The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-03

the flank, obliuuely by in
direction. Is
go. l.,... that were the purpose of the
emp-Iur, would he not be justified in
entertaining IL? France was pater-
nal government. The emperor's people
looked to him for their prosperity.
Were they to suffer by reason of his
negligence or Indifference he would suf-
fer by reason of their resentment and
their loss of faith in him. The father
who does not protect and nourish his
children forfeits their love and their
obedience. SO, IL the emperor permit
ted his people to experience privations
because another nation was engaged in
civil war would he not be justly CEN
sured?
LIGHTING THE FUSE.
In this manner De Morny argued
and defended. He made no admissions
He stated nothing as fact. He
merely put the case in a suggestive
rather than direct way.
Archbishop Hughes and Mr. Weed
first spoke of the warm friendship
that the people of the United States
had entertained from the time Of the
American Revolution for France. De
Morny ventured to remind the ambas-
sadors that it was the United States,
not France, that had been straining
that friendship for months. 1t was
clear that the minister could not he
approached by any sentimental appeal.
He was therefore asked whether, in
case it were true that the emperor
intended to repudiate the blockade, he
would attempt to justify the act by
l., tgy>..
accord with the precedent and policy
of France.
The emperor would, it might be safe
ly assumed, undertake to do nothing
which could not be thus justified, the
minister felt perfectly safe in assur-
ing the ambassadors.
When in the most guarded and del
icate manner it was hinted to him
that President Lincoln would try to
enforce the blockade and might deem
any attempt to break it made by Ln-
other nation an unfriendly act, the min
lister deplored the possibility of such
an emergency and was sure that the
president would clearly understand that
France sought only the prosperity of
her people, and not the hostility Of a
government now friendly
Beneath those words of disingenuous
and icy diplomatic courtesy it was easy
to see that the minister well understood
that the Reputation of the blockade by
France could result only in one of two
ways, either the abandonment Of the
blockade by the United States and the
probable consequent success of the
! Confederate cause, or else war with
France and perhaps with Great Brit
ain.
THE BOMB EXPLODES.
At least Mr. Weed said that as it
was his own impression and that Of
his associate, the archbishop, that there
could be no doubt that the emperor
had determined to repudiate the block
ade and to justify it in the manner
vaguely hinted at by the minister,
| there was only one more suggestion
| to make. 1t was suggestion con-
tanned in a document now at the ar
Chives. He begged the minister to send
for the treaty of Utrecht. 1t must be
within convenient reach, and he added:
! I'VE owe something to history"
The minister with utmost courtesy
/ consented to do that. In q few mo-
! ments the parchment was III his
! hands. He read the text carefully, at
first with perfect COmposure. The
| American ambassadors watched him
! furtively, but kocnly. At last they
! saw his manrnr change He had reach
/ ed that clause in the treaty with Great
/ Britain by which both France and
Great Britain agreed not merely to
! blockade, but absolutely to destroy tie
/ harbor of Dunkirk.
1t was Il pernetual blockade, to be
/ maintained in pcHce ana i'm war. It
+ was q joint admission on the part Of
/ these nations Of the right to far great
er lengths than the United states had
! gone. If Napoleon III repudiated the
! American blockade, he thereby repu-
/ dated the claim by which France and
/ England justified the destruction Of
! the harbor of Dunkirk The proccdents
/ were against him instead of boine fa
! Vorablc to him-precedents which
! France itself had established.
VICTORY FOR TIE EMBASSY.
When de Morny finished reading the
| text of the treaty. he turned calmly
| to Mr. Weed ard said that he should
/ give the suggestion last made by the
ambassadors, as we'll as the other they
| had made, careful consideration. Then
/ he instantly became the courteous
| host asking briefly if their experience
| in Paris had been agreeable, and prom
/ ising himself the pleasure of showing
/ them such considerate attention as
was IN his power before their depar-
ture. They knew that they had wen
the victory, and they believed that at
! the bottom of his heart de Morry was
sincerely grateful that they had made
| it possible 10 prevent the emperor from
/ committing Il colossal blunder.
The reception was given and the en-
! peror was there, but there was no an
nOuncement of a purpose to repudiate
, the American blockade, nor did the ad-
dress appear i'm the London Times on
the following morning. a short time
after the ambassadors departure from
the office of the minister dispatches
and, as special precaution, a mesaan-
ger was sent to the office of the Times
To recall the address or forbid its pub
lication, because the emperor had de-
Cided not to make it.
\ few weeks later Mr.. Weed met
Delane the manager of the Times and
one of the greatest personal forces OF
his day.
Tell me, if you are at liberty to do
so, how you mastered De Morny?" the
great editor asked. 1T is an achieve
ment Unprecedented, | believe"
we showed him the treaty Of Ut
recht. He had forgotten it," was Weeds s
reply.
Surprise and chagrin were instantly
betrayed by Delane, and the reason for
it was made clear by his slowly spoken
answer. He had forgotten it and so
! had l."