The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-29
PREMIER RiB0T WILL NOT FIGHT.
Many Duels Growing Out of the
Panama Scandal.
M Andrieux Wanted to Fight Ribot,
But tho Latter Would Not Have 1t
That Way-More Damaging Evidence
discovered Against Senators and
Depnties-Tho Socialists are Active,
But the Government Pays no Alton
tlon to Them.

anu IL Is not considered likely that
Andrieux will resort to violence, as
WAS at first minated. There Is no dis.
guising the fact that Andrieux has
gained much admiration by the bold.
ness and success OF his course.
There is no doubt that the govern
ment intended to order his arrest on the
charge OF treason, the arrest to be
effected suddenly, and to strike terror
to the plotters for the overthrow of the
administration.
Andrieux checkmated that scheme by
boldly proclaiming the governments
intentions and purposes, as claimed. to
silence him in the task of exposing the
Panama frauds by committing him to a
dungeon. He also proclaimed that he
had made sure OF the security of evil
dence in his possession or under his con-
t1ol, 30 that the purpose of tho govern
ment would be defeated.
This, it is reported. made tho minis
try hesitate in their purpose of arrest
ing Andrieux without having clear and
unanswerable evidence to establish a
case against him. The ministry feared
that the public would interpret hasty
arrest without positive evidence to sus.
tain 1t as proof that the statement OF
Andrieux as to the motives of the gov
eminent were true, and this would
mean the ruin of the cabinet.
When AndrieuX rose Monday morn
ing still at liberty and without tho
threatened order having been executed,
he determined on still holder move.
and tnat was to give Ribot the choice
between duel or tho retracton OF the
words i'll which he accused Andrieux of
endeavoring to excite disorder and vir-
tually of being an instigator of insurreo.
tlon. Andrieux sent a challenge to Nj.
Ribot on tho ground stated The Pre-.
mier replied through his secretary that
the utterances of Rlbot had not gone
beyond legitimate public criticism. An
drieuX, not satisfied with this reply,
sent two friends to the Premier TO de-
mand satisfaction. Tho friends repre-
scented that Andrieux considered Ribot's
words as implying that Andrieux was
guilty OF criminal and ignoble act,
and was seeking in an illegitmate man
ner to arouse disorder and bloodshed
Andrieux, therefore, insisted, they
declared, on such satisfaction as q duel
would give. Ribot replied quietly that
he had nothing to add to the explana-
ton already given through his score
| tary, except that he considered that
| the explanation ought to have dissipa ted
any doubts of Andrieux's to the sense
In which words, which An6rieuX con-
sidered an offense, had been used.
Ribot did not speak apologetically. nor
did he offer any retraction or even pro-
pose to mitigate or extenuate the
me aning of what had been said. He
declined, at the same time, to discuss
tho matter any further.
AndrieuX now states in letter to the
newspapers that Ribot's words could be
taken as equivocal. Andrieux adds:
They arc not acceptable to me, but
thank my friends for the measures that
they have taken toward dissipating the
doubts as to what Ribot meant" The
incident is considered ended 1t ia not
understood that the government has
abandc ned its purpose 10 make arrests,
though none have as yet been an.
nounced. The Figaro states that
book containing copies of letters has
been found in tho Office Of the Panama
Canal Company, which compromises a
largo number of senators and deputies.
The book in gu. stion contains copies of
the correspondence with Herr and Arton
relating to the sale Of votes in the
senate and chamber Of deputies in be-
half OF the Panama canal schemes.
There are letters demanding money,
together with dates on which payments
were made The book in question is
ono of the most valuable pieces of evi.
dence that has yet fallen in tho hands
OF the government and will he made the
basis OF additional prosecutions. 1t es.
tabiishcs beyond doubt that Herr was
not mere blackmailer, but was an
active 20 between in tho corruption of
the legislators, having apparently been
treated with implicit confidence by
Rrinach and others.
Extreme socialists are now taking
an active part in the Panama confusion.
Allemane, Guesde and other leaders.
advocated union OF all factions of the
party with view to common action.
The meeting was attended by great
excitement, some speakers denouncing
tho Efforts OF reactionists to take ad van
| tage OF tho troubles Of tho republic in
order to re-ostablish an empire or mon
archy and Others urging that prompt
| action be taken to overthrow the bour-
| geosie and establish q genuine popular
| government. A motion was offered to
the effect that the people should be
| summoned to the Palais Bourbon on
the day that the chambers again re- as
selnbles, and that an appeal should be
, issued to the army not to take arms
against the people. Several speakers
| denounced the motion as untimely and
likely to iniure the popular cause by
rallying the bourgeoisie to the support
/ of the government. This action on the
part OF the extremists does not cause
any serious anxiety to the government.
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