New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-15
LIE JOURNAL DIES DEBATS.
A CENTURY OF POLlll
CAL JOURNALISM IN FRANCE

Paris, Aug. 81.
The large part which journalism has played.
and to-day plays, in controlling the destlnleS oil
the French Republic makes it very lifting that
concurrently with the centenary of the KeVolu-
ton should be celebrated the one hundredm
birthday Of that famous paper of which Kenah
has said, 1t is to the Press what the Academy
10 to Literature" This year marks the centenary
both Of the Revolution and of the free political
press. Indeed one of the most impressive features
of the Revolution was the vast crop Of news
papers which sprung from its much shaken ana
ensanguined soil They were the beginning OF
political journalism in France; of that pollucal
journalism which has become more potent factor
in the public life of France than in that of any
other country. Most of these journals were
ephemcral probably they deserved to be. Judged
by their names they were motley set. Perhaps
the list may be best headed with The Friend Of
the People, of which it is sufficient TO say that
it was issued by Marat Then there were The
Old Shoemaker The Wooden Shoe" The
Daily Thermometer" "Merlin's Looking-gass,'
"The National Magic Lantern and "The Iron
Mouth" "The Magic Lantern was edited by
the Vicomte de Mirabeau brother of the ilustriouS
orator Of the same name. The Vicomte was
notorious winebbber, and was apparently not
ashamed of the fact my brother he said in
his sautatory EDITORIAL referring TO the great ora
tor, My brother has arrogated to himself all the
vices OF the Mrabeau family except drunken
ness That he kindly leaves TO me-" There
were also the s. ere Duchesne' and the Com
pere Matthew" which were rivals in ribaldry.
Another was called The Acts of the Apostles
and still others The Golden Legend" Tho
Prophetic Journal" " The Logotachygraphe," and
&" The LIAR The list may be fifty closed with
"The Devils Journal" which doubtless strovc
hard to justify its name.
Among all these and scores of others appeared" lie
Journal DIES Debats ct Decrets" 1t was published
by the printer Of the National Assembly, Baudoln,
edited by the Deputy De Biauzat, and made Its
first appearance on August 30, 1889. VINO was
this editor? Gualtier De Biauzat was lawyer OF
Clermont, and Deputy from Auvergne TO inc
troublous Parliament of those days 1t was the
custom of Deputies to write out long letters RENT
ing the doings Of Parliament and send them
periodically to their constituents to be read ALOUD
at public gatherings or passed from hand to hand
Apparentlv NJ. de Biauzat was an uncommonly
clavcr writer for his letters were much sought
oftcr that several persons did profitable business
in convinp them for circulation elsewhere. mus
tbp idea came tn him: Why not circulate them
moro widely still by means of the printing press +:
Forthwith he obtained a royal patent ana the
enterprise was launched. The paper was a mere
lealet the size of an CctaVo page. VI cohIalHeu
nothing but condensed reports of debates Notes,
etc and these reports were as dry ana coorl'sS DIS
possible Special attention was PAID TO every
thing concerning Auvergnc, since it was intended
chiefly if not solely for circulation IN that
province NJ de Biauzat was financial retormer
Of Necl<er's school, and gave much prominence IN
the embryo journal to Neckers dongS ana es-
pecially to the list of patriotic gifts to the Naohai
Treasury made in response to that Minister'S ap-
neal A curious incident of the early history OF
the paper was its editors refusal to allow IL 10 DE
circulated in the town of Riom, because Dlrol
Malouet. the Deputy for Rom, was his Dltter
enemy.
After a time NJ de Biauzat Withdrew from the
editorial chair and became Judge OF the court
of Appeal lie was succeeded by the historian
De Lacretelle who considerably enlarged the scope
Of the papcr. 1t was made a journal for Paris
and all France, instead of for Auvergne' AC tne
first II was a supporter of the King, Louis AVL
When he was overthrown and put TO death' IL
briefly recorded the fact and then took to support
ing the most conservative features of the Revolu'
tionary Government. For time Louvet' the
Girondin WAS its political editor. Robesperre 5
death il did not announce. save indirectly IN u
|
the Directory came in it had freer hama, IL
HOGAN IN rive foreign news and dramatic ana aft
criticisms. Less space was given to mere reports
| of debates and after the Sth Brumalre IL WAS
noccssarilv much devoted to the news oil bona
parties military operations.
Soon after this the paper was purchased lor
81 600 by the Berth Brothers, the elder oil "i'on
must be REGARDED as its real founder, since u was
| he who established it on the lines which II mas
never forsakcn and who gave TO IL the tone winch
| il still retains The Bertins had for some 'iii'
published l. Eclair.7 This was an antl-Jacooin
papcr. which had won general recognition "S "
truthful and wcll-informed exponent oil fren0"
| notifies The two papers were now fused tog'"i'
! undcr The name Of lie journal dcs De0ats ana
materially enlarged and improved. wilte lhs
ionrpal7 said NJ Berth, the elder lor oV'
! nconle the elite OF Europe That was EtReS
| ,ruc lie aimed 70 make it, and did make IT. tn'
! journal of statesmen and scholars. let us pop
| uloritv with the masses grew apace ana Ill IL"
years IL had % 900 SUBSCRIBERS ana palu us o"her
| 900 600 a year profits. 1t has remained IN th'
hands of the Bertins and their successors ever
since. and has had such career OF prosperity ant
inenerce a. probably no other European
journal approximate TO- one feature
e. tho naper must be noticed here
7, WINS n Berth who invented ans
introduced the ieuleton,' which has becom
such an important item in all Continental paper
and has SO signally failed of transportation to TIN
Anglo.Saxon press, whether in England o
| America
After the fall of the BOurbons the paper al
yocated a conservative constitutional republic un
iii Bonaparte became FIRST Consul. Then 1t be
gan praislng him and encouraging the best feat
ures OF his rule. But he suspected it's proprietor
OF being RoyalistS at heart, and their pleasan
words were unheeded lie did not, indeed, sup
| press the PAPER, as he aid som
| sixty OF the scyenty-siN Journals
| France But he summeriS turned out III
Bertns, mprsoning the elder, and then sending