The morning call., 1894-06-25

UDJect OF the Ianamd exposure was to en-
mesh him in the net. and drag him to de-
siruetion. The most searching and hostile
investigation, however, only served TO
more clearly illustrate his entire innocence
OF any share in the Panama corruption,
| and he passed unscathed through the fire
which devoured so many of his associates.
His course throughout the Panama inquiry
was evidently salts factory to the people of
France. He preserved the impersonal at
ttude and rrepr0achable correctness
which his adversaries could not contest
He did not deign to notice the assaults
made upon him. but continued to be the
faithful guardian of the constitution and
scrupulous servitor of the republic. The
integrity of President Carnot's character
was tower of strength for the republic
ID those months of trial. Had Carnot
fallen the structure of popular government
might have fallen with him.
The chief rival of Ii. Carnot for the
presidency-if be has a rivals Nj. CASH
mir-Perier, the present head of the Min
lslry. Like Cannot of illustrous revo-
lutionary ancestry. NJ. Casimir-Perier has
family traditions Of honor and fame to
sustain. Like Carnot, he traces his pedi-
1 gree to reglcide, it Is matter of no small
significance and consequence that the two
leading statesmen of France should be de-
scended from men who sent king to the
| scafOld, and that the third republic
should have for its aristocracy the of
spring OF those who founded, amid terror.
and anarchy and bloodshed, the first re =
public. Nj. Casimir-Perier is not as un-
pretending as CarIot in his private life.
A genuine republican, he is pot without
an attachment 10 the ceremonies and
courtly powers which are rather associated
with monarchy than equality, but once
admitted to his presence, the respectable
visitor is sure Of cordial welcome 1t is
not generally known that M. Casimir-
| Perler was approached, about two yea
ago, by emissaries of the exiled pretender
10 the throne of France, with
promises of the most lavish rewards, il he
would espOuSe The cause OF monarchy. 1t
was intimated that NJ. Casimir- PeTier
would be created duke and chancellor of
France, and the emissary " hO brought the
offer showed authority TO pledge the word
of royalty itself in support of the PROPOSE
tiOn. M. Casimlr-Perier repulsed the
! bearer Of the message with an emphasis
the latter is not likely to forget, telling
him that he regarded it as more honorab bic
to be a citizen of France than to be a duke
under king. He also told the emissary
that the Count OF Paris might as well give
J up ali hope OF the restoration of the mon
archy, for the third republic would con-
tinue to live. This reply from a man so
distinguished, aud at the same time SO mod
crate. for a time put Quietus on the
schemes of the exiled BourbOns. The lat
ter had counted on III. 'Casimir- Perler's
| Jealousy of CarnOt as likely to lead him to
betray the republic, but they were mis-
taken. Casimir-Perier. it is true, is not
an admlrer of Carnot, but be is as true as
steel to the principles which CarnOt repre-
sents
1t is singular, but not the less true, that
the extreme Socialists also sounded NJ.
Casimir-PerieT not long after he had re-
pulsed the Monarchists. 1t was when the
Panama scandal burst upon the country
that the men who tread on the thin edge
of anarchy, without crossing the border.
prepared for revolution should the oppor-
tunity offer. They formed a directing
body with the dreaded name of Committee
of Public Society, composed of the chiefs
of the various factions of the Socialist
party, and organized eighty sections in the
| eighty districts of Paris, so that thew
might all be prepared on a given signal 10
march together against the Elysee and the
! chambers Part of their plan was to ar
rest President Carnot and occupy the
Elysee, and they also proposed to make an
appeal to the army. with the object of
establishing social republic. These
plans may seem to have been extravagant.
but it should not De forgotten that the
/ tray
allowed full play, end by taking root in
France. They are laughed at in the be-
ginning, but become sad realities in the
end. The Socialists saw the need of a
leader whose reputation for moderation
would prevent general uprising against
their cause, should they undertake to put
their schemes in operation, and Geneste.
Allemane. PerDjsan and others turned
toward Casimir-Perier as The man. He
was cautiously offered the presidency of
the proposed social republic, without being
made fully acquainted with the means by
| which 1t was proposed to create the reoub-
lic Casmir-Perier simply warned the
! delegation against disturbing the peace of
| France, and told them that be would be
| among the first and most earnest TO sup
port severe measures for the suppression
| VI any ulSUlufi Ab lIio SdiUb llin6 ne In
formed his visitors that he felt it duty
to make President Carnot acquainted with
their proposals. This put an end for that
occasion to any thought of revolution on
the part of the socialists. and also con-
| firmed President Carnot's high estimate
OF CasmiE-Perer's loyalty and patriotism.
II is understood that the recent selection
of Casimir-Perier as Premier was largely
prompted by Carnots conviction OF his
| impregnabIe devotion to the republic.
| founded on the incidents stated. IL has
been reported that before accepting the
Premiership, NJ. Casimir- -Perier engaged
! that he would not be q candidate for the
! Presidency. This is undoubtedly false.
It is true, on the other hand, that Casimir
Perier's acceptance of an Office which
brings him into such important and con-
6dential relations with CarnOi is regarded
with some justice as quasi pledge that he
will not antagonize Carnot's ambition to
be reelected. Several members of the
Cha mber. however, who are very near to
Casimir-Perier. assert that he is at to be
considered as in any way hampered by the
place which he occupies, so Ear as the
Presidency is coneer ned.
NJ. Dupuy, the late Premier, has been
actively canvassiDg for supporters with
view 10 taking Carnot's place He not.
however, popular in the Cham Der or out of