The New York herald., 1870-03-14
The Herald and tho French Press-La
I.lbcrse and Emilio do Gtrardin.

our special correspondents, is creating more
and more a sensation and becoming more and
more power in the French capital. II is
long since the merits of the HERALD were
appreciated in Paris that greatest world cen
tire Of wit and wisdom, Of beauty and of
fashion. by the English reading public in
Paris there are two newspapers eagerly sought
after; and of late years, in consequence Of
the increasing numbers OF Americans who
now make up SO large portion of the Paris
population, il Is difficult to say whether the
NEW YORK HERALD or the London Times is
more in demand. For some time past the
Herald has certainly been more spoken Of
and more noticed in the public prints. 1t is
not, however, with the English reading por-
ton OF The community only that the HERALD
is a iavorite Our editorials, our special corr
respondence, our fashions letters have been
extensively reproduced and commented upon
in the leading Paris and other French jour-
nails. Our letters from Abyssinia filed the
minds of French journalists with wonder and
amazement. Our letters from Egypt, espe-
cially our fashions letters, during the Suez Canal
ceremonies were so sparkling and full Of life
that they made Frenchmen envious. Close
upon these followed the interviews of our spe-
cial correspondents with Count Bismarck and
Baron Beust-interviews which clearly showed
that in the estimation Of those two greatest
Of European statesmen the HERALD was
not only far ahead Of all party and ma
tional journals, but also the most independent
and the most cosmopolitan newspaper in the
world. These interviews, taken from the
HERALD and extensively republished not
only all over Germany, but in France,
have, among the Parisians particularly, com
PEELED attention to our columns. More
recently still our editorials on the Empcror's
reforms, on the Olivier administration, on the
victorNor tragedy, on Prince Pierre Bona
parte and on Henri Rochefort, have all, or
almost all, been translated aud published in the
leading Paris papers; and it is to us a source
of some qualification to know that the ground
we have taken on these subjects has been so
generally approved of, and that whilSwe have
struck terror and disappointment into the
hearts of the 'sirreconcilables," we have con-
>tributed not little to the support and encour
agemcnt of the progressive but order loving
section of the community.
Among those who see and acknowledge the
superior merits of the HERALD as a great news
paper and world power we are proud to men.
ton La Liberte and its distinguished editor,
Emile de Girardin. We have now before us
recent copy Of the Li5erti, which is largely oc-
cupied with extracts from our editorial
columns. Our views Of the political situation
in France are heartily endorsed, and there is
pronounced by the editor somewhat glowing
eulogy on the HERALp's clearness of vision
and absolute iInpartalty. To such praise
from so distinguished source we do not pre-
tend to be Indifferent. OF all men now living
in France NJ. Grardin Is perhaps the best
qualified to speak of the merits and demerits
Of journalism. His experience has been
large, peculiar and testing. His success has
been great. He is indeed one Of the very few
great journalists whose names viii go down to
posterity. A man of fine scholarship, Of great
literary ability, shrewd politician, and not
wholly without opportunities, he might have
won distinction in many walks of life; but it
is fact not undeserving of att enton that he
never realized the fulncss Of his strength until
he Numbered from LIN Prssse, journal which
he established in 1886, in conjunction with
others; nor is it any disparagement to Girar
din to say that from that moment he has never
been his true self in any other capacity than
that of journalist. As a politician and a
statesman he has not been without distinction.
He was an influential member Of the
Chamber Of Deputies in 1884. In l84S
it was he who received from the hands
of Louis Philippe his act OF abdication.
During the shortlived republic of l84S and
the establishment 0fthe second empire no ma me
was more prominent than that of Girardin.
His greatest experiences and his greatest
triumphs, however, have been won in his cha
racter of journalist. When Girardin estab
iisled the Presse he took for his motto an .jour
le j0@r, thus showing that he fully understood
the true character Of the newspaper. Bound
to no party, true only to his motto, rejecting
the sentiments of the hour, whatover they
might be, differing from all others Of to-day
auu Ioiu Hihu5cH VI ycSecruay, iuu always
writing with force and pungency that
bespoke deep conviction and terrible earnest
ness, Girardin soon raised the Presse to the
very first rank among journals Of the first
class 1t had no rival in France, no superior
in Europe. The vigor and fearlcssness of
his language has more than once brought
Girardin into trouble. His duel with Armand
Carrel, in which Carrel fell, grew out Of an
attack in the columns Of the Presse. In l343
he was locked up in the Concergerie and his
paper suspended. Prosecutions followed in
such rapid succession that he sold out in
1856 for some hundred and sixty thousand
dollars. Giardin is rich rich, we believe,
rather from the success Of certain Eng
lish specnlations than from the profits Of