The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-22

piled Law, slowly and deliberately. Il
have lived, and thought I had succeeded.
Indeed. success was mine for some
months, though now must meet failure.
have this to console me-that twas fall
ure not Of my own fault. AS for France,
I loved her. AS for America, believe In
her to-day, this very hour. AS for your
grace In person, I was your friend, nor
was ever disloyal to you. But 1t some
times doth seem that, no matter how sin
cere be one in ones endcavors, no matter
how cherished, no matter how successful
for a time may be his ambitions there is
ever some little blight to eat the face of
the full fruit Of his happiness. To-mor-
row I shall perhaps not be alive. It is
very well. There Is nothing I could de-
sire, and it is as we'll tomorrow as at any
time
But surely, Monsieur Las" interrupt
ed the regent, with a trace Of his old gen.
crosby, III there should be outbreak, as
you fear, I shall, Of course, give you a
guard. I shall indeed see you safe out Of
the city, If you so prefer, though I had
much liefer you would remain and try to
help us undo this coil, wherein I much
misdoubt myself
Your grace, I am a disappointed man,
a man with nothing in the world to COM
fort him. I have said that I would not
help you, since twas yourself brought
OAAA Oll lily pltIS, anu cast GOWN CnaC
work which I had labored all my life to
finish. Yet I will advise this, as being
your most immediate plan. Smooth down
this France as best you may. Remit
more taxes. as I said. Depreclate the
value of these shares gently, but rapidly
as you can. Institute great numbers of
perpetual annuities. Juggle. te1nporize,
postpone, get for yourself all the time you
can. Trade for the peoples shares all
thav Hx1f1 folr
never strike balances; and can never
atone for the egregious error of this over
1sue Of stock which has no intrinsic
value. Eventually you may have to
declare void many Of these shares and
withdraw from the currency these
actions for which so recently the people
have been clamoring.'
THAT means repudiation!" broke in the
regent.
certainly, your grace, and In 50 ia,
your grace has my EXTREMIST sympathy
know 1t was your resolve not to repudia tt
the debts of France, as those debts stood
when first met you some years ago. Tha
was honorable. Yet now the debts Of
France are UNNECESSARILY greater, rich a.
france thinks herself to be. Not al
France, were the people and the produce
OF the commerce counted in the coin
could pay the debt of France as it now ex.
lists. Hence, honorable or not, there is
nothing else-1t is reputation which nov
confronts you. France is worse thar
bankrupt. And now it would seem wise
II your grace took immediate steps, no
only for the safety Of his person, but TO,
the safety of the government"
Sir, do you mean that the people would
dare, that they would presume
The people are not what they were
There hath come into Europe the leaver
OF the new world. I had looked there tt
see a nobler and a better France. It 4
too late for that. and surely it Is too lat,
Tor the old ways Of this France which W,
see about us. You can not presume nov
upon the temper Of these folk as you Nigh
| have done fifty years ago. The Messasebe
| that noble stream, it hath swept it's puri
| flying flood throughout the world! Lool
you, at this moment there Is tumblin,
this house which you have built of bub
! bles, one bubble upon another BLOWN,
! each bubble bigger and thinner than tn,
last. Mine is not the only fault, nor We
| the greatest fault. I was sincere, Wher
others cared naught for sincerity Anothe
day, another people, may yet say the worl,
was better for my effort, and that there
fore at the last have not failed" !