New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-10
TIE FRENCH THIRLIGIG.

The sentences in the Panama cases are ex-
traordnary from every point OF view. ihc
Grand Frenchman. who achieved marvellous
conquest over Nature at Suez and was 1or Il
generation the chief idol OF sympathetlc anu
nroud nation is condemned to end his days as
n convict. Since the fate OF blind BellsarluS
bepeinc for aims in the capital OF an Empire
which his sword had saved there has been no
reverse of human fortune equal, to that OF
Ferdinand de Lesscps. Once the hero OF France
and of Christendom, he is now sentenced with
his son to five years imprisonment. Asso-
ciated with him in disgrace is NJ Elhel' whose
famous tower was the chief glory OF the falis
Expositon but who is now condemned 10 TWO
vcars' Imprisonment. NJ. Fontane ana Henri
Cottu. who are sentenced TO the same term ana
an equal financial penalty, have not been great
mon like NJ. de Lesseps, but they have been
highly favored by fortune and among the most
conspicuous figures of the gay world OF faiiS.
Tbov will carry to their graves the stigma OF
convicted corruptionists and swindlers. 1t Is
in Paris a. the merry world goes round that
tho whrligig of Fortune makes its most IAN
tastc revolution.
Rut the wonder does not end with the con-
yictions The acqutta!s are series OF equal
maryels. Both the Ministry and the legislators
have taken strong ground for many weeks IN
favor of thorough investigation of the Panama
scandal and rigorous prosecution OF all pubic
men implicated in corrupt transactions. After
all these protestations of public virtue there mas
practically been a collapse of the legal proceed
ings against legislators on NJ. Andrews black
LIST. When the dag net Is drawn III Few
small fry bribe-takers may be cnmeshed, but it
i evident that the big fish are to escape Inc
Court of Indictments, which corresponds IN
oone,al way to an American Grand Jury, has
E;,ed RI take I'D the cases OF officials OF the
highest rank who have been implicated in the
Panama exposures. The canal projectors ana
fnanccrs convicted of maladmlnistration OF me
company's affairs are condemned, albeit with
sentences grotesquely light and out OF all pro-
nortion with the magnitude OF their crimes.
The statesmen who have betrayed their Official
tr,st are acquitted without ceremony. so true
is il that il is the unexpected that happens IN
Paris.
Il can hardly be possible that the Ministry
of the day can survive this period OF aS'ouhd .
ing transitions OF fortune. The scenes enacted
this week in the Chamber denote extreme po-
litcal confusion and administrative helpless
ness Premier RibOt, in order to escape dc-
feat. has virtually accented an order of the day
discrediting himself and his Ministerial a'So-
cats. That is moral reverse which must
inevitably prove fatal to the existing Ministry.
Perhaps there is no more unerring indication
of the exhaustion of regulations in France at
time when NJ. dc LessopS is remanded to a
conyiets cell and hardly an available candidate
can be found as a successor fer NJ. Rlbot than
the impression produced by the speeches of
two Young Deputies. Cavaignac and DcSchanel'
who have not succeeded hitherto in commend
ing public attention. VI. Cayagnacs speech
was ordered to be placardcd through all the
Departments in France, and he is heiadcd with
prccipitate haste as the next Premier and pos
sibly a. substitute for President Carnot. NJ.
| Deschancl with equal impo'uosty is hailed a
an original statesman destined = make great
name. 1t is a time when everybody in Paris
seems. in SGiptural phase, "to see men as
| trees walking"