The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-18
LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE.

Attest NEWN FllUM EUNUfE.
yrrorrs OF THE FRENCH GOVERN
yENT TO PREVENT A COUP D'ETAE
Plating 10 Overthrow the Repubiic-A Vol |
.o,,e Outburst May Occur at Any Time
The whole European Situation Viewed
with Ainrm-Rritish Courts stop the
"Mlss,ng Word" Crnze-GorEeous Trous-
.esu OF Princess Marie, the Coming Bride
or Roumnnia's Crown Prince-The Late
Duke OF Mnrlborough's Famous Orchids
The spanish Hull Ring in n FlourishinE
Condition. .ondon's Army of Unemployed
Prince George aud Princess May.
LONDON Dec. 17.-Again the ever-threaten-
ing volcano which the French Government
rssts upon seems to be at the point OF erup.
tion 1t would BIO as easy to forecast the next
outbreak Of vesuvius as to name tho hour and
the form OF the political revolution OF which
France Is daily in dread. 1t is safe to say only
that IL II comes 1t will be a spectacle OF POM
peiian grandeur for those at q safe distance.
Tho fall OF tho Loubet Cabinet was not cir
cumstauce to the dangers which are now
dinly seen and suspected. A week ago the re-
organized Cabinet seemed to bs temporarily
safe. PERKS which would have swept not only
m, Ministry. but President Csrnot himself
from offlce, II Loubet had still been Premier.
have been barely escaped In tho seven days
interval.
The relentless march OF events this week
has brought the country face to face with two
startling features Of the situation which bode
the direst evil and which cannot be longer ig-
nored. One is the repeated assertion that a
vast conspiracy exists having for its object
tho overthrow Of the republic. The other is
the rumor. vague but widespread that Presi-
dent Csrnot Is implicated in the Panama scan
dala The London Times and other foreign
journals give credence to tho story OF plot
against the republic. but only within few
days have tho French people given serious
confederation to tho rumors
The story Is vague one. The Developments
sfths past month. 1t is represented. form a
portion OF a plan prematurely executed Tor
the discrediting OF the prescott Government
before tho country. The enemies otthsrepub-
lilo designed the elimination OF their consptr-
acy for just previous to the elections next year.
The Panama scandal was their principal card.
hut not their only one. Tho full extent OF the
Panama revelations. It is said. ia hardly sus-
pectsd yet When charges Of corruption first
became bruitsd about. 1t was attempted to
suppress them temporarily BY the very mon
who designed making more effective use Of
them few months hence. Matters have now
zone too far to hold back. The question is
whether the execution Of the plot against tho
Government will be pushed on at once. or
vh.ther its elimination will DO DELAYED ao-
eordInR to the original plan. The vote In the
Chamber on Thursday. whom all the opponents
OF the Government united against NJ. Ribot
and came within hairs breadth Of over
throwing him. indicates to many . desire for
An Immediate crisis. Indeed. many give to
RIbots startling speech Of warning on that
occasion all the importance Of words which
saved the French republic from disaster
Unfortunately tho salvation was only for the
moment The danger Is as great as over.
Loubet was able to get substantial Govern
mspt majorities several times within . week
Of his downfall. and 1t is only . week since
Ribot secured an overwhelming vote OF con-
fdance. So the escape Of Thursday By no
means signifies safety.
It's impossible to estimate the effect upon
public sentiment II the idea gains general
ersdeucs that there Is plot against the Gov
srnment behind the scandalous disclosures IN
Panama affairs. The French are not conserve
tive and there Is no denying the vast disgust
and indisn alton which recent revelations have
aroused. It is undoubtedly the majority opin-
ion that tho present Government Il corrupt
syen In its highest posts. France now. as al
ways. demands an attractive. bold personality
to mako the idea Of revolution tolerabls. 1t Is
impossible to guess the plans Of tho alleged
conspirators, but tho Indispensable leader Is
not In sight.
The idea discussed quite freely within day
or two that tho Chambers Panama Committee
would attempt coup d'etat and Beize tho Gov
eminent In the capacity Of q Committee OF
Public Safety hardly seems feasible. Presi-
don't Carnot is q weak man and his opponents
know It: but Ribot Is not weak and tho
revolutionists would have him to deal with.
Ribot is already fearfully handicapped. The
loss OF NJ Rouvier from the Cabinet, although
nothing is yet proved against him. was a Sc
we're blow to the Ministry: and now within
day or two even Carnots name is not above
public assault
There has been no sound reason advanced
for tho attack upon tho President The fact
that no was intimately associated with promi-
mont persons whom tho public believes to DO
guilty is hardly sufficient ground for suspi-
clon. 1t is now generally understood that
Carnot was opposed to the wholesale investi-
cation and public exposure OF tho Panama
scandal. but in view Of the threatened revolu-
tionary consequences OF that exposure 1t Is
conceivable that his motives may have been
pure. Carnot. however. Is weak man. and
weakness Is o crime in times like these.
Imagine an American President sending .
message like that which Carnot telegraphed
TO ~. Tirard at Brussels on Wednesday:
III you DO not accept the Portfolio Of
Finance shall resign to-mor morning"
There are constant rumors afioat to the eject
mat Carnot will resign on account OF the man
fold insinuations against him now bruitsd
about 1t is the fashion for high officials Of
france to resign when their private character
assailed even by an anonymous press Such
sstep by Carnot Just now would probably pre-
clpitate o revolution.
Popular excitement 10 at fever heat over tina
arrests OF yesterday In the Panama cases. It
is not too much to say that this extreme step
was taken as the only expedlsnt that would
save the Government and tho republic itself
The rigorous severity which accompanied the
act was resorted to solely for its effect pom
puohc opinion. The Government Is In abso-
iute terror OF the thirty-three." as the
Panama COMMITTEES ia callsd. II IL dasigned