Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-24
THE STRESS OF FRANCE.
A BIT OF SECRET HISTORY ANENT
 THE FRANcO-GERMAN WAR.

A BIT OF SECRET HISTORY ANENr
 THE FRANco-GERMAN WAR. Count Keratry's Endeavor to Secure the
 Assistancs of spain-Gen. Prina Could
 Not Be Won by the Promise of Power
 and Glory for Himsslk
 There has lately come to light curious piece of secret history, dating back to the time of the Franco-G German war, which has hitherto been entirely unknown outside cer- tain select official circles, and which Is ex- tremely interesting as showing to what straits France was reduced during the conflict The heroes of the episode are Gen. Prim and Count Keratry, who, it may be remembered, had been member of the opposition in the corps legislatn in the last year of the empire, and who was pretect of police in Paris from the 4th of September to the 18th of October, 1870 Upon his resignation of this latter position he was commissioned by M Jules Favre, who was then foreign minister in tho government of national defense, to proceed to Madrid, there to endeavor to obtain assistance for sorely pressed Franco
 XERAIRY's MISSION AND JOURNEY.
 Gen. Pftm was, as president of tho provis- fonal government, at that time master of the destinies of Spain. Count Keratry's instruc- tions were, if possible, to arrange an offensive and defensive alliance between the two coun- tries, and to persuade the Spanish regent to immediately place a corps of from 6O,OOO to 5000 men at France's disposal. The trans- portation and feeding of the troops were to be provided for by the government of na- tional defense, and in return for the assist ance France offered, upon the conclusion of the war, to lend @ hand In the s'pacifcationn Of Cuba, and in the furtherance of a scheme of 1berfan union which was then much fa- vored by certain section of Spanish politi- clans.
 Count Keratry, in pursuance of his mission, left Paris on the 14th of October, 1870, in the balloon "Godefroy Cavaignac," !" starting from tho Orleans railway station. There was . west wind, which threatened to carry the balloon towards Germany, and Count Kere- try was, in fact, obliged to descend within the German lines, near Bar-le-duc, He es- caped, however, to Chaumont, where he found a dispatch from Gambetta, who begged him to go at once to Tours The count did as he was requested, and after seeing Gambetta hurried on to Madrid. In the Spanish capi- tal he was warmly received by the Republi- can leaders, and especially by Emilio Castelar,, who, In the name of his friends, authorized the French emissary to tell Prim that if he would help France, as requested, he might count upon being made president of Spanish republic.
 A few hours later Count Keratry called on Prim, laid all the advantages of the proposed alliance before him and recalled the numer- ous good offices which in the past France had rendered to Spain. Prim listened silently and courteously, and then replied that he failed to see how Spain, a power of the third rank, crippled in resources and in state of transition, could give useful help. Count Keratry answered by citing the case of Italy, which, though then @ weak state, had joined Great Britain and France against Russia, and had since taken her place among the European powers. He pointed out, too, that Prussia herself had not always been great power, and that she had only won the position by asserting her right to be heard in the coun- cils of Europe. Gen. Prim, the count sug- gested, might p:t Spain in the way of follow ing along the path which had been 50 success fully trodden by Italy and Prussia Hemight be Spanish Cavour or Bismarck, if only he would take the trouble. Let him declare Spain to be republic, let him encourage the idea of Iberian union, and let him afford the desired assistance to France. If you will do this, continued the count, 1T am author 1xed to offer your government Q subsidy to the amount of 50, 0O0, 900 francs tor ga, ,0oo 900 sterling)." Gen Prim's response was:
 YET HE SAVED FRANCE
 II am moved, M. le Comte, by your love of country; but l, too, love my native land, and, seductive though the programme which you lay before me undoubtedly is, cannot accept it. I tell you, in confidence, that hate Prussia and love France as my second fatherland. Part of my family resides in France; myself have lived there during the later years of my life, and here I am known as the Frenchman.' But what you tell me about assuming the presidency of Spanish republic is a chimera. Spain will have noth- ing to do with a republic. The real con- servative party in this country Is very pow erful and 1t shrinks from 6 republic because 1t has no confidence in republicans"
 "This means, then," said Count Keratry, ''that the rumor of tho approaching call to throne of the Duke of Aosta Is we'll foundedi should, nevertheless, have expected Italy to remember few of the obligations which shs owes to us"
 "Ahl" said Gen. Prim, "Italy would no doubt move if Spain were to lead the way. For my part, can only say that if you cap manage that Italy shall move first, Spain will follow her."
 Count Keratry begged Prim not to sacrifice tho idea of 8 republic, but the general rs- mained firm. With smile he said: 1T have preferred the part of monk to that of Crom- well; and never willie live, shall Spain be- como republic. That is my determine tion."
 Count Keratry, much disappointed, re- turned to France. On the 10th of November the Duke of Aosta was elected king of Spain by the Cortes, and Q little later Gen. Prim, as he was leaving the chamber, was mortally wounded by Carlist assassinA He died thres days afterwards, on the S0th of December, tho very day on which King Amadeus landed at Carthagena.-St. James Gazette. Useful Inventions.
 News of two inventions for the relief of suffering humanity reaches us from England, one of which Is most timely just at this season ok the year. It Is an apparatus, worked by an electrical machine, which, when set iu motion, dinuses . lovely breeze of salt melling ozone. It does not need . very large stretch of tho imagination to see how happily this discovery can be utilized in bell