, 1888-09-26
A StillbOrn Republic.
(FrOm the DemerGrG Ar9oSy, 1St SEPTEMBER

OuISU dlu II0 II EGSIu6Ul" anu MS suite
are stranded in this city, trusting that
some charitable source will furnish money
enough to take them back to France, or
out of this colony. Mr.. Mcdonald, whose
departure for Counani we referred to at
the time he sailed, has returned, after II
wild-gOOSe chase. He went as the repre-
sentative OF a European syndicate who
had hopes OF developing to their own adj
vantage the valuable mineral wealth
which is reported to be deposited in this
small territory lying between the border
lines of Brazil and Cayenne. When his
schooner the John L.. Thomas got abreast
of COunani, it was found that the water
was very shallow, and it was necessary to
drop anchor at Il distance Of several miles
from the land. The party succeeded in
diSembarking in safety and were received
III a not untrlendly manner by the natives,
but they were ut once distinctly informed
that any attempted political movement on
their part would be vigorously suppressed
the land however was free to them aS long
as they confined themselves to mercantile
or scientific pursuits. All that was left
for them to do was to retire. What had
happened betwepn the time of Mr..
McDOnald'S equipment for the expedition
and his arrival afcer many days 1T COuna-
nj, was precisely what sensible men not
blinded by Il craving to make wealth 10y
lawleSS adventure might have foreseen.
The great desire the syndicate had dis.
closed to obtain high handed possession
of COuuani, was reason enough for the
Brazilian aud French Governments, VIII"
are protectors of the territory, to come to
an understanding between themselves t.,
wards keeping ont imtruderS. Tne man in
nominal authority in the land is King
Holm ~, Indian anl vvbn,, HI, NAi ..t,-
who had heard Of the intended design OF
some unknown persons to wreSt hiA king
dom from him, went last mouth to Clyeum.
to claim protection from the Frentl
Government, he was received with tn
state becoming his rank, and sent back TO
his home III Il mln-Ot-wa with the aSSUr-
ance th"t he need give himself no further
anxiety about the matter. 1t was after
Mr.. Mcdonald aud his attaches had sailed
hence, for Counani. that ''PreSidenl" Gro,
with his presidential retinue Of third class
passengers, arrived in the Royal Mail
Steamer from Europe, full Of Importance,
and ready to hAStoW the Star Of CoHnani
orders with the muniticence Of an opera
boutfe m tgnate. The party were bound
upon a glorious mission, and busted them
selves in getting a suitable vessel to take
them to the nome of their future greatness.
They came accredited to MesSrS. Conrad
u 90, who secured them respectable guar
ters and it WAS soon evident that certain
members found in the "wine-shOpS" Of the
city pleasures to compensate them for tho
loss of their happy haunts in Paris. For
a fortnight they lived in this FOOLS para
disc, the literary talent of the company
finding occupation meanwhile in writing
letters to the press, eulogistic of the tran.
sCendental merits of President eros and
his ministers when all at once the bottom
fell out of the enterprise, and the leader
of the new Republic learnt with %cOnSter-
nation that an appeal by telegram, for
warded to the syndicate iii Europe by
their cOnsigneeS here, had been answered
with instructions that no more money
could be advanced. The position Of old
man GrOS and his unkempt followers, IS
very ludicrouS, their reverse having fol
lowed so absurdly close upon the sound
of their own Self-glorifcdtiOn and the
praises of the grand object of their mis-
sion; but it is also very miserable, and
one cannot help feeling sorry for the poor
creatures in their distress. They have
received notice that their board will not
be paid for them beyond to-day and as
they are pennilesS, their prospects cannot
be very enviable. Possibly they will be
anle TO arrange, lhlou4h Mr.. 1iGD0nald,
UnD represents the &VUdicatp. which had