New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-06
REMARKS OF JOHN swTNTON.


REMARKS OF JOHN SWINTON
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: | have been asked
oy Rocbefort indicate briefly the English
the order and bearing OF his discourse tonight.
But before doing this. should like 20 make few re
marks about ROchefort himself this his frst
tation TO American audience. And may say that
will language which would not IN his pres
II he understood the tongue IN which speak ;
for in such case his modesty might enter protest.
Rocheforts IN France has been extraordinary
brilliant. and fruitful and perhaps the well-wOrn
metaphor Of meteor might be more aptly applied 10
him than any other Frenchman of times II it
that believe him star durable and potential
illuminating the horizon which sweeps from France TO
the infinite and from to-day 10 eternity Applause
1t is more than a dozen years since the young man
Roohefort made his appearance in Paris paper. The
Partisan journals crowded with ilustrious
underwriters who sparkle and glitter, writer's
OF wit and fantasia, writers OF scholar
ship and genius. writers Of power. The first
nteects OF France have been and journalists and
the method Of signing their 10 their productions
makes them universally known among the people. As
soon as RochefOrt made MS appearance 10 evident
that here not only writer OF exceptional bril-
iisncy and terrific wit, but OF ideas, Of force Of
conviction a Republican and q Radical, a relentless
enemy Of the dominant despOtism. an audacous and
defiant champion liberty. 1t is only that he
the of writers IN the wirtest Of cities, but be-
hind his wit heroic spirit and behind his peTonai
aty was the genius OF France. He quickly became the
most famous writer in Paris his productions were
eagerly looked for by the whole people his words were
IN every bOdy's mouth. In it were, he be-
came the popular dO-the idol of the blind or thick
skuled. but of the quickwtted, true-hearted bold
handed Republican party of Paris, and OF the masses OF
the French working people. Time soon gave him new
opportunities. he emancipated himself from the
Figaro, started the Lanterne and when prose-
.cued IN Paris issued it in GUM. Again in Paris. he
started the MGrSeiLdiSe, but IL also was in time
suppressed hy the imperial power, and he found him
self prison from which he was liberated on the
bursting the Empire. Napoleon III lad sald that
Paris could not hold himself and Rochefor-that one Of
them must get out; and 1t true. HIS Imperial
Majesty as things happened. went ont first Loud ap-
yause Under every circumstance Rocheiort had STOOD
Arm throughout He had never once changed his
ground 49, had been the most consistent OF popular
political leaders and had confronted the enemy AZ every
turn with the flag OF RepubcaDism in one hand and the
Quill OF Democracy in the other The spectacle was
more than grandose his motvef 1t spraDg from
Republican heart His o1ecti II was the Isefa-
ION OF France. His courage Gentlemen, saw the
other day battered and tattered copy Of that number
OF the MarseilldiSe which issued and instantly
seized by the police the day after Tne Vi
Rocheforts friend Victor NOr, by Prince Pierre BONA
parte. II contained ROcheforps famous article Win
The sign OF the flaming Lanterne under 1t, when then
threw Paris a holy blaze, covered the city Win ll
throne the OF December Rocheforts courage N
shat act and occasion. sublime. Bat need
speak his genius his INSPIRATION ms courage or
ms bower 10 those who know aught Of his marvellous
rdey In Gesrri6ing Rocbefort as a wit do not beg
you msapprehend the meaning of rue thing IN French
the part TINS peculiar talent mas OIIen pls!eu ~
French affairs. We apt. il ms country 10 conceive
OF wit as a iOker-as a sort OF Artemus Ward or Marx
Twain-Or as the lend man IN the Negro MN
etrels Be assured that this not is RochefOrL W.T.
satire was to him but the most powerful and enectve
weapon assault the weapon before which despotisn
lively to spirit OF Republican liberty and he used
Il as used by VOltaire TO destroy those ulaeVo
lent forces winch have PGose1 hfS is mere S-
lfa and
,na how 'A he achieved ms glittering fame
how he won his wonderful popuarity-how he com
passed his power-s power whch iaA1ea raris anu
s5ook on MIN as mere Observation-Disclosures the "revou-
Won incarnate"-sten to his ideas OF organic politics.
Iel me why Republican voters OF Paris elected him
swioe IN the Assembly once under me Umpire ana again
under the Repu6hc-teu me why the asIutes he ~
ran leaders France asked him 10 become member OF
Ing the siege be was appointed chief Of barricades.
r. chefort has than political sense he mas the
mate Conversation with him. He properly reyo-
,uuonst during the Empire; but give France true re,
public, and ROchefOrt's constructive genius may Dc
found equa! TO that Of Cavour; - -. 49,. -.
grossly misrepresented as the Commune itself De up
held the Commune because II appeared 10 Dim 70 en-
wing IDEAS were those 6y which France must
Tated because gave hope OF the realization OF those
great organic reforms which the creative nteects OF
France foreshadowed because II proposed poitl-
cal Justice and communal order-unyersa peace uni
versal education, emancipation from mllltarsn cerl
calsm and that imperialist Mephstopnelanlsm Snlch
IS
,suse His enemies accuse hun and, genlemeD,I would
let Caigua write tbe history oi ~ az
a. imperfast write the history OF the Commune Ihey
accuse him / say, Of being during the Revolutionary
L,,Oyernment, the leader and insugator OF gangs Oh
-shieyes incendaries, and murdereTs IheVes lay
W 40 stole nothing, and never even laid nnger on tne
hundreds millions OF gold that under ner nanus
r5n the Bank of France. Incendlarles lay, though
at would NJ require the fingers or one hand 10
number all the buildings they were even ac
eused OF burning. Murderers lay, though there
~as not single execution In Pans by
~rder ~ fhe Commune during brief existence, as
Sochefor can show. It feow-citzens sad thing
5hat during the supreme moment OF the tragedy OF
9ars when the Vsrsaiists had possession OF nan the
ity. when for days they had been mel
-uomeu and children oy The 10000; wien hoiocatsts OF
-trtims chained together. we're massacreu Dy inc ll
railleuse when the maddened soldlefy OF hacuanon
were wreaklng the people OF Paris the EenseanOo
which they mad failed 10 take on blsusrck
III sad thing say that, under such srcums
fey shot by the
Of the sufferers as Gen LIE CoDte had previously Deon
Raot But IL certainly not wonderful anu eI ~ o
remembered that against a. such acts hocheoi' 0'04
Jailed 70 raise his voice. 49,. e. ,,,n
Rocheforts work not yet done. he Helped 70 pun
down TIE Empire he has yet proud part W piay ia
she GROWING OF the edlnce OF the Republic th 3"i ~
Ton here sketcned few words, the points WHICH IL
ROchefort would enlarge upon IN ais address -.
And now, gentlemen, in the superb language oI
France, IN a style at once pure ana sparkAne Win
power and pungeney all his own. NJ Rocheior VIII pro
Seed with his discourse.
THE LECTURE.
90 IA