New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-08

fly greater at successive elections until finally II
became overwhelming. and the MonarchiSts them-
selves saw that the game was up
Then began the so-called "rallying movement
a name which almost sounds as If borrowed from
American politics \ strong section OF the Mon
archists rallied" TO the Republic. The Catholics
were helped on by the Pope; the Royalsts py
the absence OF leader, and all by the conviction
that the Republic was established and that men
who wished 10 serve their country or cared for a
nonticol future had no choice but to accept the
Republic Moreover it was still to be determined
whether the Republic was TO he conservative ana
lasting. or Socalistic and so 60 the way or other
experiments in anarchy. and the rallied Royal
lists were of course Conservative. They were
ready to Join hands with the Opportunists or
Moderates; the body Of which NJ. Carnot himself
was in a sense tho leader
But TO all this he was blind. or. If not blind his
nreiud,ces We're too inveterate to be overcome.
He would have nothing to say to the rallied
lie chung TO concentration lie seemed really 20
believe that It was not only possible but for the
interest of the Republic that 1t should be run
by a party. He repealed the men who were READY
10 support IT, Nobody was more alive than he
was as he showed again and again. 10 the dangers
Of Radicalism; Of Socastic Radcalism above all
He had seen 1t looking over his shoulder and 70
him. long after most men perceived that 1t had
been laid 10 rest. IT remained a living and terri
bic thing. with infinite capacity for mischief. The
decrease Of the Royalist minority of deputies and
the very marked and alarming increase Of So
cialist deputies at the last election may nave
taught him a lesson, but If 50, too late To be or
use. He had no doubt a kind OF patient
sagacity but not much foresight. not much
craftsmanship save Of that negative kind for
which timidity Is another name, and which by
force Of cngng to what Is. in dread of what may
be. comes to be known Conservatism.
If ever President Carnot's caution served him
in good stead 1t was during the Panama crisis
There can be no doubt that he was struck at
through Panama and that a concerted attempt
10 discredit the Republic by discrediting the chief
pillars of the Republic then made. In
triguers Of more parties than one were concerned
in that ignoble cabal. There was a moment when
II looked as If it might succeed. and when, II the
attack on the President had come to anything,
the whole fabric OF government might have crum-
bled Then. not for the first time but more clearly
than ever the value of VI. Carnot's spotess In
tegrity became clear. II IS often the case In
France.-it has been for more than hundred
years-that suspicion does the work OF proof.
The readiness Of the French T. believe III OF each
other IS a stain upon their national character
and upon the race. but 1t is trait which ever
since the Revolution has passed from the atmos-
phere Of courts, where It was bred. into the life
Of the people Let loose a caluInny and 1t Will
run its course Few are the men who can stand
against 1t. NJ. Carnot was one He had been
already for five years target for the poisonous
nalevolence Of the most licentious press In the
world. Yet So complete WAS the conviction ~ his
uprghtness that scandal WAS a useless weapon
against him. and Messrs. DrumOnt and Deiaille
and their confederates perceived that they must
allege something in the nature Of evidence II they
were t. shake the popular belief in the President
They produced what they had and II was moth
ing II was instantly c,nfutrl though I, needed
no confutlng and when this had collapsed Paris
stood waiting breathless for what was % follow.
People could not believe the danger over, or that
a conspiracy Infamous had been Matched out
OF such rotten eggs as these But there was moth
ing more. The Republic was safe. and 1t was
the stainless and unstainable name Of rs Chief
Magistrate which had been the salvation Of the
State. lie has rendered many other services g.
France, great services which viii live IN his
memory. But this was greatest Of all
c. W s.