demand, and placed the Yuméu in possession of what actual. ly took place, much trouble, misunder standing, and even bloodshed might have been spared, The opinion of Mr, G. F. Seward is here very much to the point, Ho behoves firmly thnt the at" tack at Liangshnn was not actuated by the Chinese Government, The mills tary," he says, "may very well lino acted on their own authority. The Chinese Government hus disavowed the not, and the French should have nce cepted the diswrowal." Mfr. Sonard hat America has abdionted ranch of her iuflueno in Chinn by hoe unfair and illiberal action in the wafer of the Emigration Treaty, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE sgcrs, Tae best definition, perhaps, that can be given of a strong Guvernmont is a Government based upon the confidence and the suffrages of ils subjects. It would therefore follow that the more tyrannical a ruler, and the severer the espiounge exercised on his bebulf, the weaker his position really is} for it shows that, so far from being ble to rest quietly in the trust of the people Lo governs, he is compelled to resort to something like brute force in order to maintain his position at all, The case of the Ewperor of Russia is one in point, That monarch may be ati to go in daily droud of his life: the most despotic of European sovereigns, and looking with something of contempt upon his fellow-monarchs who are bound by a Constitution, he is at the same time one of the weakest, for he lacks that which constitutes the only true strength of every ruler, Awiablens any individual Czur may be personally, he is the representative and embodiment of a principle eesoutially fa leg
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.