The morning call., 1892-11-21
THE PANAMA SCANDAL.

When it was first announced that the
French Government proposed to prosecute
N. de LesseIs ard his partners in the Pan
ANA Canal Company surprise was felt in
this country at tie obvious unwlsdOm of
stirring a matter which was sure to be
pregnant with scandal. Ii now appears
that The instigators of the prosecution had
method 10 their madness. Ii is stated
that they expect to implicate NJ. FlOQuet
and NJ. de Freycinet in the canal company
frauds. Il is alleged that both these men,
bers OF the Ministry got money from the
com pany for their campaign fund in the
contest against General BoUlangeT, and
that hundred, more or less, members Of
the Senate and the Chamber were con-
cerned in the transaction. TIE men against
whom the investigation is directed are not
NJ. de Lesseps and his sons, but the leaders
OF the moderate republican party. The
prosecutors propose TO use the Panama
canal as the Credit Mobilier was used in
this country to destroy the reputation Of
politicians whose places they covet.
Things have gone so far now that they
viii have TO go farther. If the prosecution
is dropped, Paris will conclude that Floquet
and De FTeycinet are guilty. Nothing but
a full disclosure Of the facts will clear
them. 1t is not charged that they got
money for themselves. The charge is that
they obtained from De Lesseps contribu-
lions to their campaign fund which the en-
gineer would not have made except ON the
understanding that he was TO be repaid in
Government influence. 1t ought to be pos
sibIe 10 elicit the facts, and IL Floquet and
De Freycinet are guilty they will have to
5Dffer the penalty.
1t will be washing dirty linen in public on
even a larger scale than the decoration bust
ness. II would not be agreeable to French
men to have their leading men arralgned
On charges OF corruption, which involve
none The less turpitude because the money
did not go into their Individual pockets
If the Government of France can only be
carried on by the use of money extorted
from corporations which want fayors from
the Government the French have a long
journey 10 travel before they can boast that
their institutions rest on a durable basis.
The moral of the inquiry cannot but
strengthen the monarchieal, the aristo-
cratic and the clerical parties. 1t will Inn
part FEASIBILITY TO the theory that de-
based literature or yenal press and lieen-
ti0us stage have Slapped the moral tone of
the French people TO such an extent that
honesty is not to be found in the representa-
tiyes of the people, and that the country
would be better governed if power were
restored to the hands of the privileged
classes.
Considerable Americans, making due allow
ance for the difficulties with which the re-
publican leaders have had TO contend. will
withhold their judgment until all the evil
dence is in. But they cannot help observing
that events are occurring in France which
can hardly make friends for the cause Of
good government. The recent decision of the
Minister OF the Interior, acting as arbi-
TRAITOR between a mining company and IFS
employees, TO the effect that the company
was bound to keep on its payroll a man ho
refused to work in the mine, and who de-
voted his time TO fomenting strikes. is not
calculated 10 increase public respect for the
Ministry of which the arbitrator was a
member; and the official report that since
Sedan France has spent the enormous sum
Of s., 500. 600, 600 on her army to provide for
the possibility Of new war with Germany
is not pleasant reading for taxpayers. Such
occurrences and such revelations afford
comfort to those who believe that only a
small fragment of the human race is fit for
seif-government: a proposition which is
inconsistent with the fundamental principle
nj the enualitv of mankind.