The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-06

a promise to abdicate if he were con-
WINGED that such step on his part
was really likely to result in the res
toration of the empire.
He then laid it down that he re-
tanned the sole right to decide if and
when the time for this step had ar
rived, and limited that it was his duty,
as well as his right, to interfere active
ly to check any designs of which he
disapproved. He concluded by pro-
Tossing a sincere and hearty interest
in his brothers fortunes, and inviting
Prince Louis to confde in him fully,
as in his best friend.
This statesmanlike deliverance APP
peared to inspire the younger prince
with genuine respect. He appeared to
be good deal embarrassed in the be.
task to tell his elder brother that he
had been rejected in favor of Louis
himself. ~..
After acknowledging in the most am
pie manner his brothers. claims on his
obedience and gratitude, Prince Louis
proceeded:
t'The state of France shows clearly
that our house has no chance OF sue
cess by constitutional means. The re-
public can only be subverted by the
action of the army, which embodies the
spirit of the nation more truly than
the collection of provincial advocates
and fnanciers which calls itself the
chamber Of deputies. The army will be
guided by it's chiefs, and, therefore, 1t
IS the staff which holds our fate
in it's hands. The generals very natur-
ally feel a preference for soldier. 1t
is now nearly six months since l was
first approached in the greatest secrecy
by General Garnier.'
I had the utmost difficulty in not be-
traying my emotion at the sound Of this
name, so inseparably connected with the
Dreyfus case.
"Garnier conveyed to me that he and
his brother generals had decided that
the time was ripe for revolution, in
which they anticipated receiving the
support of the church and the noblesse.
He said they were determined to avoid
second catastrophe like that of the
mountebank Boulanger. and therefore
they meant to abolish the republic by a
France monarchy under their protec-
ton. And. in short, he offered me the
crown in the name of the French
"You reminded him Of my existence,
perhaps9' put in the elder brother with
some bitterness.
Il refused to entertain the offer until
it had been made to, and refused by,
you,' Louis protested earnestly. Gear
nier replied that in no event would his
brother generals agree to your nominal
ton, and that, if declined, the offer
would be made to the Duke Of Orleans
who commanded the support of the cler
ical faction. 1t was question Of Bona
parte or Bourbon, and I relied on oul
compact that in such a case you would
relinquish your rights in my favor
l. Prince Victor turned to me as tho he
wished mo to express his sentiments.
accepted the task.
It would have been better if yo,
had taken Prince Napoleon into YOU
answer" I said. General Garnie
might have paid your elder brother tn,
compliment of explaining the reasons
for setting him aside.'
did not consider the project suf
ficlently mature at that time,'' was tn,
answer. I thought it better to wait
till the affair assumed a tangible shape.
And this stage has now been reach
edY'' l inquired.
1T has. My brother will understand
that pretext was necessary for thu
action OF the army, and that pretex
could only be the danger of war. For /:
difficulty that neither in Geramny no
In England was there any disposition tt
| attack France, and our treaty with Rus
sla laid 1t down in the most eXplici
manner that the tsar would only com
to our assistance in the event of ou
being attacked. .r
But at last, thanks to the vigilanc
OF GARNER and the other chiefs of tn
staff, 1t has been discovered that Ger
many IS secretly preparing for :
stealthy spring; she is covering Franc,
with her spies, and, but for the timel,
arrest of this Dreyfus So
could not resist subdued exclama
ton OF triumph as the utterance of thi
name completed the chain of discovery
The whole intrigue engineered by tn,
arttul and unscrupulous French gener
ais lay displayed to my eye, as on ;
map. l listened like one in a dream
as Prince Louis continued explaining t,
has brother the peril of the French ma
ton, the justification for the army i
taking command of the state, and tn,
consequent certainty of a Bonaparte re
T." storation.
Victor listened silently, unable t,
think Of any objection, and seeing hi
own chance of ever reigning as empero
of the French slipping from him. 1
was | who put the decisive question.
You have suppose, taken the tsa
into your confidence, and convinced hin
of the reality Of the danger9''
"We have obtained the promise O.
his support Louis answered.
"Good. In that case you will no
refuse your brother the REASONABLE
proofs which it is his right to demand
. that you have not been deceived"
HWhat proofs do you expect2o
II respectfully advise Prince Napo
leon to request an interview with tn
tsar.'
This advice was received with YER
different feelings by the two brothers
. Prince Louis cast on me a look of sur
, prise and annoyance; his elder broth
er's eyes glistened with pleasure at
suggestion whose value was at once an
parent to him.
"You cannot object to my followin;
my secretary's ADVICE said Primo
Victor, after moments pause. eth
interests of my house are at stake; an
before resign the prospect of thron
I have right to be tloroly satisfied
: The tsar is your friend, and, therefore
you should be pleased to accept his me
: diation.
Prince Louis yielded, not very era
. ciously, to these representations, an
undertook to arrange the conference
He then withdrew, leaving us to discus
the situation.
1t is unnecessary for me to relat
what passed between Prince Napoleo
and rayself. l succeeded in fixing hir
in the oninion that he had beerr treat o.