The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-08
Little Faith Is Placed in the Sincerity Of the
Ministry. Which Is Believed to Be Per.
mittiDg the Guilty to Escape.
Though Not Apprehensive of Trouble
the Government Is Fully Prepared.
Ferdinand De Iesseps Accused CT Intending
to Make Fictitious Sale of His Property
His Sons Alleged Confession.
THE PERIL OF FRANCE.


II the Canal Swindlers Are Not Prosecuted
the Masses May Take Action.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
LONDON, Jan. 7.-Persons returning from
their holidays in Paris and Paris corre-
spondents of London newspapers agree that
the Developments of the coming week will
surpass anything yet told in connection
with the Panama canal scandal The prin.
eipal danger attendant upon these rev.
elatIons has already been suggested
by the Anarchist placards which have
been posted regularly in the last
four nights throughout the city and as
regularly have been torn down by the po-
lice in the early morning The burden of
these placards Is that tie government ID
only half-hearted in the inquiry into the
Panama frauds. that II. Bourgeois, Minister
of Justice. while PROCESSING all zeal. is. in
fact, doing all he can TO thwart the pur-
poses of the few honest men connected
with the government. and that unless the
masses rise and take things into their own
hands all the guilty men will escape.
The kernel of truth in these assertions is
illustrated by the attitude of the govern
ment toward the proposal of Ferdinand de
Lesseps to sell on next Tuesday his castle.
La Chesnaye, to the highest bidder. This
sale. as 1t is called. will be. in fact. no sale
atall, but merely device for getting all
his property into his wife's hands before
the final crash. The evidence of this fact
is so apparent that even the blindest minis
ter of justice must perceive 1t. De-
spite Nine. De Lesseps' stories of poverty,
Ferdinand de Lesseps is a rich man. As
president of the Suez Canal Company be
drew. up to within few days ago, 200.00
francs annually. From various other
sources. mostly speculative investments,
his yearly income is go 900 francs. Besides
la ChesDaye, he holds vast quantities Of
real estate. 1t Is certain, therefore. that
no need of money could have moved him 10
exchange his castle for any thing else. The
purchaser cannot come into the enjoyment
of his rights until after the death of Mime.
De Lesseps. which, in consideration of heI
youth anC eXuberant health, Is not likely
to take place for thirty forty years.
Granting the whole usufruc is Nine. De
Lesseps', nobody is foolish enough TO be-
lieve that any capitalist in France 10 will.
ing to buy castle and park at an enOrmOua
price thirty or forty years in advance OF
the possibility of enjoying them. and. In
fact, nobody at La Chesnaye expects such
capitalist TO appear at the sale.
The apparent purchaser has already
been selected by Nine. De Lesseps and
her advisers. He Is trustworthy
dummy will bidfn ad7ostensibiy hold the
property. while, III fact. De Lesseps him.
self will be the owner still The whole
subterfuge will be useful In just one way:
If any proposition for cOnfiscation of the
estates OF Panama directors and for resti-
tuition from the proceeds to the swindled
stockholders follows the revelations of the
next three weeks, the castle of Ferdinand
de Lesseps will be beyond the reach of law.
All this is common talk In Paris Just now.
yet the government has not lifted a finger
TO prevent the swinGle. It is almost cer-
tain, moreover. that the Department of us
tice will allow the farce To be played to
the end without making the slightest eff.
fort TO even stay action until the event OF
the criminal trial. This is but o repetition
OF the leaden- footed proceedings of the
government in November. when men like
Herr and Arton. who knew too much about
corruption in high places, were permitted
10 flee the country, and seizure of private
papers was delayed until the most incrimi-
mating documents were destroyed or taken
over the border.
The policy of NJ. Delahaye and his coll
leagues in the attempt TO entangle the
government in the Panama scandal Is tn
give NJ. Bourgeois and his -trmmers
enough rope with which to hang them.
selves. After the farcial sale of La Ches-
naye the Delahaye group will make an on
slaught on the Cabinet revealing all its
acts of criminal omission and pushing it to
the brink of another crisis. This pro-
gremme is likely TO be realized within the
neNt ten dnys