The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-08

net. the attorney appointed by the French
Government to conduct an investigation
into the affairs OF the Panama Canal
Company, handed in his report recon-
mendiug the prosecution Of the directors
This event was the first In the series that
quickly transpired. The day previous the
French Chamber had voted TO repeal the
law of 1910 by which Grand Crosses OF
the Legion of Honor were exempted from
prosecution by private persons and de-
cared liable only TO arraignment by the
public prosecutor. AS the principal defend
ant I'm a Panama Canal prosecution would
be De disappointment a Grand Cross Of
the Legion-the coincidence was regarded
as significant The labors of NJ. Prinet
as investigating attorney had extended
considerably over one year. The canal
company had suspended payment In 1888.
causing immense distress. Repeated eff
forts to secure State aid from successive
ministers failed and finally a Parlia-
mentary inquiry was ordered to find out
what could be saved from the wreck In
the course OF its Investigations this COM
mittee unearthed facts justifying pros
ecution and, as l have stated, Ii reported
accordingly. The official TO receive the
report was of course the Procureur Cen
eral, NJ. Beaurepaire, somewhat famous
All CtiS HiOubi iio attain VII AnC lDOu-
langist conspiracy. AS soon as he re-
ceiyed It he conferred with NJ. Ricord,
Minister of Justice. and there the matter
rested for the time being.
When the news spread over Paris IL
caused great excitement. Everyone was
amazed, conjecture was rife, and none
were more surprised than the very per-
sons who had instigated the inquiry. The
Pariasians could scarcely bring themselves
TO believe that De Lesseps, the most IL
lustrious OF Frances sons, was on the
verge Of being prosecuted as a criminal.
On November 18th the judicial inquiry
finally closed, the Procureur General an
nounced his intention of taking action,
and nothing else was talked of in the lob
bies OF the Chamber OF Deputies. The
defendants would be Count Ferdinand De
Lesseps, his son Charles De Lesseps, Di-
doctors Fontane and Cottu and Contrac-
tor Eiffel. and the charges breach OF
trust and malyersatiOn of funds. To
support these accusations the prosecu-
ton had discovered enough evidence in
the provisions Of certain contracts for
works. The Paris papers tried to inter-
view De Lesseps. but he would make no
statement, saying he reserved that for
the trial in the court Of appeal.
All eyes were now fixed upon the great
engineer, and everyone recalled his dis
tinguished past while rejecting on his
mournfui present The half-forgotten col
lapse OF the canal ia 1888 and the accom-
panying ruin OF a great number OF the
stockholders were eagerly rehearsed
Many considered the prosecution to be a
Gratuitous reawakenlng OF a scandal, for
II could not reimburse the investors. IL
there was TO be a prosecution, why not
four years before. VIII IN the canal went
up? After all. what had De Lesseps done
to deserve 1t? The grand old Frenchman
whose name was linked with Pasteurs
in rejecting glory upon his country had
sacrificed his own fortune in the wreck:
he had gone down with the rest, clinging
to his ship to the last.
Many argued that the whole fasco was
attributable 10 errors OF judgment on his
part, to a blind faith in the future OF the
enterprise stouuy maintained in the teeth
OF all opposition. De Lesseps had been an
optimist, keeping ever before him the sue
cess he achieved in the Suez can ! when
all the world laughed him to scorn. The
record OF his actions proved all this. for
at hrst he opened subscription with
out the assistance of the press and mar
yelled when IL failed. Then he began over
again, this time advertising copiously in
the newspapers, and the response was
quick. He was charged with having used
money 10 secure cooperation and Parlia-
mentary votes but the people who ac-
cused him should remember 1t was their
own fault that he was driven to those
expedients. IL was true the canal was be-
gun without the proper degree OF caution.
The surveying was conducted wildly and
the estimates i'll considered. but with his
beloved Suez an accomplished fact moth
ing could daunt him, no difficulty be re-
cognized as insuperabe.
There were Others who took a different
view and demanded PREPARATION for the
'fctimiZed stockholders. De Lessons. they
argued. should have remembered before
ne took the money OF others that even the
5uez canal would have failed but for the
aid OF the Egyptian Treasury and the
Tree labor OF che fellaheen. So the dis
'enting voices arose in discordant chorus.
md while they yet clamored another sur
Prise came on France like thundercIap.
Upon November 18th NJ. Fioquet. presi-
lent of the Chamber OF Deputies. made
| statement referring TO the rumors cur
'ent In Paris as TO his having, during his
enure OF office as Premier accepted
'rlbes from the Panama Canal Company:
II have not" he exclaimed, during
ny Ministerial past been guilty OF sim
lie act of dishonesty or uufatthf,tlneas