New-York tribune., 1901-03-25
DEROULEDE'S REVELATION
THE COUP D'ETAT OF FEBRUARY %.
1899" UPSET BY ROYALIST
JEALOUSY.
Paris. February 26.

! nounced by the High Court OF justice lot hdNAh
attempted 10 induce General Roget to march
| his brigade to the Elysee Palace and overturh
the government. has just celebrated the ami
versary of the "coup d'etat of February 23.
! 1S99," by making some interesting revelations
which furnish evidence Of the inherent strength
| of the existing regime and show that now, as
| has invariably been the case during the last
thirty years. the best defenders of the republic
are its most bitter enemies. 1t is not often that
q man who has been found guilty by a court OF
justice takes the public into his confidence and
supplies facts which completely JUSTIFY his
Judges But NJ Paul Deroulede is not an Or
dinary conspirator, and his many political vicis-
studes have by no means impaired his poetic
nature and his frank and generous IL oiteh HIS
guided patriotism"
To appreciate the full significance Of the
speech at San Sebastian last Saturday. it is
worth while briefly TO recall the salient points OF
NJ Paul Deroulede's vigorous campaign against
the parliamentary repubc-a campaign OF
which he has since 1877 been the great moving
spirit. NJ. Deroulede in his capacity of president
Of the League of Patriots, has always been the
most uncompromisng advocate of ia revanche.
It was he who, attired in long tailed green
coat, used to place wreaths on the Strassours
statue in the Place de la Concorde; it was he
who wanted to send fifty thousand men to the
was he who stirred up the riots to prevent the
performance of "Lohengrn'; 1t was ne VINO
made Boulangism possible; it was he who de-
manded the abolition of the parliamentary re-
public for a plebiscite and on this platform pro-
claimed himself head of the Nationalists NJ. Paul
Deroulede has for thirty years been the stormy
petrol of France, and now for the first time
he admits that great change has come over
the country, and that ia revaE che is prac-
ticaly dead. 1t is evident from the declarations
made at San Sebastian that he realizes that
new and reassurng peaceful spirit is growing
in France and the Nationalist agitator has be-
come opportunist.
The following passage in NJ. Derouede's spec n
is much commented upon in Germany and
shows what change has taken place in regard
TO the idea Of retaliation:
The limit that had myself fixed for putting
Ia revanche'' into execution has now passed.
A whole generation has grown up which did not
see the war. and which we cannot possibly ask
sible We cannot require of our sons what we
ourselves have failed to undertake; and win
all the necessary reservations as 10 posslpie
future complications l do not hesitate 10 say
that / do not believe that at present the pre-
me ditated design of a ''revanche" can figure In
the programme OF prudent foreign policy.
This is indeed a change from the days imne-
diately following the war. when France. still
under the influence Of Caesarism had but one
fixed idea. of which Gambetta said. We must
ever think. but never talk of it,
NJ. Paul Deroulede's confessions in regard TO
the attempted coup detat OF February 23''
supply some interesting points OF anecdotal his
tory which deserve 10 be put on record. The
following passages are translated from the
stenographc report OF the San Sebastian speech
published in to-day's Temps:
| The time has come TO destroy certain legends
and to re-esta blish certain truths in regard 10
the events of February 23, 1899. This revolu-
ton. in which the people and the army We're to
march together against one Of the most shame
full OF oligarchies, was much better prepared
than people think. and much more nearly sue
ceeded than they believed. Ii was only inter
fered with because it was essentially and eX-
clusively Republican. These are not alleGa-
tions: they facts.
After having passed the entire day OF the 22d
and part OF the night in making our last ar
rangements. regulating questions Of detail. Ce-
Gliding the various points 10 be occupied by the
various groups Marcel Habert and myself went
into a little room next TO my study. where we
started mark on plan of Paris the various
positions Of the troops.
In the neighboring rooms a certain number Of
our friends were talking among themselves.
They were astonished at my declarations of re-
volt and rendered anxious. of them at
least. at the absolute secrecy which had KEEP:
in regard to means Of action. They all.
however. decided TO follow Night ad-
vancng, and as there were many urgent COM
munications TO be carried to the residences OF
the members of the. League OF Patriots. only
five or six Of my most trusted friends remained
with me in the offices of the League.
II was then about O'Clock in the morning.
Some one whose name VIII not give. but who
| have reasons to believe entirely on our
side. entered the room where were. Marcel
Habert and myself, and put to these two
questions: 1T is for tomorrow. them" I re-
piled simply. 1T is for tomorrow" And what
would you say" continued my visitor 'if to-
morrow the Duo d'Orleans suddenly to ap-
pear In the midst OF your friends?'' I then re-
d'OrlsaQS in
midst tomorrow l Will myself seize him by the
collar
Then added with considerable anger: Il am
a plebiscitary Republican, and am as hostile TO
all monarchical restOrations as to the main
tenance OF the parliamentary regime It is for
the republic that act. No one will make me a
monarchists and the monarchs join our ranks
tomorrow, so much the worse for them pc
sides have some friends here, and am going
10 give them the necessary instructions in case
this odious surprise should be ATTEMPTED
But said my visitor hastily, II did not saw
that the Due d'Orleans would be there to-mor
row. L swear to you that he will not"
And as l still looked at him steadily he add
ed: swear II TO you. on my honor" I replied
coidiy And swear 10 you he will do well not
70 appear" ~
on this Marcel Habert who had followed with
anxiety this rapid exchange of words added in
tone or irritation. Let him come we'll look
The following day. between midday and /
| o CLOCK IN the afternoon, a mysterious hand had
Upset al the preparations made the position OF
the troops, their dislocation their order and III.
| othcers commanding them and the same ex,nins,
Marcel Habert and myself Were arrested 7
VIII not ana cannot say more. but I declare that
saw that would never allow the renublio =. ~ 10 -
touched l had the presentiment ar tba tiao
out some months ago acquired the certainly
| The accuracy of NJ DerouIade's narrative T.,
confirmed by several personases in the has, NOS
sioie position to know what took place from the