The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-09
FIRST EDITION
NJ OC HI Il H O R II.
The Irreconcilable and His Career-"Le
Figaro" "La Lanterne," "La
Marseillaise"-A Red
Republican De-
magogue.


young man, and began life as a theatrical critic,
from which position he drifted into that of a
writer for the Cbdriudri, or Paris Punch, q
weekly periodical which is as funny as 1t dare
be without incurring the risk of suppression.
He next became the chrOniq,teur or chronicler
of tue Figaro, and for some time was the life
aud soul of this popular sheet. No part of a
French newspaper is more characteristic and
attractive than the Ctronique or record OF pass
ing events, into which everything conceivable is
crowded. from the most important affairs of
state to the most insignificant events of local
occurrence. The French journalist does not,
even in his most dignifed editorial, restrain
himself as much as his colsborer in other parts
of the world, and in the chrontque especially he
gives tull scope TO his versatility and vivacity,
rambling over the whole scope of passing events,
and dscoursing as readily upon the removal of
an old chateau as upon the overthrow OF
throne. A brilliant chronicler, therefore, at
once commands the attention of the people, and
it is in this capacity that many of the most sue
cessful Journalistic of Paris have commenced
their career.
In the chronique of the Figaro, therefore, it
was that Rochefort gradually established him
self as one of the keenest masters of satire in
the French capital. On every possible point he
brought to bear vindictive and INSCRIPTIONS
culing the Emperor, ridiculing the Empress,
ridiculing the Prince Imperial, and habitually
holding up to the scorn and derision of the
people the Napoleonic dynasty and all its
compartments, motives, and movements. Ihis
weekly onslaught at last became so CALLING that
M. Villemeesant, the proprietor of the Figaro,
received notice that he must give up either his
paper or his favorite contributor, and NJ. Vile
messant elected the latter alternative. The
Figaro might be dull without Rochefort; but
Rochefort without the Figaro would certainly
be useless.
So M. Villenessant parted with Rochefort,
and the latter, thrown upon his wits again. con-
eeived the idea of publishing a journal of his
own, in the conduct Of which he would be free
from the trammels of antagonistc personal
interests His first application to the Govern
ment for permission to start journal was, as a
matter of course refused, and it was not until
there was a change in the law regulating the
press that he was able to make a beginning.
In the early part of January, 1868, the Govern
ment had submitted to the Corps Legslatif
the draft of new press law The
first section of the law declared that thenceforth
the French press should be free, but its subse-
quent provisions contained 80 many oppressive
restrictions that the liberal and independent
journals declared the existing order of things
of their party in the Corps Legislatif to reject
the measure IN toto. The discretionary power
Of the Minister OF the Interior and the projects
of the departments over the political press was
put an end to, the system of authorization for
those who wished to start new journals was
abolished, and the burdensome stamp-taX was
slightly lessened; but there was no reduction in
the amount Of caution-money required, the fine
for violations which the correctional tribunals
were authorized and required to impose upon
editors, publishers, and printers were fixed at
such unheard-of rates, and inflicted for the most
trivial offenses and, in short, so many new and
Odious features were added to the existing
regime, that Emile de Girardin, the editor' of
La Liberte, pronounced the new law hateful
trap" But because OF its few liberal provisions,
and especially the clause which permitted the
establishment of political journals without
previous authorization, the ultra-imperial mem
bers of the Corps Legislatif manifested great
deal of opposition to the measure, and its defeat
at one time seemed imminent. The liberal
journals however, reconsidered their first posi-
ton, and advocated the passage of the law,
which was finally effected after stormy debate
and not until several still more oppressive
features were added. On the 11th of May, 1868
the new law, having passed the Senate as well
as the Corps Legislatif, was promulgated, and in
circular issued a few days afterwards, NJ
Pinard, the Minister of the Interior, announced
that ''henceforth the press will only have as its
judges the judges of every citizen. II will nc
longer be under tutelage."
AS soon as the new law was promulgated, q
twarm of new papers sprung up all ovel
France By the 1st of July, 1868, sixty-four
new journals, nearly all weeklies, had beer
established in the departments, while to thu
press of Paris alone were added seven new
dailies and twenty-three new weeklies. The new
journals responded to the demands of tn,
people, and more defiant tone was manifested
by them than had been heard for years past
The people, on their part, eagerly encouraged th
new ventures, and some of them in very
short time attained an almost incredible circu
lation. ....
Among the new weekles established in Pari
was one by Rochefort with the title OF La Ian
terne 1t was published in pamphlet FORM an,
consisted entirely OF short paragraphs int
which the writer threw all the bitterness of hi
heart as well as all the brilliancy of his style
He pOunced eagerly upon the dark spots" O
the second empire, raking Paris over and owe
to gather up all the scandals affecting the i'm
peral family, as well making the most sal
castle use of the failures and expressions of tn
Government that the perverted ingenuity
reckless red republicanism could devise. L
Lanterne became receptacle of nastiness
well as a fountain Of sarcasm, and discontente
Paris fairly gloated over the delicate and del
cious inorsels which were served up in 1
.,ln.n.a Tho n aoOraOate circulation of the fir