New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-10-11
FRANCE.
Persecution OF Editors-Political Movements.
I'll. Thin

PARIS, Thursday, Sept. IS, 1851.
Nj. Auguste Vacquere. sixth and last ed
itor Of the Erenement, now she AreneneTt d" People,
was tried Yesterday before the Court OF Asszes and
by it condemned TO SIX months imprisonment, and to
fine Of | coo francs The Incdminated article was
letter ftpm Victor Hugo, and paragraph or two OF
comment .hercupon by ". Vacquene. regret that
my space and press OF other matter prevent me
from ranslating IN full this interesting audience,
can only make an extrac! from Victor HJgo's letter
one from NJ. VaCQueria'. comments ana another from
RS address to the jury. The prosecuting attorneys
argument is so weak and discurslve tina, several OF
The prncipal government journals have forborne re-
porting it, Here Is one Of the great striking passages
from the poet-orator. letter to the editor of the
Agreement
"You can get the better Of one man. of two men,
of million Of men you cannot overcome truth.
The ancient Parliament hope We shali see nolh-
ing OF the KIND in our tme-oiten tired to suppress
the truth by decree but sooner had the recorder
signed the sentence, than the truth reappeared, up
night and radiant, above the tribunal. This is his
tory. This is what exists. You can do nothing
against what is. There VIII always be something TO
turn again from under the feet Of the lnqulsltor.
All you dense immobihty, lnquisiior, | am sorry
for that, for God has made motion. Calico knows
IT, IT, and declares II. Punish GdllleoH YOU WILL
YOU cannot reach God
Onward, then, and say 1t again. with confidence
the things for which and with which you contend
those that the ardor itself OF the combat causes
TO shine still brighter When yOH strike a man.
blood starts from the wound when you strike
Truth, the conclusion ELECTS light ~
In his remarks upon this letter, VI. Vacquere
says
AS to the democratic cause, If the ministry sup
poses that 1t loses 10y being thus oppressed II IS mis-
taken. On the contrary, II gains. In this noble
French nation, persecution is the great propagand.
Democracy has won already all the minds that think.
Oppression will give us all The hearts that beat
Let the Courts rcdouble their rlgors. then so
much the better the republican idea Is tree,
strong and vigorous Weights will be hung upon It
provocatons and condemnatons will De hurle upon
II. The ministers will hope to have buried II, but
will only have planted II.
This is why We cali our Journal the Advent of
| the People,
"Tuths have always been so mixed up with per-
Secuton, that it really seems If they had need Of
them for perfect conservation in the religion OF
| telhgence The purest and nobleSt four are those
which have most suffered from oppression, and their
martyrdom has done much for their glory as they
themselves Who can tell what the hemiock has
added 10 Socrates, the Stake 10 Joan of Arc ST. Hell
ena to Napoleon, and higher sull, the Cross to
| Christ
'wha, consolation Persecution, so useful, so
indispensable TO the progress OF ideas, that the Cos
| pei itSel; could not dispense with Il "
Amer the counsel for the defense had concluded,
N. Vacquefie spoke for few moments. quote 4
passage from his address
been often lately al the Court OF ASSizes Until this
/ day, have been mere spectator, an interested
one, certainly, as my FIVE lellow-edll have been
suCcesslyely prosecuted and condemned. I have al
| ways heard the Attorney General represent society
as divided into two camps-that OF the republicans,
on OF the socialists, Al YOU like and that OF the party
Of order. do not think that this distinct on is lust
for who am openly and sincerely republican, pre-
tend 10 be openly and sincerely devoted to order
do not believe that the rich the enemies of the
poor OF that the poor are the enemies ofthe rch.
at was 10 help tlspel this miSunde rstandng that
| leecame political writer For three years / have
followed this profession. You viii notice one cir
cumStance, gentlemen, that during these three years
oi daily editorial writing, have never been con-
| demned or prosecuted. thought, therefore that |
had three ,esIs of labor 10 plead my behalf yet
| do not receive credit for single day
The FIRST number OF myIew journal seized 4
number too, which is, from veglnning 10 end all sp-
! peal 10 Cancellation,
! Each one Of you, gentlemen has ms own trade
or profession !, too, have NINE am author.
The revolution Of As found me writing books, and
! very paclhc ones, assure you. Verses upon the
| subyerslye than that.
Ai,er the revolution, literature was no longer
| possible, for the moment. Every one gave himself
| up 10 questions Of social import
| Il have tined, IN nv humble capacltv and m my
mc0le station, To aSct general Cancellation l
have tred 10 teach the rlch to make some conces-
sons 20 the poor, ana the poor To exact less of me
r,ch. have labored in this single intention Is this
CRIME
As have said, am writer of books and of
plays OF the latter, one has been horribly Kissed
Others have succeeded. This is my like and j, Is
sad that am man Of disorder,
NO. gentlemen, have the same lnteres, as YOU
public order. have positive need of peace for the
work OF my every day / disorganize peoples minds
and agiia;e the street l only desire crowds at the
doors OF the theaisrs
IL have done, gentlemen OF The jury have told
you loyally what was my purpose II writing and pub
lshIg the articles which are submitted 10 your can
dor.
have no, trieG TO plead-;hai could not do.
have only conyerSed Now, gentlemen. Judge me-
The Government has nov gone to the length Of lis
,tthsr RepGoba;ion Of It's conduct IS universal
eleven men ogi Of twelve ihai you meet IN The stree,
express regret and disgust The verdc,s OF the
oiy are diftccl' &c explain EXCEPT when!, IS reFnem.