Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1871-11-16
Another Seandal-HOW a Republican
Deputy and Journalist Borrowed
from an Imperial Princes

Paris Correspondence of the London Daily News.
The following paragraph in the
FrancaiS, which at fist sight would
probably be thought canard, is render
ed interesting by the subjoined answer
ga very singular piece of news has
come to our knowledge. Prince Napo-
Icons man of business has served a
writ upon NJ. Guerolt, recurring imme-
diate payment of a sum of $4,000 francs,
which the Prince lent him on condition
that the Opinion NationcLe should follow
a line of policy which it has since aban-
doned. The affair is likely to come on
for hearing Immediately after the vaca-
| ton: We cannot doubt that NJ. Ger
cult will be able to reply victoriously to
| the claim of the Prince, whom he was
wont openly to proclaim his friend"
Without an hours loss of time, the
| Opinion NationdLe, admitting the fact of
| the loan, offers the following explana.
ton.
"The exact truth is this: Four years
ago, combination connected with af-
fairs exclusively personal having COM
PEELED M. Geroult to have recourse to
the credit which he enjoyed with his
friends, Prince Napoleon offered to adj
vance him sum of $4,000 francs as q
loan. This was, therefore, it will be
observed, purely personal service, and
it was rendered in business form, Sc
curity being deposited and interest at
per cent. stipulated for half-yearly,
which interest has always been pune
tually paid. In short, it was a loan
made on just the same conditions as
loans which bankers make every day to
the public. At the end of September,
1871, only three weeks ago, NJ. Geroult
wrote to his creditor that he intended
to pay off the debt early in November.
To this offer Prince Napoleon replied
on Oct. 10, by the writ to which the
Francais alludes. We leave the public
TO judge how far such conduct is
princely.' AS to the allegation that
particular line of politics was imposed
upon the Opinion Nationale in return for
the loan to its editor, a very few words
will show the Francois that it has been
misinformed. The Opinion NationaIe has
over and over again declared land fre-
quently when it was perilous to do SOY
that its sympathies were Republican;
it used its utmost endeavors to facili-
tate the transition from the Empire to
the Republic, but never concealed its
preference. And if now, at the mo-
ment when the Bonapartists are striv-
ing to restore the throne of Napoleon
Ill, the Opinion NationaLe combats their
maneuvers with all its might; and if it
dwells particularly upon the want of
capacity, energy, decision, and candor
of the sovereign who came to grief in
the way that all the world knows, it is
evident that this journal only repeats.
though doubtless in more vehement
language, opinions which, in one form
or another, it has expressed for the last
twelve years. 1t may here be added
IL 4,
of this opinion himself At the very
beginning of the campaign, when the
Emperor, quartered at Metz, fatigued
our unfortunate army by marches and
counter-marches, orders and counter
orders, Prince Napoleon said to those
about him see Metz Csumpagne ct Nego-
tiations, by a Superior Officer, page 80:
The enemy will give us battle, but we
shall never take the initiative of one,
because to offer battle requires a plan
and an idea, and we have neither the
one or the other Prince Napoleon,
who said this, well knew from numer-
GUS conversations with us that in case
of the fall of the Empire the Opinion
Nationaze would support 5he Republic.
To-day, under the influence of consid-
erations which we will neither specify
nor characterize, Prince Napoleon de-
sires to prove that he completely forgets
old friendship. So be it. Just as
movement is proved by moving, the
Opinion Nationale will show its indepen-
dence, past, present, and future, by not
deviating hairs breadth from the line
it has followed for twelve years, and
which may be defined THUS Progress
by liberty toward new and definite
Republic
This explanation will naturally be
the occasion of varied comments. 1t
is, to say the least, unfortunate that a
Republican Deputy and journalist, hav-
ing occasion to borrow money, and
having good bankers security to offer,
should not have found some other
friend than an Imperial Prince to lend
it to him.