ACHIEVEMENTS OF FRENCHMEN IN THE NORTH OF AMERICA
The Difference between Spanish and French Methods.--What caused the
Difference.--How it resulted.
A singular and picturesque story is that of New France. In romantic
interest it has no rival in North America, save that of Mexico.
Frenchmen opened up the great Northwest; and for a long time France was
the dominant power in the North, as Spain was in the South. When the
French tongue was heard in wigwams in far western forests; when French
goods were exchanged for furs at the head of Lake Superior and around
Hudson Bay; when French priests had a strong post as far to the West as
Sault Ste. Marie, and carried their missionary journeyings still
further, who could have foreseen the day when the flag of republican
France would fly over only two rocky islets off the coast of
Newfoundland, and to her great rival, Spain, of all {46} her vast
possessions would remain not a single rood of land on the mainland of
the world to which she had led the white race?
At the period with which we are occupied these two great Catholic
powers seemed in a fair way to divide North America between them.
Their methods were as different as the material objects which they
sought. The Spaniard wanted _Gold_, and he roamed over vast regions in
quest of it, conquering, enslaving, and exploiting the natives as the
means of achieving his ends. The Frenchman craved _Furs_, and for
these he trafficked with the Indians. The one depended on conquest,
the other on trade.
Now trade cannot exist without good-will. You may rob people at the
point of the sword, but to have them come to you freely and exchange
with you, you must have gained their confidence. Further, there was a
deep-lying cause for this difference of method. Wretched beings may be
worked in gangs, under a slave-driver, in fields and mines. This was
the Spanish way. But hunting animals for their skins and trapping them
for their furs is solitary work, done by lone men in the wilderness,
and, above all, by men who are free to come and go. You {47} cannot
make a slave of the hunter who roams the forests, traps the brooks, and
paddles the lakes and streams. His occupation keeps him a wild, free
man. Whatever advantage is taken of him must be gained by winning his
confidence.
Thus the object of the Frenchman's pursuit rendered necessary a
constantly friendly attitude toward the Indians. If he displeased
them, they would cease to bring their furs. If he did not give enough
of his goods in exchange, they would take a longer journey and deal
with the Dutch at Albany or with the English at their outlying
settlements. In short, the Spaniard had no rival and was in a position
allowing him to be as brutal as he pleased. The Frenchman was simply
in the situation of a shopkeeper who has no control over his customers,
and if he does not retain their good-will, must see them deal at the
other place across the street.
There is no doubt that this difference of conditions made an enormous
difference between the Spanish and the French attitude toward the
Indians. The Spaniards were naturally inclined to be haughty and cruel
toward inferior races, while the French generally showed themselves
friendly and mingled freely with the natives in {48} new regions. But
the circumstance to which attention has here been called tended to
exaggerate the natural disposition of each. Absolute power made the
Spaniard a cruel master: the lack of it drove the Frenchman to gain his
ends by cunning and cajolery.
The consequence was, that while the Spaniard was dreaded and shunned,
and whole populations were wiped out by his merciless rule, the
Frenchman was loved by the Indians. They turned gladly to him from the
cold Englishman, who held himself always in the attitude of a superior
being; they made alliances with him and scalped his enemies, white or
red, with devilish glee; they hung about every French post, warmed
themselves by the Frenchman's fire, ate his food, and patted their
stomachs with delight; and they swarmed by thousands to Quebec,
bringing their peltries for trade, received gewgaws and tinsel
decorations from the Governor, and swore eternal allegiance to his
master, the Sun of the World, at Versailles.
In a former volume, "Pioneer Spaniards in North America," we have
followed the steps of Spain's dauntless leaders in the Western World.
We have seen Balboa, Ponce, Cortes, Soto, {49} Coronado, making their
way by the bloody hand, slaying, plundering, and burning, and we have
heard the shrieks of victims torn to pieces by savage dogs.
In the present volume quite other methods will engage our attention.
We shall accompany the shrewd pioneers of France, as they make their
joyous entry into Indian villages, eat boiled dog with pretended
relish, sit around the council-fire, smoke the Indian's pipe, and end
by dancing the war-dance as furiously as the red men.
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