The New York herald., 1870-02-10

IeuOantB tn0uRnt the mOSt cucCtlvc tnlnx WOulu DC
not to make any defence, and probably 1t was.
Therefore the proceedings were BRIEF The offence
was palpable, and all that was necessary Tor the
Attorney General OF the crown was to call for the
application or the law. The maximum OF pun
ishment was i've years. Imprisonment, and
the minimum what the court thought ut.
Whether 1t was that the tone OF Rochefort has
cooled down In so markeda manner since the break
down of the manifestation he got up at the funeral
OF Victor N0r or whether 1t Is that the indifference
not to say the contempt or the general public for the
man and his sayings and dongs, was so profound |
can't say, but the fact Is that an opinion was widely
entertained and freely expressed by most OF the
journals soon after the passing OF the sentence,
was that the condemnation Of Rochefort to any
prolonged punishment was hardly worth wilhelm
short, that 'rhe game was not worth the candle. y
Many people and several journalists thought the new
Ministers had made mistake In asking permission OF
the Chamber to prosecute Rochefort at ALL as 1t gave
more Importance to the man than he deserved;
while others thought was absolutely necessary to
let the demagogue kno " there was legal limit to
his efforts to excite an insurrectlon that would
probably involve great loss of life These conflict
Ing opinions evidently had their effect on the
tribunal, which pronounced q very mild SEN
tence OF six months Imprisonment and 5000 francs
line. IL was In the power OF the Court to deprive
the cuprir Of his civil rights, which would have
ousted him from his seat In the Chamber. Roche
fort thought this the object OF the prosecution;
but he was mistaken tor he still retains his place
and can resume it when his Imprisonment Is over.
In fact 1t Is doubtful whether his sentence can be
carried out; for in very short time new law will
be passed ordering all press offences to be tried be.
fore jury In this case all the sentences pro-
nounced under the present law will be RENTED.
IL nnlip m tha nrt
tionary journals. For long time past they have
been shouting in loud chorus for trial by jury for
press Offences instead of leaving them the DOUBT
lui mercies OF the judges No sooner however, do
promptly law giving jury Jurisdiction over the
press than they begin TO attack the new constltu-
trial by jury Perhaps the only way TO reconcile them
would be to allow them 10 select their own
nrles; Or better STILL to allow them to set all law at
Defiance ana get up riots, and upset governments,
and throw France into utter anarchy This would
lead to very little advantage TO themselves, as was
In the old revolution 1889; for all those
without exception who worked SO hard to get It up
periShed IN The cOnfagratiOn they had started,
Rocheiort must be agreeaby surprised to escape so
easily from the fangS Of the law officers; for he
stated his belief last week to his friends that 1t was
all up with HIM. u shall be imprlsoned for nve
years and deprived OF my seat In the Chamber" he
CRIED and seemed greatly depressed at the prospect.
However, he mas been treated with great lenency,
and nothing could be wiser; for his prestige will
suffer more by this display Of magnanmity than by
any excess Of vgor. Certainly R0chefOrt has SIN
gular luck IN keeping before the publc for he is no
sooner out Of one scrape than lie is IN another.
The papers last night published letter to the Minis
ter OF Justice from the former printer OF the
Lante,me, who was =, assaulted and wounded
by Rocnefort and Victor Nolr some months
since, asking why the sentence OF the Court
condemn,ng Rocnefort to four months imprlson-
not carried out. This Is poser for the Minister
The poor printer has right to justice, unless Roche
iort Is 10 DC allowed TO beat people WIN lmpunlty
II kochefort can be arrested while the Chamber OF
winch ne Is a member Is sitting. He Will be COM
PEELED, however, to take TO his heels the moment 1t
adJourns, or make up his mind 10 undergo his sen.
tence for assault and battery. We snail see here
after.
Yesterday we had grand speech from Theirs In
the Chamber on the subject OF protection for French
manufactures. IL cannot be denied that, though
nrst orator OF France. his vast information, great
beauty or dlctlon and wonderful luciuIty to say
nothing OF his graceful and animated delivery, raise
MN above all rivalry IN spite OF manifest physical
defects such as his shri, unmusica voice ana ex-
treme shortness Of stature making 1t necessary Tor
MIN TO mount OH sJOol 10 get his head ABOVE the
tribune. or oil the subjects In the world one would
suppose that an array OF dry facts and hard figures
free trade-for that Is &c view OF Thiers-wOuld
be the last to inspire an orator to attract
mute anything and convert even STATISTICS INTO
poetry. The manufacturers OF France have en-
joyed almost from the time OF Louis Fourteenth
rigid monopoly and rs matter OF course they
have accumu ated great wealth, while French
manufacturers, those especially tie most protected
Napoleon Iii. dared 90 that which neither the
republic Of 'S9 nor '48 ventured on, and tnar was
to give blow to these oppressive monopoles by
making treaty OF commerce with England in 1860
admitting English productions at nominal duties
on condition OF reciprocity on the part OF England.
During these ten years the silks and wines ana
articles ol tase IN this country have vastly
Increased III sale, while the manufactures OF IRON
and cotton have held their own but Welded per-
haps, less profit than the once favored monopolists
were accustomed TO- This has LED TO violent out.
cries, Oh their part against this treaty, which VIII
posed to renew 1t. The Emperor made the treaty
Dut as he has abandoned the power lie formerly
eide on the future policy TO high low tariffs. IL
Is this that gives the discussion now gong in the
Chamber peculiar interest and great importance.
The great manufacturers are eXertinK all tner In
fiuence to break down The treaty with England and
II their Dchalf that Tniers yesterday took up
the gauntlet. But the SILK manufacturers ana wine
producers are also powerful classes, ana they have
benefited too much by the free trade prevailing for
the ten years past not to bring all their influence and
energies to the struggle and their OratOf5 coming
hourly to the rescue. Among these | am happy 10
record the appearance at the Tribune OF one OF the
leading menbeTs oil the Lett known as the "irre-
concilaDlcs,n or republicans. Jules Simon very
able man, and, what Is better, he s man Of honest
convictions and II good patriot. The success OF the
republican party Is less an object with him than the
welfare or the country ana he Is bold enough speak
MS mind whether 1t pease5 his party or nOt. only
two or three months ago at Lyons--the notbea oi
Heaven on the mead OF the Emperor FOR d0lng more,
to the extent Of millions, for education tnan any
archical. He was cheered with enthusiasm. In the
interests OF the whole country ana every class he
now declares for the liberty OF trade, excaming
that ali liberties sisters; that political liberty
and commercial liberty are alike to the advantage
OF the great masses jules simon made great
speech on Thursday and Thlers, with all. his pres
tge, has not done away with Its effect. In this
Jules Simon has risen above his party-nay, has
iown in the face OF it-for he dares TO Uphold
policy that emanatcs from the Emperor, which his
colleagues bllndly oppose for that reason whether
good or bad. jules SIMON proves himself states
man ana patriot wnlle the rest merely fanatics
and partlsans.
This agitation stimulates the cause OF the reds
and R0chefOrt generally.
The President OF the Chamber, NJ Schneider, is q
very wealthy manufacturer. lie has immense IRON
works at CreuZot strange TO say inst at this very
moment . strike OF his workmen, amounting "
10000 has broken out THIS strike proves that
Tue monopolists are not always on the best
terms with their employees, and will exercise
no small influence on the discussion IN the Cham
Der. II the Chamber should 20 i'll favor OF pro-
lection, as Is not improbable the Senate may re-
fuse 10 concur or the President there is the cee-
Drated ROuher, who, as Minister. assisted In making
the treaty with England, ana the well known free
trader, Michel Chevalier, Is prominent member or
the Senate, ana think 1t probable the majority there
Will sustain shc treaty.