The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-05-14
AFTER THE EXPLOSION.
FRANCE Stunned ron A lime nj
THE PANAMA REVELATIONS.

Ne y~ss-rs's Sentence Necessary and rrrr
issbie-Thc Ikenction of the Great shock
Hts Effects on the Reputation Of Men No,
d, Getty Ip,picnted-Csrnot's Innuence OF
ths wnne-The ruthless session OF ths
legislature What France Has Escaped
How She VIII Meet the Future.
rARrs. May 7.-Thero Ia n truce In tho rara.
ma scandals. but We must not imagine tina,
We have seen the end Of them. They will re-
appear under one form or another: but I do
not foresce any very Lig revelations such aI
arc spoken Of by informors interested in nto-
longing tho scandal and keeping up suspicion
IN the public mind by pretending that they arc
the possessors Of mysterious information.
Evcn In case tho invisible Arton and tho enig-
matte Cornelius Herr should DO brought to
Paris and should consent to tell all that they
know. l have an idea that rubllc curiosity
would be very greatly disappointed. A few
names might perhaps he added to the list Of
Deputies who have traflckcd in their votes In
1883: there would he an increase Of floating
accusations: but that would 10 all. This opin-
ion Is shared by those who have studied with
impartial attention the different phases OF tho
anair during tho four months In which 1t has
almost entirely occupied our national. life. As
matter Of fact. we are not much more ad-
vanced than we we're on tho 2lst OF November.
when NJ. Delnhaye proclaimed in tho Chamber
OF Deputies Tint he had In his pocket some
thing that would stamp 104 members as be-.
trayors OF their trust. The individual and
positive evidence that was to follow this do
nunciation en- masse did not appear; 1t re-
NAMED surrounded BY mystery and fog. which
prolonged and enlarged it by giving 1t n gen
eral character. Apart from tho revelations.
sortuitous for the most part. which. at a later
date. proved certain political personages to be
incidentally mixed up in tho suspicious rego-
~tiations Of the Panama administrators we
have not yet come out OF the sphere OF moral
prcsumptions. Tho former Minister Of Public
Works. who admitted that he had been paid for
drawinR up u bill to be introduced in the
m Is the only one against whom there
has been established n case Of material guilt.
Against all tho others that have been brought
into the case suspicion alone has been raised.
and the absence OF evidence In the judicial in
ouiry has resulted in their acquittal by the
Jury. But all are not equally innocent in the
eyes OF public opinion. which even suspects a
greater number OF guilty members than really
exists. and which exaggeratcs certainly the
guilt Of the others. But that is precisely tho
greatest evil In the case. for 1t is the one that
IL the most durable. I fear that tho future
may bring out new incidents in this affair.
It would seem best to put aside an inquiry
which could only bring about the return
Of sterile scandals; but the word Panama
raises and will raise for a long time to come.
from one end OF the country to tho other. IN
emotion which is by no means Gained down.
to which any occasion seems opportune
for Its manifestation 1t must not be forgot
ten that tho enterprise OF N. de Lesseps de-
voured one milliard and n half Of francs and
recruited hundreds OF thousands OF sharehold-
ers. principally among hard working people Of
moderate means. The disaster OF this adven.
turo came upon n population whose saw
lugs were sngulied. They cannot resign
themselves to the thought that their money
Is lost beyond all hope. Tho ruined share
holders rush furiously upon everything that
appears to Thorn like a chance Of recovering
something. Whether this chance shows itself
In imaginary projects for finishing the canal
or In suits against some OF the mon
who have benefited by their money, in any
manner whatever. tho crowd OF shareholders
feel a revival OF hope and OF Anger. 1t is the
explosion. always ready. OF these two senti-
ments that We find In all tho episodes Of tho
question Of Panama. and which leaves in sight
now storms behind the calm which We have
experienced during the past fortnight
From this point Of view 1t ia necessary to
appreciate the proceedings against the former
administrators of the country and tho severe
sentences they received. Many foreign Jour-
nails considered these sentences excessive.
They have been particularly surprised at the
OF five years Imprisonment pro-
nouncsd against NJ. Ferdinand do Lessons, not
being able to understand that the i~nitiator OF
the Suez Canal could not BIO protected by
his past glory. as we'll as by his great
age. against q judgment which rudely
struck both at his person and at his honor.
For this there is at first q legal explanation,
III. Ferdinand dc Lesseps. not having appeared
before the tribunal. came by this single fact
under that law which commands in tho most
absolute fashion tho application Of the maxi
mum punishment against every accused who
docs not present himself In person. The
judges had no ontion and no latitude to miti-
gate the sentence.
But, apart from this formal reason. the facts
brought out have been such that the public
opinion. excited as 1t was. would not permit of
any Indulgence. Abundant and conclusive
brought out one thing which many
people would scarcely believe: that Is that
me Panama enterprise rested from ono end
20 the other upon q series OF impostures.
from tho day OF the first issue Of shares un-
I'll the nnal attempt to gain now subscribers
~ lottery tickets. the public was constantly
dupsd By lying assertions. Tho fraudulent
was SO long continued that 1t is i'm
possible to believe that tho mon who practised
did not act with the full knowledge OF what
hey were doing. NJ. do Lesseps and the specu.
Istors who made him their accomplish did not
sonfne themselves to tho promise Of piercing
he Isthmus without having previously made
ne necessary studies and calculations: they
maintained and reiterated this q rirmation even
they knew for O certainty that q reallza-
Non OF the thing was impossible. By CIV
ng out statements contrary to the truth.
hey have during the past eight years
pquandersd without reflection and without
,cruple the hundreds OF millions obtained
rom tho confidence and the credulity OF the
publio by their deceiving programmes. Their
manner OF proceeding was such that it is hard
9 understand. even throwing aside the ques-
Ion OF honesty. how mon accustomed to busi-
less could have sown right and left. and liter
My thrown out OF the windows colossal sums
1aich they knew we'll they would have to give
N account OF on tho day Of the ineyitabl
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