The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-18

layished upon dead Deputy Baudin. La
MarseNlatse, as strong in its name and the
memories which it invokes, as in the bitter,
biting words which fill its page, is urging
the reoDlc forward and demanding ven
geance upon the assassin Napoleon. In the
Chambers 81 de Rochefort cries aloud for
justice.
And it is this NJ de Rochefort who is the
representative of the deep-rootsd opposition
to the Napoleonic dynasty which does un-
doubtedly exist. The publication OF La
Lanternee marked new era in the history
of France. All Paris and the great cities
eagerly devoured its singing words, some
times yelled and covert, at others open and
undisguised, always ridiculing, always sian-
dering, always swapping and snarling' al
ways jeerins at all that bore the name Of
Bonaparte. The mailed hand closed, but
the wasp had escaped. When the elections
came on, NJ. de Rochefort was returned to
the Corps Lcgislatif. Crossing the frontier,
he was arrested, but being released by the
Emperor, was allowed to so to Paris and
take his seat in the Chambers. Aggrieved
and wounded that he was not imprisoned or
guillotined, the notorious journalist entered
the arena of politics, seeking his revenge.
AS q politician he failed miserably. He
could measure out columns OF cutting sar-
casm, but the gift OF oratory was not his.
Then came the publication of his new paper,
La iNarseillaise, which, more daring than
its predecessor, denounces the Bonaparles
as assassins, and asks the French people
whether they have not had enough OF these
Imperial cut-throats.
\ NJ de Rochefort is, we trust, sincere in his
love of liberty, and in his oft-rcpeated de-
mand for free representative government;
but he will not figure brayely in the chroni-
cles of the time. In him there is nothing
broad, nothing massive, nothing leonesque.
His words are stepped in gall, and therein
lies their power. They are not pure words,
they are not noble words, they are not the
expressions of lofty, elevated thought They
are malice and bitterness and spite. Volta
tout! And unbridled liberty has been en-
joycd by the editor Of La 1Hc"setlaise what
ever may be the expressions OF his country
men. Without punishment and without risk,
he has insulted again and again every men,
Der of the Imperial family. None have been
too high for his shafts; nor has he hesitated
to pander to the passions of the lowest.
For kindness and forbearance he gave back
hate and scorn With him freedom was Ii
cense, bloodshed and revolution. Whatever
his sincerity, whatever his fate, M. de Roche
fort will never occupy even the smallest
niche in the temple OF constitutional liberty.
Whence comes his power?-for power he
has. In his own person NJ de Rochefort
unites, for the time, every element of oppo-
stion to the reigning dynasty. Bourbon,
Orleans and Red Republican look TO him;
when men regret the coup detat, they turn
to him; when they speak OF the miserable
Mexican expedition, of the war in Italy, OF
the checkmating diplomacy Of Prussia, they
flee to him; when they think of the waning
prestige of the Empire and OF the declining
vigor and power OF the Emperor, it is NJ. de
Rochefort who gives their thoughts express
sion. But he is not worthy to be the mouth
piece of q nation. Without largeness OF
comprehension, devoid of craftsmanship,
poor debater-he is an accident and will not
endure. This incendiary agitator is not the
leader whom France would follow for long.
When the French people offer up their sac
rifce on the altar of constitutional liberty,
the editor of La MarseulaiSe will not stand
in the light OF the hickering fire. Better is
it for France, o thousand times, to be gov
erned by the giant Napoleon than by the
pigmy Rochefort!
France will one day be free; but the slave
ry of the despot is safer and more trustwor-
thy than the freedom Of the mob!