The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-29
DE LEssEPs' ARREST.

The news that old NJ. de Lesseps is to be
placed on trial for participation in the
Panama frauds is an illustration of the
stern impartiality Of French justice. No
doubt there will be many sympathiZers
with De LeSseps in the trouble which comes
upon him in extreme old age. He is one Of
the heroic figures of the time. Many an
incident in his long career appeals TO the
heart, and commands admiration and re-
spect. Half a century ago his name was a
household word in consequence of the in
trepidity with which he exposed his life by
escorting women and children through the
terrible bombardment of Barcelona TO places
of safety. A quarter Of a century later all
the world turned cut to do BIN honor as the
man who. in spite of the sneers Of en-
gineers, and the active hostility of England,
had succeeded in doing that which the R0-
mans had been unable to do-open a
waterway between Asia and Africa.
Again, his name filed the newspapers on
the occasion Of his romantic marriage at
the age of Ga with lovely young creole,
who has borne him large family of chill
dren. And again, soon afterward, lovers Of
gallant behavior told how he. resoute and
uncompromising Republican as he was,
went forth on that dreadful day when the
empire went down in blood and rage. took
the trembling Empress on his arm. marched
fearlessy through the furious mob of Paris
and never let so her hand until he had
placed her in place of safety.
Barbour, the lawyer who defended De
Lesseps al the preliminary examination.
did not offer any evidence to eXculpate his
client. Indeed, his plea was equivalent to
plea Of guilty. he appealed in misericor-
diam. That is not the way in which justice
is administered Men cannot be suffered to
break the laws because, ut some former
period Of their career, they exhibited noble
qualities. N. de Le>sepS was unGuestion-
ably guilty If the offense Of paying cut the
money of the Panama Company to silence
those who knew hat the enterprise was a
failure. If France cOndOnes an offense Of
that gravity tie administration of French
Justice would be brought INTO contempt.
The great glory Of the nineteenth century,
as Barbour called him, must bear the pen
atty of his misdoings just like any common
person. Indeed, the very eminence of his
/ character, and the faith the French placed
| in his ligbiest word, were aggravations OF
/ his guilt he ought to have set fresh ex-
ample of his old-ume courage. confessed the
! truth about the canal, and defed the black
! mailers to do their worst.
Il justice takes its course and the old man
ends his days in French prison it will 20
very hard with the politicians and editors
who may be convicted of having black
/ mailed him. There will be 20 grant sorrow
| for him; for them nothing but the sterDest
| demand for retribution. Such a man as
! Greyy. whose brother was President. and
/ who moved in the highest political and
social circles. is likely TO be made to feel the
! fun rigors Of the law. For the class OF
which he WAS type no possible excuse can
/ be framed. They were guilty Of the meanesi
! 0fftnse known in the list of human crimes
! and in committing it they brought one Of
/ the bestowed Freuchmen TO a felon's doom
/ The feelings of NJ. Garnet at this cruel
! iunctuTe can well be conceived. 1t is said
! Of ore Of the ancient heroes that finding his
/ son guilty of crime he ordered him 10 ex-
/ ecutiOn without a culver Of q muscle. But
( when TIE hesdsman had done his duty the
/ broken-hearIed father withdrew 10 some
obscure refuge, never smiled again. and was
! GLAD when death ended his sorrow. II NJ
de Lesseps is convicted and punished, NJ.
! Carnot will feel that the ISLANDERS with
/ which Englishmen have pursued him dur
/ ing the present scandal-slander5 which
/ have been faithfully reproduced in OIL
anglomaniac papers-were the least Of the
/ burdens he has to bear.