We should not wonder if the popularity of General Dodds,
4' conqueror of Dahomey," declined as rapidly as it rose. He has reported to his Government that he cannot dispense with any of his troops until King Behanzin is captured, which may take a great many years ; that until that happy event the present expenditure must go on ; and that after that con- summation the annual outlay cannot be less than 220000. That will appear to the peasantry a large sum, especially if any conscripts, whether soldiers or marines, are employed in that
deadly climate, and if it appears that, as has happened in Tonquin, the trade all passes into English and German hands. There is, we must remember, a very strong party in the Chamber which is bitterly opposed to Colonial expansion, maintaining that every Colony draws away troops and treasure required for the war that must one day be waged in Europe. Hitherto the Government has succeeded, by appeals to patriotism, in obtaining its votes; but it is compelled to keep its agents short of necessary force, and to regard every Colonial debate with apprehension. So far from annexing Siam, as Prince Henry of Orleans appears to wish, it hardly knows how to provide for Tonquin, which cannot be made valuable without a heavy annual subvention. The French, in fact, wish to have colonies if they are in the Mediterranean, or if they require neither troops nor treasure for their defence.
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