The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-30
THE PAN4WA SCANDAL.
An Explanation Of the Affair for the bene-
fit of a Subscriber.'
ALTON, VA. March %, 1893.

ALTON. VA, March %, 1898.
Editor Times:
Dear sir-I ana satisfied that You VIII
.-r,tifv ana enli.htan number Of your
friends and subscribers fin this vicinity
If Won will give in your paper al cEl.i'-
nation of the Panama Scandal nat
is ir2 I'm what does the scandal coA~l+ t'
What did De Lesseps DO that was so
scandalous2 Explain il SO That we com
mon country folks can understand IL, ana
lreotlv oblica "a SUBSCRlBElD'
If the history OF the Panama canal
scandal" as it is popularity termed
vas written i'm detail it would i'll very
large volume. IL dates back as far as
the spring of ISIS. AID was an uNur DlN
ing famous from the start for as -lsa"ll'
conception. The public, however, was
NOT ar an doubtful as 20 ultimate success
for at it's head was the then illusiIl'Is
Count Ferdinand De Lesseps, the orlel-
major Of the Suez Canal, and mainly
through whose efforts it had been com
pleted .
Like Alexander. Count Ferdinand was
not satisfied with this great conquest
but saw in the Panama Canal scheme
a etuI greater opportunity. The work was
undertaken. The French Government
lent it's ala. and through private invest
ments from thousands Of Europeans pe
Leeseps was enabled 10 begin the WORK
The great engineer. however encopAt-
cred many obstacles I'm tine new ont r
prise which he did not have TO contend
with in the construction Of the SueZ
Canal. 4 great deal more money as
needed. and il was more difficult to OBJ
tain. Finally the work was discontinued
on account Of the failure 10 secure FUNDS
TO raw the worl.men. Then the Lottery
Bonds bill appeared before the Frsacn
Chamber Of Deputies. and this was the
beginning Of the Had Of De Less'ps
dircst woes This measure was 10 en-
able the officers of the company 10 60
on with the work. The bill was PASSED,
hut the ways and means Is what has
furnished the scandal. Charges or
bribery against many Of the deputies
were rife. and even the Ministry was
implicated. and the Cabinet crisis and
personal ana wordy conflicts that follow
cd are well-known 10 every newspaper
reader Even ~. Carnot the President
Of the French Republic, was alleged 10
be Indirectly implicated, but the Chamber
never considered II serious enough 10
order an Investigation I'm his case But
all Of the rest who We're the least sus-
pected were examined before n parlia-
mentary commission. and If the evidence
adduced justified. they were presented for
criminal prosecutions Many Of Frances
greatest statesmen went down on this
breaker.
Ferdinand de Lcsseps. the president OF
the Panama Canal Company and his
son. Charles DE- Lesseps, the secretary,
were Of course. looked upon as the arch
criminals. inasmuch as they were at the
head OF the enterprise At the prel'mi-
nary trial Ferdinand dc Lesseps WAS
found guilty and sentenced 10 three years
imprisonment. but owing TO his feeble
condition and advanced age, viii probably
be pardoned. II is said he has been kept
in ignorance Of his arrest and conviction.
Charles de Lesseps. who appealed 10
higher court. was on the 10th instant
convicted and sentenced 10 six years
Imprisonment in all.
The charges against the De Lesseps
We're conspiracy and giving brides.
The scandal was Of such proportions
that at one time II threatened TO over
throw the Republican Government.