The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-14
TICKLE FRENCH POLITICS
N. Rouvier, Minister of Finance, Forced
TO Tender His Resignation.
Accused of Completely in the Panama Canal
Scandal-M. Tirard Given His Portfolio
Debate in the Monetary Conference.
rIRARD SUCCEEDS RoUvIER.

The Latter Was Involved In the Panama
Scandal and Resigned from the Cabinet.
PARIS. Dec. 13.-The political situation
suddenly became critical again this morn
ing. and for a time it was thought there
would be another Cabinet upheavel. The
Ganlois to-day published what purported
to be an account of the last hours of Baron
De Reinach. the banker who died in No.
vember under circumstances that led to the
general belief that he had committed sui
eide because Of his connection with the
Panama scandal. The Gaulois claims TO
have knowledge of the manner In which
Baron De Reinach spent the hours pre-
ceding his death. and the story in the paper
confirms. IN many particulars. what
has already been stated and credited
to q rumor. The paper says that
after the final interview between Baron
De Reinach, NJ. Rouyier and NJ. Herr, the
Baron found that all hope of escaping the
consequences of bis connection with the
PaHam affair was gone. He returned to
wrote several letters and destroyed a num-
Der of documents. After making these
preparatlors he swallowed q quantity of
poison. The Taper tells it's story with
great particularly of detail, even saying
that the poison was taken at exactly l
o'clock in the morning. 1t is the general
opinion that Baron De Reinach was. with
Arton. one of the useful mem
is known that ho handled largo
sums of money for the company,
and the Panama investigation
appointed by the Chamber is now trying
to learn to whom this money was paid. and
for what services IL was paid. This pub
~lcatioD. coupled with the revelations made
by NJ. C~lemenceau in the Figaro as TO the
VISIT paid him by Baron Reinach and NJ.
Rouvier. Minister of Finance. on the eve
of Baron De Reinach's death. caused con-
~sternation among the supporters of the
government this morning. M. Clemen-
ceau's letter badly compromised III. Rouvier
in the Panama affair. The Minister of
Finance said that something must be done
promptly to prevent the downfall of the
new Cabinet. so he at once called on Pres
ldsnt Carnot at the Palace of the Elysee
and handed in his resignation.
In the Chamber of Deputies NJ. Rouvier
confirmed the statement made by NJ. Glenn
enceau that he and Baron Dc Reinsch
visited NJ. Clemenceau on the evening of
the Baron's death. In his statement M.
Clemenceau said that NJ. Rouvier hadsex-
planned to him In the lobby of the Chamber
of Deputies that Baron De Reinach was be-
ing driven mad by the campaign organized
by the papers against him. that il was for
him n question of life or death. and that
the three visited NJ. Herr to induce him to
use his influence to stop the attacks that
were being made upon Baron De Reinach.
nj. Herr informed them that IL was not in
his power to stop these attacks. and his
visitors left. Nj. Rouvier, in acknowledge
ing that the statement of NJ. Clemenceau
was trae, said that he had done nothing TO
reproach himself for, and that his con-
science was easy.
NJ. Paul Deroulede. the former president
of the suppressed patriotic league, made q
violent attack upon ~. Rouvler, declaring
that he ought to be compelled to appear
before the high court to answer charges
made againstshim in connection with his
conduct while holding q ministerial posi-
tion.
NJ. Rouyier responded to NJ. Deroulede,
saying that he was ready to answer in any
court any charge that had been or might
be made against him and that be would
only repeat what he had said. NJ. Rouvier
added that he had visited Baron De
Reinach solely from motives of humanity.
He declared that q section of the press was
taking advantage of the Panama affair to
throw slurs upon all Republicans who are
In power. He would be able to resume his
place as q simple Deputy and could hold his
head high with the sense that his honor
had not been sullied.
This closed the incident, though it was
thought at the time that il might lead to
serious consequences. The lobbles and
galleries of the Chamber were crowded
throughout the sitting, every one expect
ing a crisis that would result in the over
throw of the government. The resignation
of NJ. Rouvier will probably result in an
extension of life TO the Ribot Cabinet.
Shortly after NJ. RouvIer's visit to Presi-
dent Carnot it was officially announced
that the Finance Ministers resignation had
been accepted, and Nj. Tlrard,s cx-Minister
J OF Finance, and at present representing
| France at the Brussels monetary confer
ence. had been appointed TO succeed him.