The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-16

The Panama Scandal Deepening.
Ii is n stroke OF extraordinary good luck
for tho existing republican regime in
France that its opponents at this critical
coniuncturc have no popular leader. Bou-
LANCER killed himself too soon.
1t is estimated that at least onc.third OF
the electors registered in France were.
through investments made either by them
selves or their relatives. Interested in the
Panama Canal. Every one of these electors
is now convinced that at every stage of the
company'S operations. and even when the
enterprise was at the last gasp, NJ. DE LES
SErS and his fellow directors were ruth
lrssly blackmailed not only by vcnal news
papers. but by many Of the leading menu
bcrs of tho Legislature. including some OF
the foremost representatives of the Repub-
lcan party. 1t has been proved that when
the company. already insolvent and des-
pcrate. sought parliamentary authority to
issue n lottery loan. its almost exhausted
treasury was forced to make good check
for some four million francs given to the
so-cullcd Baron RE1SACH for distribution
among his tools and accomplices in the
legislature and the press.
There is reason. however. to believe that
tho evidence OF widespread corruption
thus far disclosed is insignificant compar-
ed with what would be laid bare were
tho investigating committee invested with
judicial powers. 1t is true that the RIBoT
Ministry have privately communicated 10
the committee n multitude of documents
throwing light on tho transactions OF the
Panama Company. But at best such docu-
ments can only furnish clues which cannot
be followed up. unless tho committee OBJ
tain power to compel the attendance of
witnesses. to administer oaths. and to in
hict adequate punishment for false testl-
mony. AS things are now. attendance is
optional on the part Of those whose evil
dence is desired. and such testimony as Is
volunteered. not being exposed to the pen
allies for perjury. is very far from COM
manding popular confidence.
Still. in spite Of the distractions success
sively placed in the way Of a rigorous in
quiry. it is hard to ovcrrate tho gravity Of
the discoveries which have been made.
Significant Of far-reaching corruption or
completely is the disclosure OF the part
played by NJ. RoUvIER on the evening pre-
ceding REINACH's suicide-a disclosure
which has forced him to resign his post Of
Minister OF Finance. and which may yet
place him in the dock. One should bear in
mind that REINACH had received informa-
ton that warrant had been or was about
to be issued for his arrest. He knew that
unless the proceedings could be stopped.
there was no resource for him bu. seIf-in-
tlicted death. To whom under such circum-
stance does man conscious OF guilt nattl-
rally apply? TO whom but an accomplice
How could he venture to appeal in his cx-
tremity to Il member OF the very Cabinet
which had authorized the prosecution. I'M
less he had ground for believing that that
member could be made to betray his COL
leagues and cndeavor to thwart Justice?
The man for whom REINACH sent in his
despair was RoUvIER. and it was RoUvIER.
the Minister of Finance. who conse nted to
go with suspected criminal to one HERR,
supposed to have organized tho newspaper
attacks which had compelled a judicial in
vestigation Of tho frauds perpctratcd on
tho canal company. The two tried to OBJ
tain the cooperation Of NJ. CLEMENCEAU, in
whose newspaper. La Justice. HERR WIS a
large stakeholder: and also of NJ. CoNsTANs,
who was thought to be no stranger to the
explosion Of popular Indignation which
threatened to upset the Ministers who had
excluded him from Office. NJ. constants de-
clincd to do anything in tho matter, and
there is not particle OF evidence to con-
meet him with REINACH. HERR. or any of
the persons implicated in the Panama sean
dial. OF NJ. CLEMENCEAU the same thing
nDt lao coil for Hark. IL l.,
should REINACH and R0UvIRR have had re-
course primarily to him in their efforts to
sthe judicial proceedings 1t is true, on
the other hand. that but for CLEMENcEA U
the suspicious association of RoUyIER wi tn
REINACH on the night before the latter 8
death might not have been exposed.
The implication Of RoUvIER in this bust
ness may have disastrous consequences for
his colleagues and even for President CAR
NOT himself. How came such man to he
included in the RlBoT Ministry. when it
was VIGOROUSLY he who. in the LoUBET
Cabinet had most violently opposed first.
prosecution of the Panama directors, then
parliamentary inquiry. and. lastly. a post
norton examination OF REINACH's body ?
1t is scarcely credible that his colleagues
tho Finance Minister was one of the last
persons to see REISAcH alive. Why? Be-
cause when death occurs in Paris under
suspicious circumstances it is the invaria-
BILE custom of the police to investigate all
the preceding incidents. and a report of
tho Project of Police setting forth every
thing that REINAcH did on the night pre-
ceding his decease would naturally DO sub
mitted to President CARNOT.
Ifareport was not so submitted, why has
not the Project been dismissed from his
post II it was submitted. and the fact OF
RoUvIER's association with REINACH In the
latter's last hours OF life was made known
to CARNoT. how dared he permit man dis
credited by such relation to resume
the important post Of Finance Minister in
the Cabinet constructed by NJ. RIBoT? We
know not whether any solid grounds can
bo shown for the rumors that the father
and brothers of CARNoT were included
among the recipients of brides. but we can
see that the Presidents permitting close