The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-15
FRENCH EDITOREHIP.

Girardip, disguised with the tyranny
of the French censorship, has withdrawn
from the Paris Presse. Under the
promise of greater freedom of expression
he resumed the editorial conduct of that
able journal three or four years ago, but
the renewal of warnings" and punish
ments again drives him away. In
letter addressed to the manager of the
Presse, Girardin says:
"When / was the principal share
holder of the Presse, holding forty-two
shares out of one hundred, did l ever
sacrifice my convictions as writer to
my interests as proprietor? That
question is sufficiently answered by the
fact that the Presse was suspended in
June, l84S, when 1 was locked up in the
Conciergerie at the same time as M. de
Persigny; by the prosecutions against
] the Presse in 1850; and by the four
warnings received from the coup detdt
to the 22d of March, 1854. 1t was, there
fore. perfectly well known that l was
NOT the man to shrink before any
danger. whatevers 1t nature might be,
and no one knew better than the pro-
prietors of the Presse, when they asked
me to write for the paper in 1862, that j
was not the man to cave in.' Personally
have no prejudice against towards |;
bu. expect them at least to have the
courage of their cowardice. Let them
be poltroons if they like, provided they
are frankly 80. 1 only despise brag-
CARTS. understand quite well people
not getting up an opposition paper, but
If they do get ono up let them do it
bravely and honestly"
1 h.. al lxr
and honestly" he accordingly retires,
and his example is followed by two of
his associates, NM. Clement Duvernois
and Vermonel.
One other French editor, M. Felix
Belley, shows fight. His nomination as
chief editor of the Pays was rejected by
the Minister of the Interior, and he APP
peals to the Senate. He says, in long
and sharp petition, that when his APP
plication for the Pays was denied, be
, requested permission to start new
journal, underline title of La Civilization,
. to be constitutional and moderate. AS
for the moral guaranty" he appealed
to his "antecedentsn-to the services he
had rendered to the President of the re
public in days of trial and of danger.
The minister replied that but for these
antecedents he would not be now where
: he was-namely in his own presence
! M. Belley offered, as additional security
J, for his good behavior as journalist, Il
J associate i'm the supervision of his paper
two members of the Council of State
and a third parsonage who, 1t appears
stood high in the esteem of the Minister
himself. There securities were no
considered sufficient; the Minister die
!. not, indeed, state what further guarant,
of safety he wanted, but he refused hi
e authorization. NJ. Belley says y:
It II thought that l had reached tn
l last limits of decent submission, but j
!, was not enough. What was it that b.
r desired? A blank recognition before
n hand? A written engagement of blin
|. obedience Something like affiliatio
it to the secret police? His Excellenc
70 did not think proper to explain; and b
did well, for there are overtures Difficult
to understand, when man deems it a
honor not to belong to the class of apps
}. tates, cOurtiers, or worse"
81 The petitioner then informs the Ser
ate of q curious incident which occurre
h during the time he was on the staff,
4: the Pays:
ID "Sonie months later, having to chez
a monthly account in the editorial d.
ia partment, l remarked a sum of fou
u hundred francs payable to a person de
ut sfRnAteu only ny the Inltiais NJ. N
sWho is this M. x p 1 asked of the PEI
:, son who presented the account to me
II The employee Of the Ministry, the ma
lin black was the answer. And o
'n what account does he receive these fou
hundred francs per month"; Il do nc
know; but suppose it is because he ca
screen US from dUertissenlents.' mac
inquiries, and was assured that an e,
president of socialist club exacted
IN similar subsidy from several of ii
=, largest journals of Paris. doubtless
-. protect them in similar way.n
nd These are curious revelations.