Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-02-02
The Troubles I'm France.

our telegraphic and news columns, brie
accounts of the difficulties in France
consequent upon the shooting and killing
of M. Noir by Prince Pierre Bonaparte
The latest mails from Europe bring nj
full particulars, from which we make tbt
following abstract:
M. Rocheiort, late editor of La Ian
terne, more recently of the MarseiUaise
[ has long been bitter opponent of the
Bonsparte dynasty, and scruped at moth
ing In his aim 10 create prejudice aDC
hatred against Napoleon. This be die
for long time in exile, but having re
turned not long since, under a genera
amnesty, he was elected a member OF the
Corps Lsgislatif; and from his seat iu
the Chamber gave the Government, if moi
more, at least as much trouble, as he was
doing in his paper, the Marseillaise
Now, in we'll established Constitutional
Government, opposition, even the loud
est, whether in the Legislative Rall, OF
in the public journals, is not deemed ol
sufficient Importance to cause serious ap-
prehensions of revolution. Nor is il
usual, in time of peace, at all events, to
proceed to special Legislation in order to
gag such unpleasant uttersnces.
France, however, is so peculiarly con
stituted, that, never mind how smoothly
things appear TO go on, never mind what
new streets and palaces Baron Hauss-
man may be building; and whatever
may be the degree of the commercial
and industrial prosperity Of the nation.
there are always so many elements of
discord and discomfort that the Govern
ment can never be secure of its tenure.
Hence the very large army, the thorough
system of police espionage, and the great
reluctance to give civil and political lib
erty to the people.
During the last two weeks, events have
transpired there that threatened to re-
produce the scenes of 1889, 1898, 1880,
and l84s; and from apparently small
and unimportant beginnings.
Ia the Island Of Corsica, the cradle of
the Bonspsrtes, there is red hot Demo-
cratic newspaper, La Reudache, whose
special task it appears to be to attack
the memory of the first Napoleon. and
thus to sap the very foundation of the
present dynasty. Prince Pierre Nspo-
leon, son of Lucien, and sephew of the
first Emperor, defended the Aemory of
his uncle in the Auenir, another Corsi-
can journal. This controversy wsxed
very hot-or as Figaro expresses it, the
articles appeared to be written in blood
rather than in ink.
All, however, was Corsicau so far; but
the Reranche had an associate editor in
Paris, M. Paschal Grsusset, who also is
editor of the Marseilidise. The latter
Journal took part in the quarrel, and the
Prince was attacked every day, until at
last the whole quarrel was transferred to
Paris; and it was for ons of these arti-
cles, signed (sccording to the French
press law by M. Ernest Lavigne, that
Prince Pierre addressed demand for
satisfaction to M. Rochefort, the chief
editor of the Marseillaise. The follow
ing is the article referred to which led to
the assassination:
."There are singular people in the
Bonapsrte family, whose ambition can
not be satisfied, and who, seeing them
selves positively thrown into the shade,
grow spiteful at never attaining power.
They resemble those old maids who have
never found husband, and who bewsil
the lovers they never had. Let us place
in this category of unfortunates Prince
Pierre Napoleon Benspsrte, who permits
himself to write newspaper articles in his
leisure hours. he inhabits Corsica,
where he wages war against the Radical
Democracy but he meets with more |
Waterlooe than Austerlilz The Re
uanche, Democratic Journal of Corsica,
initiated US into his defeats, aud gave us
a specimea of the articles of the so-called |
Prince. Irritated to see Republican ideas
invade the native soil of his family, the
Prince published long letter in paper,
to rip up bis sdverssrieS.
Here is a specimen Of the Princes prose;
: Whom the brave soldiers, skiliul sports
men, hardy sailors and industrious farm
ers of Corsica would have put to rot in
fields if they had not been withheld
"As may be seen, the Prince does not
write with light hand. Scratch Bon
aparte and you see wild beast appear.
. The nation is the judge Of such
conduct. What will it think when it
learns that this Prince Pierre Bouaparte
10 tue same WuOt III 1870 uuutcoetu
proclamation to the Corsi-
cans, in which are to be found pFotesta-
tiou7, Offers and oaths only to be equalled
by those found in the proclamatious of
him Who is called Napoleon Ill, BY the
grace Of violated oath and the coup d
statl However used one may be to huc-
laations, one may still fnd il strange
that man should have said twenty years
sgo: NY father was o Republican
therefore i am one by conviction, BY in
Itiuct BY tradition; and that this same
nan should to-day treat astrsitors whom
their parents could have flung into the
lsa 10 q ssck, citizsns who have re-
NAMED faithful to their convictions, their
asiincls, their traditions
4" Fortunately, the cruel experience Of
be past gives Us for the future some
ules By which to shape our conduct
let the future Rspublic beware efsll Who
,are the name Of Bonspsrte-of anything
hat borders on princes, kings or eDpe-
ors And let Corsica continue her va
iapt democratic propaganda. France,