Diagne demanded reform while professing loyalty to French civilizing ideals

Evidence

A … The aim of this reform … is to provide the populations of West Africa with new guarantees without attacking the social discipline which it is necessary for them to continue to observe … It is undeniable … that the native mentality has much improved in AOF and has visibly evolved toward our ideas and civilization. It is time to recognize this [evolution].” These statements suggest that the deputy felt French, and that he did not believe he was doing anything more than challenging the Third Republic to remain true to its ideals. — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 547

Categorization

• DEFINE: Shows the argumentative strategy of demanding equality within, not against, the mission civilisatrice frame.
• XREF: Relates to reader’s interest in how republican ideas were adopted and turned back against their French proponents in West Africa.