Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-09-26
OLIGARCHY OF ARMY ABOUT TO BE-
COME SUPREME.
FRENCH REPUBLIC IN DANGER
CIVIL AND MILITARY POWERS ARE
IN OPEN CONFLICT.
Faure May Become Dictator-Conefct
Over the Picquart Case-Questfon
of n New Trial for Captain
Dreyfus Again POST
poned.

LONDON, Sept. 25.-A coup d'etat in
China and almost coup d'etat in France
have added another week of increased ap-
prekension TO the record of this anxious
year. The British authorities fear the
worst at Peking, and are ready to admit
that the advantage gained by the dismi5-
sal OF Ii Hung Chang is more than lost
The consensus of opinion is that the de-
strLction of the Chinese empire is at hand,
The news of the spread Of the anti-dynas-
tic revolution strengthens the belief that
the collapse will be accompanied by vio-
lence. 1t is useless to speculate on what
will become of the ruins.
In France the situation is full of uncar-
tainties, but the issue is becoming clearer
and more critical hour by hour. \ we'll
defined struggle between the civil and the
military powers has begun. How serious
the present moment is for France may lie
judged from the fact that even conserva-
tive English observers do not believe that
the republican constitution can survive the
strain. The military authorities at Paris,
Including General Zurlinden and General
Chanoine, have acted in open defiance CT
the premier and the majority of his cab
met in beginning the prosecution of Col
onei Picquart-
The country now awaits the response to
this challenge from the executive head of
the government. NJ. Brisson has more
courage than the average mediocre French
politician, but there is reason 10 fear that
he will weakly submit to military diction
and the oligarchy Of the army will be an
accomplished fact. No one doubts that If
there were a strong, ambitious man in
France at this moment, he could seize the
government without difficulty. Even Presi-
dent Faure has been suspected Of such de-
signs. 1t happens, however, that what
Faure has gained in vanity he has lost in
cleverness. II he ventured on high-handed
measures he would probably make a mess
of it.
Here is an interesting version of this
feature of the situation by formerly prom
inent Frenchman, who is now only spec
tator:
. Taking all the circumstances into con-
sideration, one has only to follow the logic
of facts to foresee what may happen II the
commission pronounces during the next
fus trial. If President Faure were a Bona
parte there would not be a shadow of a
doubt. Even as it is, he has but to say
mark you, IL he does not say this word,
if he does not declare against revision, he
will have Drumont and Rochefort and the
whole French mob in hue and cry against
him. and there will be nothing for him to
do but to follow the example of Grevy
But it, on the other hand, in order to op-
congress will meet within twenty-four
hours at Versailles under the presidency of
NJ. Loubet, who WILL you may be sure, ex-
pedite matters, and Faure will be elected
by crushing majority hostile to revision.
He will then form a Barthou ministry,
war office-General Brugere. for instance
and he will then be able to do what he likes
with the country
The impression is daily gaining. wider Gre
dence in Paris that the so-called secret
which influences the successive ministers
Of war to oppose revision at any cost, Is the
appalling fact that the majority of the
general staff is leagued in corruption and
traitorous practices of which Dreyfus Is
only a scapegoat. The disclosure Of the
humiliating truth would incite the out
ragged Frenchmen to revolution.