The herald., 1893-01-20
PANAMA CANAL CULPRITS.
Interest in Their Trial on
the Increase.
M. Barbour Opens the Case for
the Defense.
He Says His Clients Are Being Made
Political Sea pegoats.
Clerk stephane sticks to His Story
About Clemenceau-O -Orleanists
and Socialists Announce
Their Programmes.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS, Jan. 10 Public interest in
the Panama trial is evidently increasing
as the case draws to close. Today the
defense opened, and the court room was
packed with people anxious to hear
Maitre Barboux's speech opening the
case for his clients. Political considera-
tions, he declared, had much to do with
the prosecution, and he emphatically
insisted that the men he was defending
should not be made scapegoats for the
advantage of any party or faction, nor
to advance the designs of ambitious
men. He maintained that the
probity Of his clients was in
nowise affected by the indictment
on which they were standing trial.
He declared that the construction
of the Panama canal was far removed
from speculative aims. In its inception
and progress the scheme mad an honor
able foundation, though speculation
arose from it. He dealt with the charges
against the De Lesseps, and endeavored
to chow that they are unfounded.
In concluding, Barbour declared that
he proposed to prove that the public
were misled regarding the heavy out
lays of the company, which he declared
were fully justified.
When Barboux had finished, the court
adjourned till Tuesday.
sTEPHANE STICKS TO HIS STORY.
Stephane, the clerk of NJ. Proper, was
recalled today by the parliamentary
commission of investigation. He re.
iterated his statements as to the list re-
ceived by him from Baron de Reinach,
and its delivery to Clemenceau, contra
dieting in every particular the denials
made yesterday by the latter before the
commission. Andrieux's list OF 104
compromised deputies was shown
Stephane and he recognized it as a
copy of the list Reinach dictated to him
and which he gave to Clemenceau.
Asselion, Stephane's superior clerk,
testified that the latter mentioned the
list to him before 1890, but had not men
toned any names.
Hyeronimus, chief accountant of the
Panama company, gave the details Of
the purchase of the telegraph.
THE oRLEANIsT PROGRAMME.
Comte de Haussonville, general rep
resentative of Comte de Paris, has form
ulated the Orleanist programme in q
long letter to the editor of the Soleil.
He denies that the Monarchists have
tried to aggravate the Panama scandal.
Nobody could doubt that the time had
come when strong hand and will were
needed at the head of the French peo-
pie. The Monsrchists ought to assume
the leadership and direction of public
opinion in this emergency. A
league to sustain public integrity
and protect society should be formed,
as the government is absorbed in the
ton of the Monarchist movement was
complete, and they should now make an
all Conservative and Liberal alliance
possible, without distinction. Precise
instructions would be issued before the
Meantime, it was necessary to prepare
for the conflict and unforeseen emergen-
cies, as violent crisis was inevitable.
In anticipation the Monarchiets were
bound by loyalty to France to organize
with all the force they could rally, and
prepare the way for the prince of Or
leans.
SOCIALIST DECLARATIONS.
The Socialist leaders declare that the
Panama scandals are rapidly convincing
the people of the necessity of a social
revolution. They assert if they had
the money to contest seats in the cham
ber OF deputies in all the departments,
they could gain control of the country
at the next election being able to make
contests in only few places, however,
they will have 40 or more members who,
as a respectable minority to organize on,
will enable them to sweep the country
four years hence. Then the Socialist
regime will be put in force. The gov
ernment will take possession of the
railroads, warehouses and farms, in
crease wages and shorten hours. They
deny any intention of using force to
bring about the results aimed at.
DE BLowITz's EXPULSION DEMANDED.
A number of papers have demanded
the expulsion OF M. de Blowitz, the Paris
correspondent of the London Times,
whom they accuse of systematic hos
tility to France.