The only sign of weakness as yet betrayed by the
Govern- ment is in their treatment of M. Gu‘rin. That person and
his ten associates having defied the police, and threatened to use force, are legally "in rebellion," and in ordinary cases proce- dure would be swift. A body of armed gendarmes would be sent to the house, a small two-storied one in the Rue de Chabrol, M. Guerin would be called on to surrender, and on his refusal the house would be stormed. Two or three persons would be killed in the encounter, and the remainder would receive sentences of hard labour. In this case, however, the Government hesitate, it may be from humanity, it may be from a wish to avoid offending the intense anti-Jewish sentiment, it may be from considering the affair of very little importance. It is characteristic of the present temper of France that a fourth suggestion is offered,—viz., that M. Guerin is an important agent of the police who reveals Royalist plots, and is therefore entitled to every considera- tion. That is not probable ; but the total result is that the Government is considered weak whenever it is not guided by General de Galliffet.
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