The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-16


didature OF Henri Rochefort, it was found ex-
pedient to frighten timid tradesmen by showing
them that this agitation hac a dangerous revolu
ti0nary perDlexlon, and accordingly NJ Petri let
loose lew hundred salaried workmen and police
spies 10 break the kiosks on the boulevards, up
root the forums and smash windows II anv
bona ade revolutionists had ventured thus to be-
have themselves II is scarcely necessary to saw
that Paris had a garrison strong enough to put
them down without much parley; but the traces
people took M. PetrI's biOuses- o,anches, as they
were called to be grim realities, and they were
scared by them into giving the Emperor an en-
thusiastic ovation when he drove down the boule-
wards, under pretext of showing everybody
that he was not afraid. Again. in 1870. when a
Dtebfscftun, was decreed it was generally ielt in
court circles that If little conspiracy against the
Emperor's life was suddenly discovered 1t would
have an excellent effect in winning votes to the
dynasty. SO a little conspiracy OF the sort was
brought to light just in tile nick of time, week or
so before the voting day. M. Pietri's detectives
protested TO have laid hands on posse OF con-
splrators who were going to eXterminate the En-
peror with shells OF dynamite, and some favored
newspapers were allowed to publish woodcuts OF
these dangerous engines. 1t Is q strange TACT,
however, that none OF the conspratOrs were ever
brought to trial and that none OF them were even
found in prison when the Empire collapsed and NJ
Pietri along with 1t. No one ignores now that the
dynamite Plot" was all hoax, for rrefutable
evidence OF the fact was found among the papers
OF the Prefecture which M, Pietri had not had the
time to destroy before hastily decamping. This
tie incident would have slightly damaged the repu-
tatiOn OF an official In any other country except
France. But Frenchmen dearly love all the tricks
OF statecraft, and M. Pictri Is universally re-
spected as clever and INSCRIPTIONS fellow. His
knowledge OF police matters gives him great ad-
vantage in organizing conspiracies, now that con-
spiracy has become necessity to his Old masters:
and NJ Pietri is constantly on the move between
France and England, Interviewing people, paying
and instructing BOnapartst agitators and in other
ways planning the downfall OF the Republic. This
brings US to one OF his chief agencies OF agitation
the press. NJ Pctri has virtually at his orders the
three lmper aiist papers, Ordre, Pays and Gau0is
and all three Of these sheets wholly In part
supported by subsidies from Chiselhurst; and it is
one OF M. Pietrs functions to arrange, in concert
with NJ RCuher, what lines of polemic they snail
adopt, either conJontly or each separately on pub
lie questions. Nothing much need be said OF the
GdulOts' editor, M. Edmond Sarbe des Sablons,
who is a dandlfed gentleman, without talent or
merit of any sort, save that of obeying the orders
he receives but the editors Of the Ordre and Pays
are both men OF Importance, who must be no
tlced. The editor OF the Ordre,
NJ. CLEMENT DUvERNOIs,
is no more than thirty five years old, and vet his
name has been lamous-or notorious, II you within
the press for the last ten years. He began as a
radical journalist 10 Algeria, and was sent to
prison for being bumptiOus in that capacity.
Coming to Paris he wrote under M. Emile de
Girardln, in the Liberte, waged more and more
bumptlOus, fought duel and was sent to prison
again; but shortly afterwards he was Introduced
to Count Walewsk, the Emperor's intimate friend,
who was then President OF the Corps Legislatif,
and lol the Count converted the journalist out of
hand. He seems to have pointed out to him that
young man Of ambition might do better by serv-
ing the Emperor than by fitting against HIM, and
Clement DurvernOis forthwith tried the expert
ment. His neutrality-suspicious. conversion
every one termed it-made great noise, but
writers OF high ability were at that time
scarce in the government camp, Clement
DuvernOs was made much OF at Court.
newspaper, L'EpoQue, was founded espe-
cially for him. with funds from the Privy
PURSE and he made 80 brilliant campaign in 1t by
championing the dynasty which ne had earned his
golden spurs by attacking that the Emperor APP
pointed him to kind OF private secretaryship
His Majesty was then writing the "Li1e OF Caesar"
and NJ Clement Duvernois helped MIN to compile
the materials For this he was paid at the rate Of
5000 francs month"; and when the second volume
OF the history appeared and the scrioe's services
were no longer needed the Emperor found seat
for him in the Corps Legslatit. But this astonish
mgly sudden rise was not enough for on the dis
missal Of the Olivier Cabinet, alter the first DIS
asters Of the war, the new Premier, Count de
Palikao, called Clement DuvernOis to the Minister
ship OF Commerce. and this post the ex-ournalist
held for three weeks-that is, till the fall OF the
Empire-his principal business in those three \
weeks being to victual Paris for the siege. 1t is
said that he contrlved to clear substantial
sum OF money by this victualing; at
all events, the Parliamentary committee appointed
to examine the war contracts limited that he had
pocketed large percentages on the contracts
signed by him for cattle, cheese and timed meats.
But he was never prosecuted, and 80 has the right
to pretend that the pleasant fortune he present
enjoys fell to him from the clouds. He is Keen
eyed young man, with hay-colored beard, an am
bition tout caSser He does not like M. Rouher,
nor does M. Rouher like him; for M. Duvernois
evinced for a time the desire to supplant the ex-
Minister from his party leadership, and only sur
rendered this hope when he discovered that the
Bonapartists declined being led by him. NJ. DIVER.
nois is Cabinet Minister Of the future and he has
quite sufficient wit and energy to leave his mark
as statesman. Meanwhile he writes leading arti-
cles four columns long to prove that Casarism is
the lated destiny Of France, and can no more be
avoided by the country than distemper can by
dogs or measles can by children, only M. DIVER
nois compares Bonapartism to q soothing mama
from Heaven.
NJ PAUL DE CAsSAGNAC,
editor of the Pays, is different sort of man from
his colleague on the Ordre. He has never had TO
turn his coat, for he sucked Bonapartism with
mothers milk and was bred up In the faith by
rabidly mperalist father, who had received SUBJ
stantia tokens of imperial bounty. His entry into
journalism was effected contrary to paternal
Wishes for his father desired him to become gov
eminent clerk, and is said to have used vigorous
language when young Paul turned up unexpect-
edly in newspaper office. However, there is no
withstanding q vocation. 1t was apparently
Young Pauls special call to write strong things in
md hn IIia road