M. Charles de Lesseps, as we expected, has begun to
let out the truth. It seems he affirmed before the investigating -Magistrate that M. de Freycinet, M. Floquet, and M. Cl6men- 'watt combined to press M. de Lesseps to grant to Baron Reinach £320,000 in addition to the £400,000 already received by hina. M. de Leseeps, although reluctant, in presence of this triple inteivention did grant £200,000. How this money was employed he did not know ; but the insinuation is, of course, either that it was pocketed or that it was used to further political ends,—its owners, the Panama shareholders, being in either case equally robbed. Neither of the accused has as yet given any explanation, though M. Ole- menceau disputes certain details; but they may be reserving themselves for the trial, which commences on March 13th. Opinion, however, has condemned them already, and M. Olemencean is considered very bold in still taking his seat in the Assembly, which his colleagues do not do. M. Carnot will, during this trial, be interrogated by commission as to his knowledge o! the fact that bribery was going on ; and his replies will greatly affect his future popularity. So strongly is the tide running, that even the Press has been assailed; and M. Boissy d'Anglits on Tuesday carried a motion in the Chamber asking urgency for a proposal to punish editors who puff industrial projects with five years' imprisonment. That is a little crude, as it is difficult to prove bad faith ; but the vote was irre- sistibly heavy,-335 to 57. As we have argued elsewhere, this scandal, before it has ended, will crush the existing Oppor- tunist regime.
