The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-13
FRANCES ELECTIONS NEAR.
A CAMP iTGN OFF ABUSE, WITH Ma
IIONAL ISSUES SENk.

| tfoNdb kocoho Guam
| No Hope tbnt the Dcrro,icrs OF the Govern
| rent viii he Beaten - Not All OF che
| Panama Scandal M,- Been 1oid-why
Certain Men OF the tEqu. Expect TO Win.
PARIS. Aug 1.-The electoral campaign In
| France now RACES with historical fury. 1t 10
peculiarly French. Tho only issues which re-
ceivc public attention are personal and local.
| There IL not oven distinct struggle between
tho Socialists and Anti Socialists and Of other
| general division VI forces there Is none. IL 10
| q campaign OF abuse, passion, and prejudice
Tho leaders OF oil parties and all clidues seem
to avoid every national question. md bid for
support only on the ground that the other fell
lows are the blacklist OF rascals
One scandal OF the IN altitude which nils the
air deserves attention. II is q charge brought
by NJ. Dupas against both the Loubct and
Ribot Ministries, and by implication against
President Carnot His allegation Is that the
Government was secretly protecting and me-
gotiating with Arton. the bribery agent OF
Baron Reinach In tho Panama scandal. while
pretending to DO in hot pursuit OF him. 1t has
q much sounder foundation than the ordinary
election story. 1t Is unfortunate that 1t appears
Just now. when all implicated can treat 1t as
campaign lie. There is ample evidence aside
from Nj. Durass statement. that the charge 10
true. Facts which are becoming known ro-
Earding this latest phase OF the Panama scam
DIAL corroborate al! that was said in these de-
spat0hes last winter. to the effect that tho Gov
ernment pretended virtue and that the invos-
tiGation OF tho Panama infamy was only
sham. The real truth about the political end
OF the Panama corruption never was allowed
to be told and never will DO told. Nearly all OF
the guiltiest blackmailers. who still control the
Government OF France. will be reelected In q
week. Hence they will elect President and
divide all the epoils OF public Office among
themselves. They will remain in power until
some fresh exposure of their crimes exasper-
ates the people to apply the traditional French
remedy for an intolcrnble Government.
Dupas's revelations are having good deal Of
effect among the electors. but in many cases
these electors are powerless to express con-
demnation BY votes. They are beginning to
say they have only a choice OF thieves between
rival candidates. The situation therefore. 10
fast becoming chaotic.
The past week has turned out a large crop Of
so-called duels. and some blood has been split
at political meetings. The week remaining OF
the campaign Is far too short for effective or
GaniZation OF any party Of reform. The public
temper is becoming ugly. and when election
day arrives. 1t may take some interesting and
violent forms Of expression in many places.
Any attempt to forecast the result OF the
polling on Aug. 20 would be an Idle waste Of
time. Confusion is promoted instead Of
allayed by candidates seeking reelection be-
cause they believe. and rightly. that their
chances are improved by the liquida-
tors Of the Panama company having taken
this opportunity to begin suit against the
contractors and bankers Of the enterprise. in
GLIDING Seligman Brothers, to recover 150.
100000 francs. on the ground that the III oney
was obtained under false pretcn"es. 1t is safe