Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-04
PAUL DE CAssAaEAC,
The Fiery ROnapartIst asa BusIIst and a
Debater.

Nj. Paul de Cassagnac will be re-
elected by the same majority as before,
because he is in private life a capital
fellow, and says in his speeches just
the things that amuse and transport
Democratic audiences. There is I'M
deniably something chivalrous in the
man, even though one admit hat his
chiValrousness is rather that Of the
matador than of the knight. He says
outrageous things, showers PERSONAL
ties on his foes like so many blows
from a ~bludgeon, but he has a rude
sense of fair play. He has fought six
teen duels, but has never killed his
adversary OF given a foul thrust. Thus
with his speeches. and newspaper ar
%ticles; when he has once provoked a
man to fight a duel with him he
lets him alone thenceforth, and will
even pay him compliments if the occa-
sion of doing so with good grace pre-
sents itself. Possibly his secret ambi-
ton has been to call out all the Re-
publican celebrities one by one, and to
silence their tongues by puncturing
their bodies. He once challenged M.
Gambetta, but failed to draw that
statesman, On another occasion he
informed the astonished M. de Mar
oer-a grave, discreet man, who could
scarcely WELD an umbrella for often
siye purposes-that he was ready to
meet him on his own terms when and
how he might please. The only case
in which he really backed out of a
duel was when de6ed by DIR. Clemen-
ceau, one of the members for Paris.
But this gentleman is ~left-handed and
one of the most expert swordsmen in
France so that Nj. de Oassagnac af
feeted to treat hiscartel as an attempt
at assassination. IF you will fight
with your right hand" he said, IL
will fight with my left, and we shall
meet on equal terms; but | am not go
ing to stand up against a man who has
gone, into training to kill me-"
1t would have been a pity if Paul
de Cassagnae had been slain by DIR.
Clemenceau, for the republican party
could i'll afford to lose such an OppO-
nent, and it is rather curious that they
should have failed to see this. With
out Nj, de Cassagnac's virulent sorties,
the debates at Versailles would not
only have been painfully tame, but the
republican party might have become
dangerously disunited. The deputy
of Condor has kept the ranks of the
Left unbroken by forcing the whole
party to their guns every time ne
opened his mouth. He has been the
despair Of Nj. ROuher, the scandal of
the Due Deeazes, and has made even
NJ, de FoUrtou gToan in silent frenzy.
No sooner was the present session
open than, some disparaging remarks
about the marshal having fallen froma
Radicals lips, conservative interposed
to play the part which deyolves upon
Conservatives in all countries-that of
standing up for constituted authori-
ties. Upjumps M. Granier, De Cas-
sagnae's hot blooded son, and shouts,
There is nothing in common between
the marshal and us since his perjury.
A deputy who could express such a
sentiment as this is as valuable an
ally as the Radicals could possibly wish
for. Hark again to M. de Cassagnac
defending himself against an Interrupt
ton Of Count dc Douville Maillefeu,
Republican member for the Somme
AS for YOU, sir, you were once an Off
cial candidate of the empire, and |
have nothing to say toa turncoat. NJ.
Deschanel, a rather pompous Left
Centrist, next interrupts the speaker
with the remark that he is exceeding
the privileges of debate and talking
the lingo OF the Halles (French for
Bilingsgatel. Well" responds the
orator, | am trying 10 adapt my
language to your comprehension. p
Next comes the turn Of N. Marion. a
Liberal rather renowned for his ele
gance Of attire, and puuctiliousness in
matters of honor. He cries out to NJ.
De Cassagnac Come to the point,
will youYN And tho amiable reply is ;
Don't be impatient | have some
documents which concern YOU among
these papers and when | have made
known a few of your a~nteoedents Won
will rather wish | had Let you 20 I'M
noticed. Now, this sort Of debating
produces confusion and gnashing Of
teeth, 1t is in vain that NJ Grew
sounds peals of alarm from his cOpper
bell, and multiplies his calls to order
it is in vain that NJ Rouher quits the
house in disgust, and that the mode
rate members of the right exchange
looks Of dismay, The members Of the
left are all writhing in 8 mass, like SO
many snakes, and fairly hiss with fury.
But a gallant little band of the Bona
partistS, composed Of NJ. De CaSSag-
nae, ST., NJ Cuneo d'0rnano, and some
others, cheer the speaker, and on he
goes in q brazen, hooking voice that
never alters an instant Then up
starts NJ Albert Jolly, with his fists
elenched and his lips f6aming, and
bawlS, You are a disgrace TO this
house How much did the Prus-
sian government pay YOU to support
the commune Z" retorts N. De CasSac-
nae; and the eminent barrister Of
Seine-et-0 Disc, who sar rich land owner.
and has consequently sound reasons
for not being a communist, has to be
comlorted with eau suoree and kind
words before his deadly wrath can be
appeasd AS it is, he stamps ont 81
the house brandishing q card case as II
1t contained oartels for twenty duels,
and he is presently joined BY N. al,
lain large, who is looking cut for
seconds because NJ. De CaSSagnac has
boldly s~tigmatised him as an unwashed
mgamuidn. An this SO much exceeds
the wildnesS of anything that can be
heard in the house of commons-oven
ON the night when the Home Rulers
are IN lighting toFm-that E~nglishmen
may find il difficult 20 understand why