Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1894-06-29 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

MILTON.  FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1894.  DEATH.  IT is difficult to find precisely the right words by which to characterise the foul deed which last Sunday robbed France of her President. Assassination is a favourite weapon of the political malcontent. But President CAttNin has been murdered, not by a Frenchman, but by an Italian. To ascribe the act to Anarchist conspiracy is hardly to light upon a working hypothesis in explaining this strange and appalling crime. For SAM CARNOT was freer from personal enemies than most public men, and far from having played the r("de of a scourge of Anarchism, he has been blamed repeatedly for his leniency and toleration. Altogether, it seems questionable whether his violent death should be laid to the charge either of organised or individual resentment against society and its institutions. The only plausible explanation for the terrible yet purposeless deed is that it has been perpetrated by a man who is not res,:tonsible for his conduct. This is also the explanation to which one would most gladly have recourse. Anarchism has already so many unrequited crimes to its account that it would afford real satisfaction to know that here it is not culpable. None the less keen, however, is the sorrow which neighbouring nations feel that France should have been deprived in a Manner so cruel and so tragic of the services of one of the best public servants who has ever given his talents and energies to the building up of the Republic. President CARNOT was no mere figure head, as his predecessor came to be, at any rate towards the close of his period of office. He was a brilliant statesman, shrewd, far-seeing, and possessed of remarkable tact. If any f of this were required, it would be furnished by the singular success which has attended his conduct of national affairs during the last few critical, and at times disturbing, years. Not only has France under his guidance been enabled to steer her way safely through the continual dangers which have beset her, but her position is now, to all outward seeming, more stable than for a long time. in spite of the fact that the old whirligig of Ministries goes on as before. The death of M. CARNOT has imposed upon the legislative bodies the duty of choosing a successor, and the vote of the Congress, as cast on Wednesday, when M. CAsllllll-PERIER was elected President by an absolute majority of the deputies, indicates an overwhelming determination to continue that policy of moderation and consolidation which so greatly distinguished the public life and conduct of the deceased President. Out of evil good often comes, and it may be that the wide and sincere sympathy wh!ch this terrible event has Vicited may have a happy and lasting effect upon the relationships of France with neighbouring countries. Especially is this to be desired in our own case. Of late, as all the  prool  world knows, this country has bee ,i far from popular across the Channel. It is to be hoped, however, that the kindly message of sympathy which the two Houses of Parliament adopted with unanimity on Tuesday for transmission to the French Chamber, will not be without good result. France and England cannot afford to quarrel. They have too much work to do for civilisation to waste time upon useless recrimination and childish jealousy.