The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-22

The vindication Of Jules Fayre.
The trial of M. Labuye for libelling julie
Favre, the late Foreign Minister of the French
republic, has, as our readers are already in
formed, commenced and ended. The account
OF the proceedings in the French courts, which
was received by the last foreign mail, enables
us to form just opinion of the merits of the
case, as well as of the effect which it produced
on the minds of the Parsians Seldom has q
stranger scene occurred in q court of Justice.
ana this statement we make with just appre-
citation OF the scenes which from time to time
have taken place before French judges. The
libel which the ex-Minister complained Of
rested on publication made by NJ Labuye in
the VfriM and Aoenir Liberal. The libel de-
clared that Jules Favre, while in authority,
made use Of his power to crafty secret
grudge against M. Labuye. The verdict Of
the jury in condemning NJ. Labuye to fine Of
one thousand francs and one years imprison-
ment vindcates the character of Jules Favra
as public officer.
The cause of the enmity between the late
Minister and he who DETAINED him in the public
journals originated some years ago and arose
out OF law case. Before this difference the
two men were fast and warm friends.
Labuye was well acquainted with the
private character of Favre; he knew:
as he alleged, that the great advocate was
living in state of concubinage with the
woman whom the world regarded as his wife
he knew that the children which bore his nams
were Legitimate. All these things he was
perfectly well aware of before the quarrel
originated which was the means of making
them enemies, but not until a fancied wrong
did he commence an onslaught on the man
'h "h"" hn was at one time on terms
OF the closest intimacy. Favre was silent.
WIN pain and sorrow he bore the attack
character as private citizen sullied by the
stories Of bitter enemy, and it was not until
his public character was slanderd tbo.
undertook to defend himself. ne uoio"v0'
however, of his public course bIo'en' ne.
public gaze the conduct of his private l''o,
For the first time for certaint, oiu 'uo ~"
learn of the errors Of the mar whose na'no 49,
at one time, and is evei now, amons
foremost of France. The stories wnicn n"N
previously been published were resa'.'1 ~
falsehoods, owing to the high estima''on ~.
which he was held. From Favres own -
=. course of an
~ .earneu 'n~ ~aa now bitterly he must have
felt his expose when we find the man
whose daring and courage have time and
time again been acknowledged shedding
tears of bitterness before the Court and
in the presence Of the assembled multitude.
M. Favre's defence of his private life, however,
we can regard only as an apology; but as the
explanations given in it appeal to the heart Of
every man, and though judged from moral
point of view he cannot be excused, still pity
and compassion for his innocent children and
sympathy for the man himself compel us Ia
deplore the exposure and regard him with
charity. So far as his public course is con-
cerned, it will be best explained In his own
words :-"My duty was to invoke the justice
of my country, not to allow the govern
ment Of my country to be dragged through the
mire by suffering it to be believed that man
invested with public authority had been suf-
flclently oblivious of his duties to employ his
power for the qualification Of personal malice"