New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-01
TBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEi


cvpufont: 1892. By The Tribune Assscfa'ton
London, April 3O--Thc twelve heroes Of the
Ravachol jury have done one service. They have
enabled the present generation TO understand more
clearly how it is that minority has always gov
prned France how it that the Reign of Ter
ror was established in 1898. how it that what
NJ Taine so well calls the JacObin Conquest of
Fmnce was effected. minority with the cour
are of its opinions is stronger than majority
which has no courage of any kind.
The verdict of eXtcnuating circumstances In
Ravachols case is treated by all Europe as ver-
dict of pure cowardice. Even in Paris. hardly a
voice is lifted in excuse for these gentlemen. One
respectable journal, lie Temps, excuses them, and
is to that extent less respectable. NJ. Paul de
Cassagnac excuses them. on the express ground
that man must be expected to think first of his
own safety and after that-a long way after-of
his country. The other apologists are Reds. or
outcasts or such persons as NJ. Drumont, the jew
hater. The public opinion of France was tersely
expressed in the cry of "Cowards!" which saluted
the jury as they left the court Whether other
juries will be less oowardly, remains to be seen.
Already it is predicted that if Ravachol he trled
for the murder of the hermit of Chambes, eX-
tenuatng circumstances will present themselves 10
the minds of that N.y ALEC.
Matthew Arnold found the want OF Germany
to be civic courage. The want is, ana haS ions
been, at least equally conspicuous in France
The Paris Commune of 1871 proved 1t over again
At present the Anarchists the SUCCESSORS OF the
Jacobins of l793, and of the Communists of 81.
They arc more contemplate minority than either
of their predecessors Yet the terror they inspire
is not less deep.
worse symptom yet is the readiness 10
make a hero of Ravachol The clvlhties
shown him by the police, by the press
and by the judge on the BENCH are
of kind which might he offered to some mis-
guided reformer The mildness of manner of NJ.
Cues the presiding magistrate, was not pleasing
TO the French who witnessed the display Of it
toward Ravachol. There is, in fact, but one man
whom everybody-the Anarchists excepted-praises,
and that is NJ. Quesnay de Beaurepare the Prose
cutorG General. His conduct of the prosecution
and his address to the jury were admirable, whether
from a professional or civic point OF view
He spoke with his life in his hands, and is clearly
one of those men TO whom danger acts as
tonic.
The speech of Ravachol's counsel was depor-
able Counsel in France as elsewhere. are allowed
great liberties the more reason why these liberties
should be used discreetly NJ. Lagasse's speech
was a plea for Anarchy, disgrace 10 the bar OF
which he is q member. and to the Judge VINO
tolerated it, These are the things. the verdict
and the general tone and license OF the tral.
which hold France up 10 the scorn OF Europe as NJ
Maynard declares in lie Figaro '-himselt type
and echo of French opinion. 3,
What NJ. Loubet says. man OF aohity anu
courage. must be read as addressed 70 rrcnoh
ord;ence Criticism on it from our point of view
would perhaps be mistake Yet even 'iie renoh
do not like to hear their Prime Minister speak
Worry
thj..e which no human power could have pre-
vented "Prefects. Ministers, Governments
sars NJ Ioubert. "can do nothing. for all Is in-
comnrebensible. What is that but an avowal tha'
~. Anarchists if they choose to persevere' are
omrinotent? These indiscreet words DO not pre-
won't NJ. Loubet from doing somethlhe niuc"
evan IN restore confidence and to protect runs
There is a strong feeling in the captai 'i'i'
t,c nolice have not shown themselves e1uai "
,b. occasion. Perhaps not but when an ou"
occurs the police are always blameo' W. lS
restaurant was known 10 be IN danger We"
loft say Paris critics. in charge OF one P'ii'
VI, NJ Ioubet is convinced that no precaution
has been omitted and that May Day l'seii W.. W..
go ou;e+lv The most energetic ana eAplcio
orders have been given, he insists no oouoo'
Int Geneva is thrOnged with farlsi'hs
faith in the prophetic powers of their rulers Is
ut
singular enough For example the order OF ''ie
noI;ca to Mr.. Munroe, the American banker, not
to give a reception in Lis house lest IL misi'
.,,r,ct the notice OF Anarchists. Some puoiio
functionary has an apartment, it appears, IN the
s.mo hotel. The foreigner. too, is receiving
s,.,;al attention from the Anarchists. Ihey ha'1
cont word IN the managers of large foreign shops
and other establishments that they Will De Dio"h
nm hacause they are foreign. You may almost eA
nee, IN hear some boulevard journal remark Una.
after all the Anarchists arr patrio's. ihese anu
a thousand other details are Significant OF 'nc
state of French opinion.
II is difficult not to contrast the panic w'iic"
admittedly prevails in Paris with "e coo'n'o'
of London when the policy of dynamite was III
favor with some Of the Irish leaders lhat aso
Was An effort far more serious than the presen'
one in France 10 establish state OF terror. IL
totally failed. So, it may be hoped, VIII .i'e
Anarchist effort fail ultimately in France bu'
for the moment il almost succeeds. Inc 'error
xh;ch ia one of its chief aims does exist. IT does
not exist, happily, among the rulers OF frahc' "o'
l. ,h, 70 much evidence tending to show that among
,bo working c1asscs there is any sympathy WIN
Anarchists. They belong, not to the working, but
o. Tho criminal classes. They have, perhaps set
tho working classes to thinking, and have shown
ho,, .lose is the logical connection between
on.rcbv and socialism. / do not suppose phat
.ir Henry George would approve of Ravachois
methods. but the interval which separates them
is not in fact very wide. Both are enemies Oh
society az IL exists and Ravachol is not the more
dangerous Of the two.
Amid the roar of dynamite explosions you may
.,;I h.,, tho crackle of Clerical controversies.
The Church like the Anarchists. is making war
on tho Republic. only in different way. Four
h,.hnns h.ve hurst out, two of them old offenders
and two new. Two or three weeks ago the
Risbon ~ Monde was excusins himself for his
POLITICAL CIRCULAR on the ground that it had not
been published or read 1t has now been read