Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-01
PARIS In A FERMENT.
THE UNFORTUNATE RESULT or THE
EMPRESS'S ILt-kDVlSED STAY.
Indignation Mt German Governmental Ao-
tion and Press Comment-A Going on
HaIECooked. Says Bouguerenn.


IBy Anglo-American cable TO the Dlspatch.l
PARIS, FRANCE, February 2s.-It is no ex-
aggeration to say that this has been one OF
the most critical weeks for France and |
Germany both since the outbreak OF the |
Franco-Prussian war of 1s70-'7l. So early |
as Tuesday last IL began TO be felt in seVe-
raj circles that tho Empress Frederick was
prolonging her stsyin Paris to dangerous
extent. The surprise caused by her prac- |
tically unannounced and sudden arrival, |
and the curiosity which her movements oc-
casioned slowly gave way to feeling Oh
anxiety.
TIE GERMAN AMBASSADOR DULY WARNED.
Early in the week a prominent member |
of tho Diplomatic Corps privately informed
Count Won Munster, the German Am6as-
sador. that it was evident that the En- |
press was making a mistake in staying so
long in Paris. To this the German Am |
bassador replied: Il am quite. OF your |
opinion, but / am powerless to change the |
situation of affairs"
Then. in rapid succession. occurred the |
three events which raised the ire OF the |
Parislans TO dangerous point, ana whlch !
crowned the Empress'S mission both IN
its political and artistic sense with dlsas- !
ter, and actually threatened the peace OF
Europe.
MISTAKE NO. /.
The first of these events was the drive !
TO Versailles. When the public clamor
caused by this drive arose on the day FOL !
lowing the attention of the Empress was
called to the matter by the wife of ono OF |
the prominent members OF the Diplomatic
Corps. in reply the Empress Frederick !
said: Il went there for reasons of sentl- |
ment. So many recollectlons OF my hus-
band centre there"
This remark was made before the news |
papers of this city took up the incident
and began by their unfavorable criticisms
of tho imperial VISITORS action to fan the
smoulderIng spark of discomfort into q
flame.
MISTAKE 70. 2.
The second incident or mistake which |
still further excited the Parisians was the |
thougEtless removal by an over-zealous
French official of n wreath laid on tho
tomb OF Henri Regnault, the celebrated
French painter who died at BuZenyal when
only twentv-four years OF age while hGnt- |
ing against the PrussiRus during the
Franco-Prussian water. This caused an
other outbreak of popular clamor and an
other series of articles in the newspapers
commenting unfavorably upon the visit to
PARIS OF the mother Of the Emperor OF
Germany.
THE CoUP-DE-GRACE.
The third incident, and the ono which
most enraged the Parisians, was the pub
lcation OF the anti-French article in tho
Cologne Gdze,ie Of Thursday and read by
the people here ct the very moment the
ex-Empress was driving 20 the railway
station. The savage editorial was coup
de-grdce. 1t utterly DESTROYED every veStlge
of good that might have otherwise been
done by the imperial visit.
THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT QUIssCEST.
The French Government naturally has
not done ANYTHING in the matter and
neither in the Senate nor the Chamber OF
Deputies has q French representative
opened his mouth IN regard to the En-
press Frederck's visit TO Paris.
THE ARTISTS PART N THE DIFFICULTY.
Another influence, though minor one,
in bringing about the strained relations
has been the rivalry Of the two salons.
Bougereau, the painter, led the party now
known as the Berlin party" and Mels-
sOnier's successor rs president or the
| Champ-de- Mars seceders was the leader OF
the anti-Berlin party. The result was that
from the starting of the agitation until its
end at the departure Of the Empress there
has been a grand victory for the Champ-de-
Mars painters who received a great set
back by the death of Meissonier.
BOUGUEREAU's VIEWS.
During the course OF an interview pub
lshed today Bougereau said that IN De-
ceruber last Count Won Munster. the Ger
man Ambassador, called AZ my studio and
invited me TO send some Of my pictures tor
exhibition at the Berlin art exhibition. L
was on the point Of sending three paintings
10 rho art exhibition ut Moscow, 80 ! held
back two Of them with the intention OF
Z En-, hot fg a
Wednesday last the C1-Empress called at
my studio, but she asked me no questions
as to whether or not ! was going TO send
pictures for exhibition at Berlin. there
was nothing of q political nature in tho
whole affair.
"THE FRENCH WENT OFF HAIT-CocEED.'
AT the start the ex-Empress, of least in
nv case said or did nothing about asking
me to be represented at Berlin, but now
/ the matter has become international. For
nv part am in no hurry to come to con-
| cluelOn either one way or thr other. Al
present | am undecided what to do, Inc
| incident proves again that the French pub
| lie is ant TO go off half-cocked and we may
| be called upon unprepared at tins moment
! for war | do not forget AIsace-LOrralne-
| no true Frenchman will ever pardon that
| but il would be @ lameutabe error TO
| strike for restitution of those provinces
while both Germany and France are IN
state of excitement
GERMANY's RETALIATION RESENTED.
The feeling of general confidence that
the unpleasant incident had ended with
! tho departure of the Empress was rudely
| shaken upon the public learning OF Chan
| cellor Won Caprlyls order 70 frlnce Won
! Observation-Disclosures with reference
| to the passport regulations. The proposed
mitigation of the regulations was tor the
purpose of enabling the inhabitants or the
! French communes adjoining the frontiers
| of Alsace- Lorraine TO attend TIE markets
and visit the fairs in Upper Asace. Inc
! Chancellor's action has caused great e4-
/ cltement, a portion Of the press denOunclng
! il in fierce and bitter terms and calling IL
a wlful proyocatlon OF the people Oh
| France.
| GERMAN COMMENTS DECIDEDLY DIsrAsIEFUL'
The comments of to-davs Berlin news
papers on the passport incident have been
| telegraphed to this city. In these COM
ments il IS admitted that Chancellor Won
! Capriyi's action was direct result OF tne
! treatment the Empress Frederick received
/ from the Parisaus. Naturally tne Berlin
newspaper utterances serve TO intensity
the feeling of disquiet.
ESPECIALLY OFFENSIVE.
An article in the Ndii0nd! Ze01mg IS eespe-
ciollv offensive TO the Parisians That
| paper declares that the recent decree
making more strict the passport regula:.
! tlons in Alsace-L Lorraine is Ike stream OF
cold water poured on Paris.
THE EUROPEAN UNPLEASANTNESS
| BouIancer Apparently Anxious to Take
Advantage of the Situation.
tBy Anglo-Amercan cable 20 the Disps'ca.l
Paris. FEANCE, February 28.-Ihe IN
structions sent by Chancellor Won CapriU