, 1892-12-31

iusAOA SOAVo w. 1O5
that only oompulsion couldtexonerats them
rom a professional obligation to maintain
secrecy. The desire for those powers was
therefore specially strong, and Mas happened
by the evidence of VI. Prinet.s This geutle-
man, who is a ''Juge ~dlnsEucton,' or
investigating Magistrate, speedily charged
with he prosecution of the managers of the
Panama Company, as a State official, thought
himself bound to assist the inquiry, and
though he declined to reveal ATTY names,
being forbidden by professional etiquette, he
informed the Committee that nearly four
millions sterling had been expended by the
Panama Company on advertisement, &c.;
that G400. 00p had been entrusted to Baron
Rsinach for distribution that SIX hundred
persons had received money, and that among
them were journalists who were also Depu-
ties. The Committee at once perceived that,
ifinyested with powers, it could obtain the
names ana it therefore demanded the powers
from the Assembly. NJ. Loubet, however,
having in the interim repented of his
concession in granting any inquiry at all, on
Saturday refused the powers on the tutlts
plea that the moral auth rity" of the Com
mittee was sufficient fer all purposes; and
the Chamber supported him, but only, by
the narrow majority Of 234to 2l8, no less
than fifty Republicans abstaining, because, it
was understood, their oonsclences were at
variance with their party allegiance. THIS
revealed the temper of the House, and, on
Monday. the Committee brought forward a
new demand. All through the history OF
the case there has been a suspicion that the
sudden death Of Baron Reinach was not
accidental. but intended to battle inquiry
that his bureaux, or perhaps his coffin, con-
trned his secret letters and that the au-
.horities. in allowing a hurried funeral, and
decIln;np to put seals on his bureanx, which
wonld have been the usual course in q case Of
suspicious death, were DESTROYS of hushlng
M the whole scan1al- The COMMITTEES,
therefore. asked the Government for an order
to exhume the body, and were supported by
Vi Brssnn. a former Minister of Justice, one
of tle best lawyers IN France, and chairman
Of the Committee itself. They bad been order
ed he said to throw light on Panama M urs,
and to that light the or baron
Reinach's body was. in his Judgment, essential.
NJ. RicArl. Minister of Justice, refused point
bank. declaring the llegu-
which cannot be true, or no MURDER by poison
o,nld be in~vrstiga ed-aud NJ. Loubet losing
either his temper OF his nerve, Snout'u ll@'
the Chamber might do rs it liked, but for
hinsAlf he hid rather be turned out of ofic"
thm be bllliea any longer. Deputies would
NOT even let HIM ) elk without Interrupt
tons This exhibition Of feeling was re-
scented by the Cha.aber, wAtch elw N IL
il Iication of a visible stife inquiry and MI
n,tv distinction, were tor tie moment
: ,r.totten. The Ord9r o, the Day, accoP Ell
nv tha Premier as a Y ste of confidence, was
therefore rel scted by }o+ 10 PIG I'm enorm ms
milo .itv. the circumstances considered and
the House then accepted NJ. BrlsSoa's resoI0-
tion that the Chamber adopted the deci ION
Of the omnittee Of Inquiry" by BOB too.
h, Chamber, in fact, insisted that NJ;
wheach's death should be q subject OF legal
Rainiry and of course the Government
nauich had resisted that course OF action,
retired.
NJ. Brisson was Immediately sent t9r by
NJ OarnoU to form IA Ministry, and. II ne
succeeds. viii. OF course invest the mmit
with all necessary legal powers, though ne
NAV himself resign the craftsmanship; but
wbether he succeeds or not, the inquiry must
be prosecuted to the bitter end. Suspicion IN
France is an active force, as we all saw
during the "spy" mania and it has been
exaggerated into fury by the reluctance OF
the Government to press in 'estigation home
bv the resistance afforded by all officials IN
the Procuaeur's department, who are posing as
defenders of legality, though the chamber
has interfered only with the Crown lawyers,
as we should call them, amt not WIN the