The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-27
THESE AGENTS SEEK
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to safeguard. They have used these
means. to prove. their use fulnesB when
they thought that their positions were
imperiled, also legislation OF a reae-
tionary character has been secured by
means of provocative agents. and IL
was only the other day that 1 men
toned In these letters how Lord Cam
den. when Viceroy at Dublin, in the
closing years of the eighteenth CEN
fury, had resorted to provocative
agents to stir up rebelliona So as to
furnish cause for the deprival of
tErIn's Legislative autonomy.
OF course, such methods as these
are wholly discreditable and worthy.
OF the most vigorous condemnation.
But In view OF the fact that they have
oeen employed at one time or another
by the statesmen at the head OF Old
World governments, and by those i'm
their confidence, 1t is not altogether
astonishing that huge Industrial con-
Germs, such as the Krupps and the
Waeffenfabrik, which have large funds
at their disposal for secret service
purposes, should follow the example q
people such as. for instance, prince
Bismarck. and foment chauvinism
abroad and war scares at home.
through agents provocatcurs, in or
der to augment their dividends, and
increase the value OF their shares.
Frances new Premier. Louis Bar
thou, Is the most pliabIe and oppor-
tunst of statesmen in the contempor-
airy public life of France, and his poli-
teal evolutions and convolutions have
[ been compared to Lolc Euller's per-
|. 1ormances. Most men high in the
councils of the French nation are
welded to certain set political doc
trines. But Barthou has been identi-
lied with 80 many OF wholly contra
dictory character that no one can be
positive Just where he really stands.
The only thing certain about him fs
that he. is first and foremost for Louis
Barthou. and everything else is sub
ordinated to this consideration.
Hailing from Pau. he is a typical
! Bearnais like that Field Marshal
Bernadotte who, also a native of Pau
became a marshal Of France. and then
wound up as King OF Sweden, and as
the brains OF the coalition against
France in the early part of the nine
tecnth century.
Barthon started as tho pauegyrist
of the wealthy manufacturers, OF the
! territorial maGnatcs and capitalists.
but has been eyer since moving to the
Lett, that Is to say, towards radical
ism and socialism. so as to keen pace
! with the parliamentary majority, and
has been careful, in his easy and grace
ful oratory. to conceal the fact that
he has refrained from mailing his
colors to any particular mast He has
never betrayed any one, though
charged with having done so. but has
knack of slipping away from close
I political associates when he could be
OF use TO them, but they of no fur
Tier use to him. and even the most
triiiing favor is likely to be refused
unless he realizes that the person re-
guessing 1t can really be of service to
i'm.
Barthou has attempted literature in
the shape OF a compia ton of Let
tiers of Mirahcau. but with nc yefy
marked success. He is, however. a
yery clever collector of art bric-a-
brac, historic relics. etc. and the
treasures In his apartment In the Rue
D'Antin would doubtless yield four
times what he has paid for them II
placed on sale. In fact. his appear
ance conveys the impression of a diet
| tamil and his long sensitive fingers
mark the collector of art curios What
makes me believe that his collection
| VIII eventually come on to the mar
ket Is that he is far from rich ana
needs the money.
1t is probable that his Cabinet will
be long lived. For inasmuch as Presl-
dent Poincare has will of hts own
and is determined to avail himself OF
all the authority vested in his, hands
by the Constitution. both in. foreign
sand domestic affairs, Il ia we'll that ne
should have Prime Minister who, FOR
the sake of remaining. in office. will
be willing to defer in all thingslto his
views. and not attempt any policy or
his own which might bring hi.A into
conflict with the chief magistrate
There would, naturally. be a danger of
tbs occurring IL the Premier were
man of greater independence of. char
acter and more steadfastness of prin-
cipies.
Copyright. 1918, by the Brentwood
| Company