The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-02-11
From m,ths New York World.
THE CITIZEN ROCHEFORT.
An Interesting Sketch Of His Lifs

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An Interesting Sketch Of His Lifs.
The facts of the citizon Rochofort's
| life may bo briefly recapitulated. of
an excellent family, he has had tn.
reputation of being in early life a
worshipper and then q panegvrist of
royalty, Whatever the facts are. he
donies tho worship and explains the
panegyrie. He first ioated to the
surface of Partisan life as q contribu-
tor to the Journals of the school and
following Of Figaro. But these did
not afford scope such rs the future
irreconcilablo and fugitive desired for
his caustic pen. In the midst of res
trictions, surrounded with all the
snares and pitfalls of a severe and
then unreformed press law, he pup-
lished La Lanterne. It's career is
world.famous. Its unsparing editor
turned its glare fall on the imperial
family and all its surroundings. Mis-
takes of policy on the part of the
Emperor were no greater crimes than
eccentricitics of the Empress, who was
"Espognoie in the days of I,ochcfort
rs Marie Antoinctte had been pAu-
tr'ch'enne in those of Mirabeau. His
1ate, OF course, was certain. The
elections of go had not taken place,
and tkc Emperor felt strong. The
destruction Of this aspirant to Archil-
ochlan notoricty was determined
on. Peuding an action against him
tor assault, ho fled to Belgium, and in
his absence was prosecuted for his Of
fences. He was sentenced to fine and
imprisonment. This, it was believed,
would keep him out of France. Out
OF France he remained, but he took
care that his Lantcrne should flame
Tor the qualification of his imperial
protcges, TO whom he devoted uD-
worrying attention. The most ill.,
genious methods were improviscd by
him to secure the circulation of this
brochure in France. Now sent by one
means, and again by another, it trav-
eled in all directions, proving to the
Imperial officers that Tochefort's exile
was to him safety and not restraint.
Lis next role was that of candidate
for the Corps Legislatif. The amncs-
ty designed to kill off such men
brought tho "citoycn" to the frontiers
OF France. He demanded admission.
lie was arrested and in his arrest he
had another triumph. But it was
short and unsubstantial. The bung-
ling OF mouchord was not to inter
fere with tho clcmcncy of an Empc
ror. An imperial telegram demanded
his release, with full permission to
pursue his candidature if he wilIcd.
He entered Paris on November Z.
Crowds followed him, and even if not
the Masaniello of the hour, thcrc
were still those who cried "Vivc
Rochcfort" rs he passed to his hotel.
The result of the last elections is too
well known. Tho Emperor, numcri-
cally in a majority, was "whipped"
morally. Nowhere was this defeat
more signal than in Paris; in all the
large centers of population and intel
ligencc it was notable. At tho sup
Elementary election of Novemb ber
25th Rochefort was returned for tho
First Conscription OF Paris; Gre
micux, the great advocate and free.
trader, for tho Third, and Araeo for
the Eighth. Viewed as this election
was abroad, it was in the words of
the London Times, "the last impor-
tant protest OF an angry populacc-
the election Of one Of the gonains. to
the Chambers, which, nevertheless.
was no proofthat France was ripe for
gamin government" Perhaps this
found some confirmation in tho reccp.
ton of the irrcconcilable's name at
the opening of the Chambers. He
was not present, but ho was heartily
hisscd-porhaps by sibilants. An
other non juror-at least in one sense
-.-he- took the oath of allegiance to
tho empire pledging himself to break
it. He forthwith projected his Mar
saillaiso. 1t was to have come ont
early in December. It did not an.
pear until the New Year. It's short
history has already been told in these
columns. Its ability was unquestion-
ed; its attacks violent; its rcpulso of
assailants ready. Its conduct has
provoked challenge of it's chief ed
itor; it has caused the death of one
of its attaches; it has placed an i'm
periai prince in danger of his life; it
has shakon the empire. Responsible
for it's words, the irreconcilable citizen
stands to-day arraigned for outrage
on the French chief, for exciting to
violence and disorder. Truly. an
eventful chapter in the history Of
journal:sm-the work of newspaper
not month old.
FRASER, TRENHOLM & Cow pub
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