Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-15

men like Felix Faure, the venerable histor-
ian Henri Martin. Gambetta, Carnot and
the aged Victor Hugo inscribing their names
at the head of its register.
What is the object of the Lacquer" some
one asked.
"Alsace and Lorraine" replied Deroulede,
nothing else countsi'
One other thing, however, did count In this
enthusiasts planning. The defeats Of 1870
were still burning on his own cheek like
blow; but all his efforts to arouse France
to his own hot-heartedness brought him up
against the new parliamentary system by
which majority of irresponsible deputies
were governing the country on peace-at-
any-price principles. Long talks with Gen.
Boulanger, who had just returned from the
United States, convinced him that our sys-
tenn was the one that France should copy.
This was the second object of the League
of Patriots.
Last night asked an old cafe walter
the celebrated Bastien of the Grand Cafe:
What do you think of Deroulede?"
He Is an honest man." ne answered,
perhaps the only honest man in France"
l had heard general of the French army
say the same thing the week previously: so
the observation struck me. And there Is
something that strikes Frenchmen of the
most diverse opinions in Deroulede's splen-
did disdain for snug personal prosperity
they would Ike to be the same, only 1t is
so difficult
The great work of the League of Patriots,
for example, has been educatonal-to stir
the youth of France up periodically, and
one of the great means has been to foster
gymnastic and shooting societies Some
years ago the league began establishing
great annual shooting feasts in imitation
of those of Germany and Switzerland. When
the cost or the first one was counted up a
deficit of ~ 600 francs was discovered Der
oulede paid II out of his private fortune In
herited from his father. The next year
thanks to the active aid OF Madame JuIiette
Adam-there was a surplus OF %, COO francs
and the committee thought II only right
TO hand the sum to Deroulede to pay him
back In part at least; but not only did he
refuse It, but he added 80 GOO francs to IT
| to found a capital.
One day Renan, the great philosopher,
! turned his benevolent attention to Deroul-
EIDE. Young man." he observed, France
J is dying. Do not trouble her last moments 20
Yet troubling her last moments" has
| been the life work Of this incorrigible en-
tthusiast, who thinks that France is only
sleeping and that his voice has been given
| to him to wake her. He has been a deputy
He has been a mob-haranguer. He has re-
tired for long periods to his country place
| or Langley, TO write Peasant Songs" for
which the French Academy gave him the
| two historic dramas. 'iMessire Du Guesclin''
and The Death OF Hoche." In the fifth
| act or the latter he shows a council of gen.
erals-Hoche. Lefebvre. Champonnet. Rey.
Soult, etc.-judging and condemning the d.
| rectory and the parliament.
4
| THE government does not govern. II is
1 governed" cries Rey, 1.-The deputies are
| everything. touch everything, trouble every
| thing. There are many judges and no JUS
| tice, many functionaries and no admins
| tration, many taxes and no resources Only
| the army remains upright. 1t must deliver
the nation!
This may be taken as expressing Deroul-
ede's idea of things In present-day France
! Years passed. Only the leaders of the
League of Patriots knew its strength. Hid
den away in the third floor of an ancient
house beside the Palais Royal Its headquar-
tiers contained hundreds of great boxes full
OF classified lists. They had hoped great
| things of Felix Faure. Felix Faure died
| suddenly. President Loubet was elected
| and we pass into dark mysteries What
| was the plan? Deroulede has said of IL,
| My attempt must remain unexplained In
order that II may be recommended"
| 1t certainly remains unexplained. Gen
! Roget, at the head of his brigade. was en-
| tering the Reuilly barracks after the i'm.
posing funeral of Felix Faure. Deroulede
| took his horse by the bride and cried: "Or
to the Elyseew And instead of following
Paul Deroulede. the general arrested him.
Can you imagine anything more patheti-
caIy comic? For twenty years and more
this wonderful enthusiast had educated and
organized the civilian element up to poin
where II would be fit to cooperate with the
| French army in coup d'etat that was tC
make the military element predominant
| There are evidences to indicate that thu
civil element was very highly organized and
reader than people dream Of And 1t wal
the military element that failed himI
! There Is tantalizing glimpse Of an *