The morning call., 1892-12-28
LIVE THE REPUBLIC
FrenChmen at Last See
the Danger.
BETTER LAW THAN ANARCHY.
The Forces of Order Compelled to
Unite Against the Forces of Dis
order to Preserve Society.
Special TO THE MORNING CALL

New YORK. Dec. 27.-Smalley cables TO
the Tribune from Paris as follows: The
period OF political calm, though Jess agree
able to newspapers and perhaps TO news
paper readers, has its advantage. People
can reflect. Even the French sometimes
reflect. This useful process of mind is
going on now, and the first result of il may
be seen in some very striking expressions
of doubt as TO the expected political effects
of the Panama campaign.
Whom will that campaign ultimately
profit? is The question now asked, and 1t is
answered in various tones Those who
began it-and. il is admitted. for political
mOtive-the Radicals, RoyaIists or Bouan-
gists, all the different wings and sections of
the great party of the discOntented, each
expected distinct political gain. 1t is not
clear that any of them will gain. Bou-
langism without BOuangcr does not i'm
press the French imaginations. No more
does royalism without any good candidate
for king, or cesarism without Cesar
The chief effect thus far of all this
Panama business is, in the opinion OF many
cool observers. to recruit the socialistic
party. The fundamental idea of socialism,
as OF anarchy, is the rottenness OF society.
The Panama scandal proves ii to be rather
more rotten than anybody knew. This is
country IN which logic is applied TO politics,
and when the argument for socialism is
logically strengthened by the disclosure of
all this extra corruption the party of social
Ism is also strengthened. This rather alb
stract view has its practical side and its
practical bearing Cd the politics of to-day.
The socialists are shaking themselves free
from all entanglng alliances. They are ap-
RI hair
iZing their own campaign The latest mani
festo OF the Artisan party begins thus:
Citizens, sweep into the sewers the
accused and the accusers together. They
are accomplices in the same iniQuity-the
despoliation of the laborer for the gratifca-
tiOn of their appetites"
The only conservatives who now deserve
the name are, In France if not elsewhere,
those who would conserve not merely the
republic but society, and who see that an
attack on society is one that must be met
Andreux SAYS that he wants to American
lie the French republic. He has never
uttered word in public which shows that
he has any true conception of the ideas on
which the American republic is founded
or Of the political principles and methods
which give effect to those ideas. He, like
too many others who have dabbled in the
Panama plot, has a perfectly distinct and a
perfectly selfish object He is for upsetting
men and things as they are, in the hopes of
better chance under . new order An
drieux is not socialist, but he is working
for the benefit and in behalf of socialism.
So clear Is il that all the forces OF disorder
in France are cooperating that the forces
OF order, under whatever name and in spite
OF political divisions, may be compelled to
coalesce for their common protection.
The remarkable feature of the situation
to-day is, as began by saying. the public
recognition Uf the danger. Two Of the
leading journals of Paris, one of them roy
alist at heart and the other moderate re-
publican. take precisely the same view. 1t
is the view SO often wanting in French
politics, the view of common-sense. They
are beginning to see that it matters less
whether this crisis advances the fortunes OF
ole political party or another than whether
the republic should be preserved. They
agree that the republic is still the best, and
that society, even though not perfect, is
better than scramble or than any form of
anarchy.
The alleged discovery that Baron de Rein
aeh did not commit suicide, but was pois-
oued, requires confirmation. Should 1t prove
true it will give rise to fresh crop of sus-
picious calumnies. perhaps to a new theory
Of the Panama prosecution.