Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-29
A DUEL DECLINED.
THE FRENCH PREMIER CALLED OUT
BY ANoRleux IN VAIN.
Yet Tie Is Neither Apologize Nor Dis
posed to Modify what He Has
said-Panama Mud.

tBy Angio-American cable to the Dispatch.l
PARIS, December 2s.-The effort Of An
drieux to draw Premier Ribot into duel
has failed. and it IS not considered likely
that Andrieux will resort TO violence, as
was at first intimated.
There is no Disgusting the fact that An
drieux 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 charge OF treason,
the arrest TO be effected suddenly and to
strike terror to the plotters for the over
throw of the administration. AndrieuX
checkmated that scheme by boldly pro-
claiming the governments intention ana
its purpose. as be claimed, to silence hlm
in the task OF exposing the Panama frauus
by committing him to dungeon.
He also proclaimed that he had made
sure of the security of the evidence in his
possession. or under his control. SO that
the purpose of the government would be
defeated. This. it Is reported. made the
Ministry hesitate in their purpose or ar
resting AndrieuI without having clear and
unanswerable evidence to establish case
against him. The Ministry feared that the
public would interpret a hasty arrest with:
out positive evidence 10 sustain 1t "a proof
that the statements of AndrieuX as TO the
motives of the government were true, ana
that this would mean the ruin of the Caol-
net.
II. RTBOr CHALLENGED.
When Andrieux arose Monday morning,
still at liberty and without the threatened
order having been executed, he determined
on still bolder move. and that was to
give Ribot the choice between duel and
q retraction of the words in which he had
accused Andrieux of endeavoring TO excite
disorder. and virtually of being an insti-
gator of insurrectlon. Andrleux sent q
challenge TO NJ. Rlbot on the ground
stated. and the Premier replied through
his secretary that the utterance OF Rlbot
had not gone bevond Legitimate public
criticism. Andrieux, not satshed
with this reply, sent two friends
TO the Premier tO demand salts
faction. These friends represented that
Andrieux considered Ribot's words as i'm
dying that Andr1eux was guilty OF q
criminal and ignOble act aud was seeking
IN an illegitlmate manner 70 arouse dlsOr-
der and bloodshed. Andrleux. therefore,
insisted, they declared, on such satlstac-
ton as duel would give. Rlbot replied
quietly that be had nothing TO add TO the
explanation already given through his Sc
cTetary, except that he considered that eX-
planation ought TO have dissipated any
doubts of AndrieuX's "a TO the sense IN
which the words which Andrieux consld-
cred offensive had been used.
RIBoT NOT APoLoGETIC.
NJ. Ribot did not peak apologetloally,
nor did he offer any retraction or even
propose 10 mitigate or eXtenuate the mean
ing of what had been SAID. He declined
at the same time TO discuss the matter any
further.
NJ. AndrieuX now states, in q letter to
the newspapers, that NJ. Rlbots words
could be taken as equivocal. NJ. Andrieux
adds: They are not acceptable to me,
but thank my friends for the measures
that they have taken toward dlsslpatlng
the doubts as to what NJ. Ribot meant
The incident is considered ended. IL ls
not understood. however, that the govern
ment has abandoned its purpose to make
arrests, although none have as yet been
announced.
COMPROMIsISG LErTER-BoOK.
The Figdro states that book containing
copies of letters has been found IN the office
OF the Panama Canal Company, which
compromises q large number OF Senators
and Deputies. The book in question con-
tains copies Of correspondence with Herr
and Arton relating 10 the sale OF votes IN
the Senate and Chamber Of Deputies in
behalf of the Panama Canal scheme. There
are letters demanding money, together
with the dates on which payments were
made. The book in question Is one OF the
most valuable pieces OF evidence that have
yet fallen INTO the hands Of the govern
ment and will be made the basis OF Gddi-
tional prosecutions. 1t establishes beyond
doubt that Herx was not q mere black
mailer, but was an active gO-Detween IN
the corruption of the legislators. having
apparently been treated with implicit con-
ldence by Reinacn and others.
SOCIALIST ACTIVITY.
The extreme Socialists are now taking
an active part in the Panama confusion.
Allemane, Guesde. and other leaders at Il
recent meeting advocated a union of all
factions of the party with view 70 COM
mon action. The meeting was attended
with great excitement, some speakers de-
nounclng the efforts Of the ReactlOnists TO
take advantage OF the troubles Of the re-
public in order to re-establlsh an empire
or monarchy, and Others urging that
prompt action be taken to overthrow the
jomgeoisie and establish a genuine popu-
lar Government. A motion was offered TO
the effect that the peoples representatives,
be summoned to the Palals Bourbon, that
the Chambers be again assembled, and
that an appeal be issued to the army not
to take arms against the people.
Several speakers denounced the motion
az untimely and likely 10 injure the pOpu-
lar cause by rallyIng the JOprg,o s,e to the
support of the government. This action
on the part of the extremists does not
cause any serious anxiety on the part OF
the government.
THE RRINACH AUTOPSY.
PARIS. December 2S.-It Is reported that
physicians who conducted the autopsy on
Baron Reinach report that death resulted
from natural causes. The report, though
it is Official is regarded with suspicion IN
certain quarters.
Bitterness Against France.