The evening times., 1899-02-27
DERouLEDE's COUP R1D1cULED.
The League of Patriots Made
LaushinEstOck.


LaushingstOck.
Paris, Feb. 27.-The "Heraldis" European
edition says:
There is only one man in France who
takes Paul Derouledes escapade tragically,
and that is Deroulede himself.
He is anxious for sensational trial with
heavy sentence that will crown him with
the martyrs halo for his followers. He
accordingly is doing all he can to exagger-
ate his offence, by declaring orally TO the
officials his design to overturn the repub-
lie, and writing letters TO the same effect.
Nobody else, however, looks upon him as
anything but lunatic. AS Journalist
here said this morning the worst punish
ment that could be given TO Deroulede
would be to sentence him to be confined
as non compos mentis, and one is compelled
TO admit that this would be, making the
punishment fit the crime.
1t is evident that the affair was not so
serious as some papers have tried to make
out General Roget's own statement
| brings the attempt down to its proper pro-
portions. Some hysterical individuals have
been calling the general the savior of
France, but he sarcastically pointed out TO
a correspondent of the Petit Beu' that
revolutions are not made with single in
fantry brigade and that he has saved moth
ing, seeing there was nothing in danger.
| General Roget rightly or wrongly passes
| for being one of the most distinguished
! generals of brigade in the French army.
| He has worked his way up TO the
| rank he now holds, being the son of
sendarme VINO was concierge at the sub
prefectory of Castalnaudary He is the
| eldest son of the family, and has taken
upon himself the charge of educating his
| sister and two brothers, one of whom is
| captain and the other lieutenant colonel.
| He was military chief of the cabinet under
| Nj. CaVaignacs term in the war office, and
was supposed TO have warm sympathies
with the anti-Dreyfus party This, how
| ever, was only advanced by the socialist
! and dissatisfied organs generally. How
much truth there was in their accusations
may be judged from his firm attitude On
| Thursday. At the same time he expresses
no strong feeling with regard TO NJ. De-
roulede. Probably he also thinks him
mad.
The Petit Bleu'' correspondent asked
him il he thought Deroulede had counted
| upon tie mobs being in such an excited
state. General Roget answered.
Il don't think so. He told me, even,
| that he didn't know l should pass the
Place de la Nation with my men,
1t must be admitted as the Petit Bleu'
says, that many people are of just the con
trary opinion NJ. Deroulede is suspected
of having hoped to succeed in the corrup-
tlOl VI the sUlilcINr Dul htutIdi lIOEtt
only laughed when the correspondent told
him this. saying: Revolutions are not
made with a brigade of infantry under a
modest general like me. Greater leaders
are necessary
You are right general" replied the cor
! respondent "All else is madness"
That's my opinion. returned General
Roget, and l am inclined TO think poor
| Deroulede Is little crazy
General ROpeI indeed does al DocSih a
TO put NJ. Deroulede's action in as unim-
pOrtant an attitude as possible. He says h
did not hear him urge the troops 10 march
on the Elysee, and that he arrested him be
cause he refused to leave the barracks.
NJ. DeroUlede. on the other hand, declares
the general did not order his arrest and
that he made patriotic speech 10 the
troops Who is right?
At any rate the general is probably jus
tilted in the remark with which he closed
the interview. namely. that he was sure he
would be attacked right and left, presum-
ably by the journals
No matter" he continued. Il have done
my duty-all my duty; my conscience is at
peace. And as the correspondent went
out Roget added:
Poor Deroulede, Poor Deroulede"
Indeed he has committed the worst crime
III the eyes of the French. He has made
himself ridiculous and his league has be-
come laughingstock, and would probably
tizzle out even If the government did not
help il 10 do So
There seems some probability that the
Llgue deS Patriotes may be dissolved Yes
terday in Parliamentary circles il was held
that action in this direction was about 10
be taken by the Dupuy cabinet. How
much truth there is in the rumor il is hard
TO say, but it would not be astonishing if
all the leagues were. dissolved by order, as.
after ALL they are only royalist or imper-
ialist camps in disguise. As Charles Lau-
rent. editor of the "Matin, says i'm a
sensible editorial the members have only
their president to blame If the govern
ment decides to shut down the Lgue des
Patriotes. The republic, in doing So would
be only using legitimate means of self
defence. All these associations. leagues.
and groups are constant menace to its
! independence, duration. and repOSe. II is
not possible to maintain any longer that
their work is the support OF an ideal pa
triotism now that the very president OF
the most jingostic one goes shouting about
the streets and forces his way into bar
racks and tries TO induce soldiers to turn
their bayonets against the properly consti-
| tuted authorities
The government Of great country has
duties to fulfill. and would be more culpa-
| BILE than its adyerSaries if il failed to de-
fend itself.
There was an attempt made today by the
Bonapartists to manifest around the Col
onne Vendome but police measures were
so well arranged that il came TO nothing
Several people threw bouquets of violets
over the railing around the column enc
were promptly arrested.
One funny detail was that a great many
of the manifestorS were servant girls. One
!; Of them who was arrested seemed so sur.
prsed that when she asked the agent dt
vile where he was taking her 10 he re-
piled. mischievously. ITO Brussels
Very we'll" she answered, in a resigned
tone: lis it far?'