New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-06-30
PARIS.
THE PARIS-BERLIN MOTOR RACE AS \
POLITICAL ISSUE.
ANGRY NATIONALIST COMMENT ON THIS
AND THE MARIE ANToINETTE FETE.

ANGRY NATIONALIST COMMENT ON THIS
AND THE MARIE ANToINETTE FETE
Copyright; 1901: BY The New-York Tribune)
IDT CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Paris. June 29.-There can be no more vivid
or instructive object lesson IN French national
character than the fact that the two events of
the ween the Paris Berlin motor car race and
the smset society fete at the Petit Trianon. COM
pletely monopolize public attention. which
showed complete apathy during the High Court
trial the debates in the Senate and Chamber
in regard 10 the Associations bill and the Work
mems Pension act and the alarming Budget out
look. The race has called forth renewed out
bursts Of party passion, and far-sighted men
predict that the motor will be the leading
factor in the coming general elections.
The ''Lihre Parole" started the ball rolling by a
violent de .unciation of Frenchmen who had any
claims TO patriotism taking part in a fashionable
sport which leads them first TO Sedan and then
10 Berlin. Henri Rochefort. in the "Intransi-
geant" followed this up by clever poemics
worthy OF his earlier attacks upon Napoleon Ill
His article which this morning is in the hands
OF every cab driver and at every workman's
breakfast table In Paris. sets forth in CHASTITY
array the list Of what it terms the crimes OF
automobilism," including a narrowing account
Of the crushing Of a ten-year-old lad near
Rheims. He holds N. Waldeck- Rousseau and
the Parliamentary Republic responsible for the
massacre Of the innocents by the l20 kilometres
an hour politicians" and says that 1t is almost
exclusively rich Jews their friends satellites.
who can afford 10 keep motor cars which cost
$4,000 or $1,000 each; and IF fl pleases pros
porous Israelite 10 make bowling alleys OF
French roads and TO dash along the public
highway at the rate OF $50 kilometres an hour;
and IL an Isaacs or a Levy grinds into bloody
pulp as many infants may tickle his fancy
TO exterminate. ] defy waldeck- Rousseau TO
demonstrate. much less 10 prevent such atroc-
tiles"
Almost every newspaper in France publishes
a leading article to-day about the political con-
sequences Of the Pars-Berlin contest. The
'Gaulois' prints an interview with NJ. Flourens.
formerly French Minister OF Foreign Affairs,
who says:
The outbreak Of friendly feeling in Germany
toward France is not without a selfish motive
but we must not go so far as to accuse our
neighbors Of Machiavelism. The truth is, Ger
mans feel uneasy about the Franco Russian al
hance, and are suspicious OF England. rap
prochement toward France seems necessary. AS
20 the triumphal arches the mingling OF French
and German flags. Prussian bands playing the
"Marseillaise." this is not surprising. because
the German character IS such that when the
people once emerge from their calm placidity
they are fired with enthusiasm Besides I
know Germany well. and have travelled all
through the country. Everywhere the university
class is most friendly toward France, while the
German nobility is and always will be cool and
reserved toward U.s. AS TO the Emperor VIII
lam, We are used TO his eccentricities and know
full well that personally he is most emphati-
cally a FrancopEie.
This conversation with Flourens gives the
. keynote OF public opinion in regard 10 the out
! burst Of Teutonic friendship for France
In the Chamber OF Deputies during an inter-
pellation addressed 70 the Cabinet for allowing
the excessive speed of the motor cars much in
6ignation expressed that the Paris-Berlin
route should have been selected passing
through Bazeilles and Sedan, and one Deputy
Ironically suggested that the homestretch should
be made so as TO pass through Metz and Grave
otte. II. Paul de Cassagnac in to-day's "Au-
torite' prociaims that the race marks the deca-
aence Of Frenchmen, just as the Petit Trianon
fete marks the decadence Of Frenchwouen.
Both furnish a sad signal Of the oblteration
u the moral sense in our country. While
frenchmen so far forget all patriotic decency
as 10 give a joyous rendezvous at Berlin the
capital OF our secular foe that robbed MS of our
provinces, Frenchwonen so far forget all shame
as 70 oesecrate the retired shrine of Marie
Antoinette. which she reserved as a refuge from
frivolous gayety, by holding an ulfra-rnodern
tete there. ana drinking champagne under the
prete1t or charity. ] consider II absolutely
shameful that fashionable FrenchWomen should
go TO the Trianon wearing Marie Antoinette
menus and Lamballe hats. whose original wear
srs were beheaded by the guillotine and that
On Thursday Partisan society already contami-
mated and poisoned by cosmopolitanisu should
mo pleasure in witnessing children attired in
LOUIS ANl dress, playing pastorals on clari-
nets thereby recalling the Image Of the little
pauphin, the victim OF Simon the brutal taller
1 aehounce II as supremely illbred that Young
laoes OF the highest position in Partisan So
ciety should have been allowed 10 apnear ON
iHnfsoay IN dresses made after the model OF