Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-01-13
OBITUARY..
Alaxandre Auguste Ledru-ROllin

Alaxandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin.
A dispatch from Paris recently an
nounced the death of M. Alexandra
Auguste Ledru-Rollin, Ex-Minister of
France, whose career has been an
eventful one. The deceased, who WIS
the son of wealthy physician, was
born in Paris on the End of February.
1903, received a liberal educatioa,
studied law. and was admitted to the
Bar in 1880. A paper on the procla-
nation of martial law in Paris
during the insurrection of 1882
established his ability as law
yer, and he was employed as counsel
by most of the Republican conspirators
who were prosecuted under Louis Phil
ippe. In these trials he gained consid-
cradle popularity by the boldness of
his style, and soon became the avowed
representative of the Communist in
terest. In 1887 he assumed the editor
ship of the Journal du Palais, lead
ing law journal, and occupied this
position for ten years. He also super
intended the publication of several
works on French Jurisprudence, and filed
the position of chief editor of lie Droit -
daily law journal. In 1888 he pur
chased the position of attorney at the
Court Of Cessation, a position which he
abandoned for politics in 1916. In
1841 M. Ledru- Rollin was elected Dep
uty by the department of Sarthe, to fill
the vacancy caused by the death of
Etienne Garnier-Pages. Before his de-
| lighted constituents he made a bold
confession of his Republican creed, for
which he was prosecuted by
the government, and sentenced
to four months Imprisonment, with
a fine of 5000 francs, but on obtaining
new trial was acquitted. He exerted
but little influence in the Chamber of
Deputies, and established the journal
La Reforme, under the editorship of
Flocou. His social manifesto of 1845.
while securing him the support of the
lower ranks of society, estranged from
him that of the middle classes, and his
uncompromising support of the doc
trlne of universal suffrage displeas-
ed the monarchical opposition
headed by Odilon-Barrot and 9th
ers. He took a leading part in
all the Republican demonstrations in
the provinces in 1847, and, when the
revolution broke cut, became for a
short time it's acknowledged leader,
being chiefly instrumental in prevent
| ing the regency of the Duchess of Or
leans from being accepted by the
chamber of deputies and in securing
the e:swerful aid of Lamartine. On
| the organization at the provisional gov
bers, but being unable to act in accord
with his associates, whose opinions differ
ed widely from each other, and were far
more extreme than his own, he gradually
lost popularity with the lower classes,
and finally, while acting as Minister of
| War, incurred their deadliest hatred.
He was also held responsible for the
publication of the Bulletions de la
Republique, supposed at the time to be
the productions of George Sand.
| Nevertheless, by his zeal and courage, he
materially assisted In maintaining tran
guilty in Paris prote Emile de Girar
din from a moi, defeated the instruction
airy attempt of April Is, and reconciled
the Democrats to the return of the
army to the capital In the Insured
ton of May Is, he aided in defeating
the object of the insurgents, but
courageously defended Louis Blanc
and Caussidiere, who were accused be-
fore the Assembly. After the insrr-
rection Of June "a, Ledru-Rollin re-
sumed his seat in the Assembly, and
his splendid speeches in explanation of
the insurrection. and against the send
ing of French army into Italy
were particularly admired In the
Presidential election of 1S4S he received
$40. ITO votes, while Louis Napoleon re-
ceived 100000 and Cavaignac nearly
one million and a half. Having mar
ried an Irish lady, Ledru- Rollin paid
visit to Ireland during the summer of
O'Connell's monster-meetings," and
was welcomed by the excited populace
as delegate from the Republicans of
France to the Irish Republic. He
was sentenced to transportation for
having been implicated in two conspir-
acies to overthrow Louis Napoleon, and
lived on the productions of his pen for
over twenty years in London and
Brussels. In January, 1870, Ledru
Rollin was amnestied, and reappeared
in Paris on March rs after his long
exile In February, 1871, he was re-
turned to the National Assembly for
three departments, but at once sent in
his resignation, having previously re-
fused to allow his name to be used as
candidate.
| An Eccentric Star.
The most singular thing connected