The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-11-21
SCENES AT THE FRIANoN.
ThieIs, ROuher, and CanrObert on the
Witncss-stand.


All who follow Bazaine's trial with
attention must be struck by the care
with which the most determined adver-
saries of the marshal avoid anything
which might tarnish the honor of the
French Iarmy. If Gen. Riviere, in his
report, had not so precisely co-ordinated
facts which public opinion can not ex-
cuse unless they are extenuated il
Bazaine himself had not let fall impru-
dent words if he had not written the
letter of September 29th, which he
| declares a 7st8e de glte7re, and he
speaks of capitulation with thirty days
supplies before him-if, in one word,
facts did not perplex public opinion, in
is not the dispositions of the military
witnesses-not so far, at all events
which would warrant public opinion in
showing itself absolutely hostile to the
marshal.
Nor do the civilian witnesses examined
| at yesterdays sittings add to the sever
| ity of the judgment one might pass on
| him. M. Schneider, the former presi-
| dent of the corps fegislatif, declares
that he can nOt understand how Marshal
Bazaine, who at the very outset con-
sidered the war disastrous, could have
been tempted to solicit the chief COM
mand of the army when it's fate was
already compromised. That was said
in a singular tone.
The ex-president, who, besides being
politician, is great iron-master, with
gray hair, a broad forehead, a firm,
lively eye, beneath thick eyebrows, as
closely shaven as a priest, as tightly
buttOned in his black coat as an officer,
with a bright complexion. the red ro-
settle in his buttOn-hole, advances erect
and firm, bows, takes the oath, sits
down without ceremony, delivers his
neat little set speech in a uniform tone,
adds that he has nothing else to state,
rises, bows again and retires with the
same ST. like a man who has Just dis
charged a disagreeable but necessary
duty. Nothing comes out of his depo-
sition, neither an argument for the
defense nor an attack for the prosecu-
tion. M. Rouher follows. The con-
trast is striking. NJ. Rouher is almost
vexed at having to appear merely to
state that he has nothing to say. When
militant politics demand all ones atten-
tion, it is not pleasant to be called
away to the groves of the TrianOn to be
the observed of all observers, and say
that you have nothing to say. He
scarcely sits down. You feel that his
only desire is to go away again, and he
does so, after few moments, with a
grave, important look, holding his head
high, like a man who has had the
destiny of his country in his hands, and
who, strange to say, finds that it was
much more tiring to descend than it
was to mount. His evidence leaves no
trace any more than NJ. Schneider's
hut we shall see him again when the
political part of the trial comes on, and
it will be curious to hear him explain
why he was so great partisan of the
march of MacMahOn toward Bazaine,
and why he was so anxious to shut the
gates of Paris on the emperor, before
whom they were never to open again.
It is Marshal Canrobert who next
appears. He sways to and fro with his
long hair, now turned gray, thrown
back upon his shoulders his head, too,
is thrown back he leans upon his hip,
bows sOlemnly, takes the oath, sits
down with solemnity, and with solemn
ity states what he knows. You feel
that he does not like Bazaine. He calls
him g my former chief ;" he is fond of
speaking of ga general who should
have done this and not have done that :"
he never looks in the direction of the
prisoner, and when the latter speaks
Marshal CanrObert listens to him with
a shaking of the head that is not meant
to be amiable. But in his deposition a
measured tone prevails throughout.
Nothing is extenuated, nor aught set
down in malice. The man has disap-
peared, the soldier and the citizen re
main. As witness, Marshal Canrobert
is as picturesque as a landscape in the
Tyrol. There is humor in the way he
answers Marshal of France" when
asked his profession. He is all motion
he acts his deposition, he mimics, he
declaims. The tone is familiar; there
is no trace of preparation visible. He