The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-29
-ANnRtEuxss

He Fails to Draw Ribot into a puel-His.
Course in Dofyipg this Administration
Gains Him Friends.
PARIS, Dec. 2s.-The effort Of Ma
Andrleux to draw premier Ribot into a
duel has failed and It is not considered
likely that Andrieux will resort to vio-
lence, as was at first intimated. There.
lie no Disgusting the fact that N.
Andrieux has gained much admiration
by the boldness and success Of his
course. There is no doubt that the
government intended to order his
arrest on n charge Of treason, the arrest
TO be effected suddenly and to strike
terror into the plotters for the over.
throw OF the administration.
N. Andrieux checkmatedt that scheme
by boldly proclaiming the governments
intention and the purpose, as is claim-
ed, to silence him in the task OF expos.
ing the Panama frauds by committing
him to adungeon. He also proclaimed
that he had made sure OF the security
Of the evidence in his possession or IN.
der his control so that the purpose OF
the government would be defeated.
This, 1t is reported, made the ministry
hesitate in their purpose OF arrestingI
Al. Andrieux without having clear and
unanswerable evidence to establish q
case against him. The ministry feared
that the public would interpret q hasty
arrest without positive evidence to sns:
tain it as proof that tho statement OF
NJ. Andrieux as to the motives oil the
government were true and this would
mean the ruin of tho cabinet.
When N. Andrieux arose on Monday
morning still at liberty and without
the threatened order having been exec
cuted, he determined on q still holder
move and that was to give NJ. Ribot the
choice between q duel or a r%etraction OF
the words in which no had accused NJ.
Andrieux of endeavoring to excite dis
order and virtually of being an insti.
gator of ~insurrectiorS Andrieux sent q
challenge to NJ. Ribot on the ground
stated. The premier replied through
bis secretary that the n%tterances OF III.
Ribot had not gone beyond legitimate
public criticism. Andrieux, not satis-
fed with this reply, sent two friends to
the premier to demand satisfaction.
The friends represented that NJ.
Andriaux considered M. Ribot's words
as implying that he, NJ. Andrieux, was
guilty OF a criminal and ignoble act aud
was seeking in an illegitimate manner
to arouse disorder and bloodshed.
NJ. Ribot replied quietly and decis-
lively that he had nothing to add to the
explanation already given through his
secretary, except that he considered
that the explanation ought to have dis
sipated any doubts OF Andrienx as to
the sense in which the words which
Andrieux considered offensive had been
used. N. Ribot did not speak apollo
getically nor did he offer any retraction
or even propose to mitigate or oxtenu!
latelthe meaning OF what has been said.
He declined at the same timeto discuss
the matter any further.
N. Andrieux now states in a letter to
the newspapers that NJ. Ribots words
could be taken as equiyocal, adding:
"They are not acceptable to me, but l
thank my friends for the measure they
have taken toward dissipating doubts
as to what NJ. Ribot meant"
The incident is considered ended,
and it is believed that II. Andrieux
will not attempt to insult NJ. Ribot
publicly, if, indeed, he has entertained
such a purpose. The Figaro states that
a book containing copies of letters has
been found in the Office Of the Panama
company which compromises a large
number of senators and deputies.
The extreme socialists are now taking
an active part in the Panama confusion.
at a meeting that was largely attended,
some speakers denounced the efforts of
the reactionists to take advantage OF
the troubles OF the republic in order to
re.establish an empire or a monarchy,
and others nrging that prompt action
should be taken to overthrow the .bour-
geoise and establish a genuine popular
government.