The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-23
As Having Had Canal Bribes
Amounting to f6,50O,OOO.
CLEMENCEAU A BENEFICIARY.
Other Names of Great Men Ina the Hands
of the Committee-The Imperisiists
and Courageous Leaders-The Pros-
incss Strangely siIent-Cities also are
Quiet, but the storm May Break To-
morrow.

PARIS. Dec. 23-The situation has
grown Rraver than at any period OF the
Panama Canal inves igation.
Those who thought the darkest reve
lations had been made were astounded
and terrified yesterday by the informa
tion that behind all the most threatening
rumors is basis Of fact authenticated
and produced by no less a parsonage than
Louis Andrieux, ex-prefect OF the PARIS
police, and ex-member Of the Chamber OF
Deputies, e man as brainv as he Is am
bilious aud unscrupulous.
lie has had excellent opportunities for
improving his knowledge of the private
affairs of public men, and he has not
hesitated to improve them. For political
purposes he has long withheld much OF
this incriminating Information, and
would be quiet still but that he early be-
came cognizant of the disastrous outcome
attendant upon the Panama Canal expo
sures, too many of which had been made
to render it longer advisable for him to
neglect the qualification OF his great cp-
portunity.
During the progress OF the investiga-
tion he has furnished TO the committee
Information, but it has had no Importance
compared with that which he yesterday
offered. 1t was backed by documentary
evidence in the form Of checks, letters,
stubs and photographs duplicating lO4
mem bers of Parliament as receivers OF
Panama bribes ranging from 1000 francs
to 1900 francs. and amounting in the az
pregate to fully $500, 900 francs.
lie has also offered to turn over to the
magistrate IA punched check with its stub,
the payee of which is NJ. Clenenceau aud
the amount of fsO, 600. But he has not yet
given all of his evidence. He reserves
some for the magistrates and the procur-
eur general. Some for personal aud ulte-
rior reasons he will not make public at
this time.
His statements yesterday were received
with amazement, but they were credible
and credited. The stock market was
nearly demoralizei aud panic vas mar
rowly averted.
To-day NJ Andrieux's name is on every
lip. "What is his objectii the plain peo
pie ask.
He has partly aus yered that question .
Here is the sta, ement he made yesterday:
.My aim is TO secur the revision OF the
constitution of France and to stamp out
opportunism in French politics. l we'll
know what will happen to me, nov that
| / have openly bsgun my campaign. /
| shall be vilified and abused. Attempts
will propably be made on my life. |
| have been falsely accused before. Now /
shall have my revenge, and it will be
terrible"
Revenge unmixed with patriotism or
| morality has thus far governed his ac-
| tions. Whether he will adhere to his
confessed purpose remains to bs seen.
| President Carnot, who thought he pos
sessed all necessary facts when he DIR
ected Ricard TO begin the prosecution OF
those involved in the Panama Canal
brberies, was dumbfounded Rumors
were current last night that he would
resign, but no corroborative information
could be obtainen.
The great danger Of France now may
not to be apprehended from the provinces.
They are strangely silent. But IL may be
the silence which precedes the eruption
of volcanic passions which will bury the
present government too deep for imme
diate resurrection. All of the important
French revolutions have had their origin
in the cities. The impending popular
outbreak may mark the exception. Who
knowsY
The Monarchists have the will and reso
luton to do aud dare They see thell
golden opportunity slipping past and
themselves powerless because they hav,
no leader equal to the emergency.
The Imperialists are equally irresolute
Their hopes have long been centred il
the Bonapartist Prince Victor. They
have prepared "A pronunciamento TO the
country calling for restoration of tn,
imperial family, but the apathy whict
has characterized their operations here
tofore characterizes them now.
The manifesto is as yet unsigned by th,
Prince aud unseen by the people. Per
haps he does not think the time is ripe
Il NAV not be. Yet day may brinl
forth revolution
| ,ator4. Ifunbraiiaa I'm Coid Glixcr m,