Omaha daily bee., 1874-05-29
THE LANTEBNE AND THE BONA
PARTISTS.

THE LANTEBNE AND THE BONA
PARTIsTs.
Reporter-You were first exiled
by Louis Napoleon. How did you
come out of that?
Rochefort-I was editor Of the
Lanterne. That paper had a circu-
lation of over 10000, and my sat
irical editorials were a terror to the
little nephew of his great uncle. l
was tried and condemned to six
years Imprisonment at hard labor,
but / managed to leave France be-
fore they could arrest me. They
confiscated my paper, which had
cost me over SlOO, 900, and was
worth half a million.
Reporter-I presume you don't
consider the Bonapartists fOrmida-
bic now?
RocheOrt-The Bonapartists con.
troll the French police and a small
portion Of the army, but the police
is by no means the country. Their
chances are indeed very slim.
RoCHEFORT's CRIME.
Reporter-What we're you con-
victed for, and how came you to re-
main in Paris, after the fall of the
Commune.
ROchetort-The only crime l
have ever been guilty of, was COM
mitted with the pen. l have shed
much ink, but never a drop of blood.
Even during the terrible struggle of
the Commune i'm Paris, ! never did
anything more criminal than using
my pen in advocating what / con-
sidered the true principles of Re-
publieanism. Why they should
class us journalists among the men
who actually committed murder,
arson, theft, and other crimes. l
cannot comprehend.
RspOrter-Have you any appre-
tensions that they will seek to re-
arrest you under the extradition
treaty?
Rochefort-I don't believe they
would try it either with the United
States, Great Britain, or Switzer-
land. l should prefer not to risk
Belgium; the clerical party is too
strong there, and the government
might succumb to pressure.
ROCHEFoRT's FUTURE COURSE.
Reporter-YOur trip around the
world would make a very romantic
story-more sOul-stirring even than
some of Victor Hugo's best ro-
names?
Rochefort-Yes; and it is my in
tentiOn to collect these incidents in
a book which / propose to publish
when l return to Europe.
RepOrter-What is your plan Of
future operations, and where do you
propose to locate?
R~ochefOrt-I am going to New
York, where 1 expect to hold a cOn-
sultation with some friends; / ex:
pect to remain i'm New York about
a week, and will then sail for Eng
land. My sojourn in England will
depend on circumstances but my
in%teptentions are to retire to Geneva,
where 1 a superintend the educa-
ton of my children and write my
book. 1 due time a change will
take place i'm France and l may be
able to return under a decree of am
nesty. In that event, / shall, of
course, resume my connection with
the press.
Reporter-Do you intend to stop
over at Chicago?
RochcfOrt-I don't believe ! can
afford to stop. 1t would disarrange
my programme. The only place in
America / want to e is Niagara
Falls?
RepOrter-Rebuilt Chicago is as
much of a worlds wonder as Mia
CARA, and 1 should think you would
be glad to avail yourself of the OPP
portuIity to e that great city?
ROchefOrt-I am a child of Ma
ture, and l love to gaze upon ma
lures wonders above all other
things. Chicago is undoubtedly a
most remarkable city, but then ]
care nothing about big houses and
palatial structures.
Reporter-Your frankness has
placed me under lasting obligations.
Before parting l should be pleased
to receive your autograph card.
Rochefor-Certainly, with great
pleasure, (taking one of our cards
he wrote as follows with his crayon):
Souvenir de mon roydgeG trdrers y
AmeriQue.
HENRI ROCHEFORT.
e. Mai, 1874.
Translated: "a memorial of my
journey across America.) And thus
closed our memorable interview
with the famous French journalist