Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-15
ROChCfOrt and GaMbctta.

Ihere nev.r was very much In the Vicente
de Lucay, calling himself Rochefort.n By con.
stltution a hysterical weaklilg; in intellect a
n III ana no;Eing else never ssatesm IN
thles alone; and a libe...s... vv.,1eny tbronyh
disgust as much aristocratlc as seq
Sioie IOr the vulgar tawdriaeSs of the
second Empire, NJ. Rochefort possessed In per-
lection the power OF saying bitter naotS, and as
he lad the courage to say them out he became
a parsonage. We DO not believe that Rochefort
undermined the throne o; Napoleon, for 1t never
was undermined. II one fact came out in 1870,
1t was that there was no nece5s ity for the war
with Prussia, that the peasantry had not lost
their belief In the Emperor, and that II he had
remained passive and cool he might have been
reigning now. But RocheforC helped not only
to diSeLchant the Emperor In tha eyes OF
Paris, and OF the world capable of understand
Ing the LdnteftP. but In bis own eyes; his SELF
SELF with himself, as wen as with his SUBJECTS.
ae rushed upon his fate. A flea is not a great
thing. but 1t can turn you OUT OF bel.
After that grand triumph, NJ. Rochefort was
like the door which lets In the air that feeds
the flame. He thought that his ere aking had
doLe IL all, and On his return from New Gale.
donia. whittier he had been sent as Commu-
mist, and after the pardon secured for him and
the rest by N. Gambetta, he set himself to gain
another and similar victory. He knew OF only
one path to swift success. 1t was his role, he
the greatest individuality about was Just then
II. GamDetta. IL was not very noble to attack
the statesman who had just riske1 his ascend
ancy TO obtain the general amnesty. who had
saved Rochefort'5 life By interceS5on with NJ.
TIMERS, and who had headed a subscription to
help him II he escaped from New Caledonia but
Wit of that kind, especially when much be-
lauded, Is apt TO feel that benefits, however
deep, are but recognitions OF his merit, de5erv-
Ing praise rather than gratitude, and
Nj. RochefoIt struck az NJ. Gambetta With a
mer successes, prick up their ears In eXpecta.
ton. The fiery darts fell short, however. Not
enc sentence OF Rocheforts against mis- new
adversary seems to have told In Paris. certainly
rot one told In Europe; and In his vexation he
descended to personal abuse Which-lt is nota-
Ole truth In modern politics. and one not yet
quite explained never has any efficacy at all
What was the use OF reviling NJ. Gambetta as a
'oIe-eyed Dictator" when his dictatorship had
saved France from dishonor and his one eye
had seen clearer than other mems perfect vision;
charge, or as "Genoese" when Napoleon had
been COrsican, or calling him descendant of
Italian bIfgands? NJ. Gambetta did not plead
birth; ard Parts, though it would have rldlculed
were the lineal male heir of Satin, provided
only that he " ere thoroughly devoted to France,
which nobody questioned even in his mlnd.
The fiery darts were harmless, but at last NJ
Gambetta, seeing them fall so thick, began to
strike back, and with weapons very different
from those OF Napoleon III. He made no mar
Hnesse which is so striking In so imperious q
character, simply appealed to the French ap-
probation OF sentiment against the French ap-
probation Of wit. He caused some letters 10 be
published, which showed conclusively that NJ.
RochefOrt owed him much, his life, am ong
other trifles; and by implication, asked
Paris II this assailaht OF his. with all
his ACID wit, was not bad hearted TEL
low7 Sentiment Is in France the great
antiseptic. ana the immediate condemnation
IT Paris drove NJ. Rochef0rt into atemper which
found relief not In showers Of raillery, but in
floods OF Billingsgate. He even challenged NJ.
Reinach, n: Gambetta's private secretary. for
publishing his letters, but received only the
crushing reply that there could be no duel, for
there was no injury TO repair. &c II your own
letter dishonors you, how can help that" We
are by no means sure that the method or war
fare was the most dignitled N. Gambstta could
have chosen. There are men in the world who
would hardly defend themselves by enumer-
ating the benefits they have conferred on an
enemy, ana they would In their reticence have
been higher men than NJ. Gambetta, though he
was appealed to, It must be remembered as
head or party, and not as private friend.
The blow, however, had been provoked and it
was deadly one. n. RochefOrt will always be
read, but scarcely again regarded By his coun-
| trymen.