Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18
NO END TO THE SCANDALS
That Have Cropped Out Since the
Panama Canal CrOOkedness
WAS so THOROUGHLY UNCOVERED.
The Awful Feeling of Unrest in France
Crosses the Channel.
ENGLAND IN A MOST ANXIOUS HUEOR


LONDON, Dec IL LopyTag0L I-Again
the ever-threatening volcano upon which
the French Government rests seems to be
Gt the point of eruption. 1t would be As
easy to forecast the next outbreak of Vesu-
vius as to name the hour and the form OF
political revolution of which France is
daily in dread. 1t is safe to say only that
If it comes it will be a spectacle of Pom
peiian grandeur for those at q safe distance.
The tall OF the Loubet Cabinet was not
circumstance to dangers which are now
dimly seen and suspected A week ago the
reorganized Cabinet seemed to be tempo
ssrily safe. Perils which would have swept
not only the ministry, but President Carnot
himself from Office if Loubet had still been
Premier have barely escaped in the seven
davs interval
The relentless march of events this week
has brought the country face to face with
two startling features of the situation which
bode the direst evil, and which ca mot be
longer ignored. One is the repeated aSser-
tion that a vast conspiracy exists, having
for its object the overthrow of the Republic,
and the other is the rumor, vague but wide
spread, that President Carnot is implicated
in the Panama scandal
Only Vague Story About a Plot.
The London Times and other foreign
Journals gave credence to the story of
plot against the Republic, but only within
few days have the French people given
serious consideration to the rumors The
story is 8 vague one. The developments OF
the past month, it is represented, form a
portion of plan prematurely executed for
The discrediting of the present government
before the country. The enemies of the
Republic designed the elimination of their
conspiracy for just previous to the elections
next year The Panama scandal was their
principal card, but not their only one.
The full extent of the Panama revela-
tons, it is said, is hardly suspected vet
When charges OF corruption first became
bruited about it was attempted to suppress
them temporarily by the very men who de-
signed making more effective use of them
q few months hence. The question is
whether the execution of the plot against
the Government will be pushed on at once
or whether its elimination will be delayed
according TO the original plan.
A Desire for a Speedy Crisis.
The vote in the Chamber on Thursday. |
when all the opponents of the Government |
united against N. Ribot and came within a |
hairsbreath of overthrowipg him, indicates |
20 many desire tor an immediate crisis |
Indeed, many give to Ribot's startling
speech of warning ON that occasion all the
importance of words which saved the French
Republic from disaster. Unfortunately,
the salvation was only for the moment; the
danger Is as great as ever. Loubet was able
to get substantial Government maiorities
several times within a week of his downfall,
and it is only week since Ribot secured an
overwhelming vote of confidence, so the es-
cape of Thursday by no means signifies
safety.
1t is impossible to estimate the effect |
upon public sentiment, if the idea gains |
general credence that there is plot against |
the Government behind the scandalous dis |
closures in Panama affairs The French |
are not conservative, and there is no deny- |
ing the vast disgust and indignation which |
recent revelations have aroused. It is un- |
the majority opinion that the |
present Government is corrupt, even in its
highest posts.
France, now as always, demands an at
tractive, bold personality to make the ide a
of revolution tolerable. 1t is impossible
TO guess the plans OF the alleged conspirs-
tors, but the indispensable leader is not in |
sight
Ribot Strong, hut Carnot Weak.
The idea, discussed quite freely within a
day or two, that the Chambers Panama
committee wocld attempt coup d'etat and |
seize the Government in the capacity of a
committee of public safety, hardly seems
feasible. President Carnot is a weak man,
and his opponents know it, but Ribot is not
weak, and revolutionists would have him to
deal with. Ribot is already feartully
handicapped. The loss of NJ Rouvier from
the Cabinet, although nothing is proved
against him, is severe blow to the
and not within day or two even
Carnot's name is not above public assault
There has been no sound reason advanced
for the attack upon the President The
fact that he was intimately associated with
prominent persons whom the public be-
lieves to be guilty is hardly sufficient
ground for suspicion. 1t is now generally
that Carnot was opposed to the
wholesale investigation and public exposure
Of the Panama scandal, but in view of the
threatened revolutionary consequences of
hat exposure it is conceivable that his
motives may have been pure. Carnot,
however, is q weak man, and weakness is a
,rime in times like these.
Imagine an American President sending
/ message like that which Carnot tele-
,raphed to NJ. Tierard at Brussels on |
Wednesday: 'If you do not accept the
Portfolio of France L shall resign tomorrow
morning"
OATnONb IAeblRndCOn Looked For. |
There are constant rumors afoat to the |
fleet that Carnot will resign on account of |
he manifold insinuations against him now
ruited about II is the fashion for high
fhcials OF France to resign when their
rivate character is assailed even by an
press, but such step BY Carnot
ust now would probably precipitate a
evolution.
Popular excitement Is at fever heat over
he arrests ofs yesterday in the Panama ]
ases. 1t is not too much to say that this
xtreme step was taken as the onlv expe-
lent that would save the Government and
he Republic itself The rigorous severity
-hich accompanied the act was resorted to
olely for the effect upon the public. The I
is in absolute terror of ''The t
as the Panama committee is
illed, and it is designed to eclipse the
ork of the committee in the public eve, if
nssible, BY q dramatic criminal prosecu-
on of the distinguished prisoners yester- .
Nv consigned to cells. More victims or |
,fendants will probably be insisted upon '
I'd provided, and rumor already names I
.rtain bankers Of world-wid fame.
The Paris correspondent of THE DIS
ATCH telegraphs to-day that secret bat y
ost vigorous preparations are being made I
the Government to guard against a
up d'etat. The projects of nearly all
e provinces of France were summoned to
e Ministry OF the Interior yesterday and s