New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-21

story in such a manner as to leave no doubt
as to its truth with the result that the royal
favorite was deprived Of all his honors ana
dignities. and driven out OF the country. Even
within the last twenty years INDUSTRIOUS person.
ages. both in England and on the Continent, nave
been dsagreeably surprised to find that men
whom they had made their most intimate as
sociates. whom they had not only admitted 10
their own domestic and court circle, put IKE
wise sponsored in society and ciupiand' had
done time in prison years previously the most
notable case being, probably. that OF tha' par
ticulary charming and delightful foie whose
unpronounceable name led to ms peihs NICK
named by his royal and titled friends IN Eng
land as Sherry and Whisky" and who' ailer
leading a perfectly straight" life in LONDON TOT
six or seven years. finally blew out MS Drains
at his apartment in st. James, on the iact
being revealed that he had at one time worn
the garb OF felon in a Continental penRehtiary'
One OF the chief sources Of power IN THESE
modern times a power which Is year ny year
becoming a more predominant and widely useu
factor in civilized life is the possession OF Sc
crets affecting the past of men prominent III
notifies in administrative life and in the social
world There are few who have not slowed
somewhere away in their closets skeleton, II
not relating to their own past, then 10 that Oh
some one both near and dear An acquaintance
with this skeleton on the part Of man places IN
his hands sometimes for good, but far more ire
quently for evil. a power. the extent OF winch
Is well-nigh incalculaoe. 1t plays a far greater
Part than the general public might be wlhng
to believe In the political life Of Great Britain
while on the Continent Of Europe It's role Is
still more extensive. particularly IN france
In conversation with Gambetta l have often
heard him express the opinion that the only
absolutely perfect and wholly honest statesman
o. Government official was man entirely WITH
cut what is known in France by the expressive
name OF "antecedents." which may be translated
into English as shadows. But he Invariably
added that 1t almost hopeless to look FOR
such men, since they were like the biuebird
in the fairy tale so that their existence
is regarded by many as mythical.
THE CASE OF DANIEL WILSON.
Perhaps no stronger illustration OF the power
conferred by the knowledge OF compromising
secrets need be cited than the immunity enjoyed
by NJ Daniel Wilson. tho son-in-aw OF the late
Presiden, Grevy. While living at the Elysee
ne made use Of his advantages as son-in-law
Of the President and Chairman OF the Para-
mentary Budget Committee 10 OBTAIN from the
complainant Project OF Police. as we'll as from
the Minister OF the Interior OF the day. copies,
and In some cases the originals. Of what are
known rs the "dossers' Of nearly 10000 OF his
fellow countrymen conspicuous In every walk
OF French NE. when subsequently indicted as
a principal I'm those disgraceful Legion of Honor
scandals which caused the downfall OF his
father in law and the condemnation OF his asso-
ciatcs to various terms OF In prisonment, he
himself escaped all punishment, thanks to the
possession OF these dossiers. which he threat
encd to publish abroad II any attempt were made
to imprison him