New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-29
4 COUNTRY WITH0UT CONSCIENCE

4 COUNTRY WITHOUT CONSCIEN CE.
Undue alarm has been caused by the So
cialist disclosures in France. The Iiotous
proceedings at Montceau-les Mines and Lyons,
the maniestOes of the International Anarchist
League, and the discovery of bombs and dy
Mantle in restaurants and public buildings, ale
matters OF serious rather than Ominous import.
Although the police are very active and the
Government are taking extraordinary pre-
cautions, we do not believe that the country is
menuced with a revolutionary uprising OF any
magnitude. Indeed. the frantic appeals of GER
tain Paris journals for vigorous measures
against Socialists induce suspicion that pOlit-
ical use is beng made of this mysterious agi-
tatiOn. The Chambers are to meet early in
November an unstable Ministry may wish to
strengthen its position by exaggerating the
dangers of the hour and making an ost"nta-
tious display of energy in ayertng them; and
hostile political groups may have selfish rea-
sons for creating a widespread feeling of dis-
trust and apprehension. Many of the threat
enng letters which have been made the basis
of military precautions on a large scale are now
supposed to be the work of practical jokers,
and evidence is not wanting of deliberate at
tempt to create panic.
Whether the Red Spectre has really risen, or
black specks CT morbid apprehension are float
ing before the eyes of panc-mOngers and in
triguing politicians, these rumors of revou-
tionary movement are only another token of
the appalling immortality of the France of to-
day. There are many other signs OF political
pollution aud social disorder: the Bourse spec
ulations of the Deputies; the shameless adven-
lures of financial diplomatists; National crimes
like the Tunisian conquest the Obscenity and
scurrility of journalism the debased literature
of n Zola, which is made foul because foulness
paws wel-a business principle adopted now
even by Daudet;a fanatical hatred not only
of State paid clergy and of religious estab-
lishmeuts, but even of religion itself-for even
unbeiei has its frenzy of fanatcism; laxty
In divorce legislation which is already under
mining parental influence-the sole prop of
French family life; a morbid interest in hid
eous crimes and a mawkish sentimentalty
In screening the guilty fIOm retributive JUS
tice glittering reign o. sensnality and profit
gacy. There is lack of stability in govern
ment. of earnestness and seriousness in public
service, and of common decency in private lfe
The country is strangely prosperous; the rev.
enue returns arc increasing steadily and the
burden of the heaviest National debt in the
world is lightly borne and small investors al
ways have the savings at hand for rash invest
mcnts. But with the Gu of material prosperity
trimming full, and with sense OF security
broken only by vague dread of the Red Spec
tire. there is an utter lack Of conscience.
These are generalites; more specific evil
dence of French immortality may be required
Take the last celebrated case of the criminal
tribunals-a case which has been followed with
breathless interest through two protracted
trials. The Imagination even of French fic-
worker never portrayed more horrible
scene than the banquet of tho three Fenayrons,
man, wife and brother. The murder of ALBERT,
the apothecary, was deliberately planned by
them while they were dining sumptuously at a
public restaurant, and when the feast was at
an end. the details were methodicaly carried
out the guilty wife enticing the victim tn his
doom and the outraged husband availing him
self of her aid, butchering his rival with brutal
savagery and being abetted by the brother in
the futile attempt to conceal the crime. When
all was done the three wretches again RECALLED
themselves with champagne and the delicaces
Of the season. The evidence OF guilt was un-
mstakable, there were no eItenuating circum-
stances, the crime was virtually confessed yet
at the end Of the second trial the brother was
discharged from custody and entertained by