The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-22
JOURNALISM IN FRANCE.
Plans to Prevent Abuse and Intrusion
Changes In Recent Years.

IitnS 10 Prevent AhuNt anu ihiIhriuh
Changes In Recent Years.
The condition Of the newspaper press is
exciting just as much attention in France
as il eXcites here. The inyasions Of private
life by French journals are not nearly so
gross as ours, nor are the assaults on pub
lie men so personal as those Of some Of our
worst papers. but they make more disa-
ereeabe impression on the French public
than our sensational journals make on our
public, because Frenchmen are much more
sensitive than Americans TO anything
that can be considered an insult Epi-
thets and abuse which Americans receive
with contempt or Indifference drive French
men nearly wild, and in seyenty-fiyc cases
out OF "a hundred lead TO duels. The public
expects man not TO submit To them with
out fighting. and accordingly he fights.
But constant exposure 10 the necessity
of lighting is not pleasant, and for
some time past French Conservatives
have been busy deysing some mode
of reprcssng press abuse and intrusion
which would be speedy enough and decisive
enough ~ atone for insults without "ren-
cOntrc.n What was finally decided on was
the bestOwal on the police courts Of sum
mary jurisdiction Oyera large class Of press
Oiences-that is, their withdrawal from the
jurisdiction Of iuries. The bill, we believe.
originated in the Senate, and was distinctly
reactionary product, and had never much
chance of passing, but it led to q great
deal of discussion, and has been finally de-
feated.
In this discussion NJ. Jules simon has
borne a prominent part. He is an old states
man as well as an old journalist, who has
made his mark in both French politics and
Literature. He is now playing the role OF "a
newspaper sage, that il, he writes every few
DAYS what he calls"llOn Petit Journal" be-
ing a short article in the nature Of either
comment or "Reminiscences or both, on any
topic Of the day which happens 10 interest
him, in the columns Of the Temps. What
be SAYS i'm a recent number about the con
dition Of French journalism is in substance
this: tie supports Messrs. Paul Dcschancl
aud Camille Pcletau, who have been OPP
posing the bill, and defends their attitude IN
the discussion, and says that if they
are not old enough TO remember what
French journalism used to be when VI.
Simon was a young man, they must have
read OF II or heard of il in their families.
sixty years ago French journals represented
opinions, or doctrines as he calls them.
They were founded 10 champion opinions,
ami for no other reason. Their Offices were
centres at which all the forces Of "A
political party cOnNerged. They had ira
ditions. They listened respectfully tO the
older men. They Obeyed leaders. They
cultivated solidarity. The bohemian life Of
which SO many tales We're told was followed
only by the novelist and the fculletOnist
The political journalist had both solidity and
enthusiasm. He studied questions seriously.
lie was always ready for one Of three things
controversy, battle or imprisonment. IL
was not everybody who could be "a journal
list. No one became "A journalist except by
some striking piece of work (nn comp
dcct0O or n long apprenticeship. Journal
lists were severe on each other. All trans
gressiOns of the laws of honor received their
natural punishment, namely, dishonor.
There was a disciplinary tribunal, which
was never organized, and never met, but
was always trying cases. Its judgments
were prompt and infallblc. People used
not 10 say at that time that the press was
the fourth estate; but they knew il and saw
1t. II was for this Kind Of press that Ar
mand Carrel died.
Tho condition of French journalism since
then, NJ. Simon says, has been profoundly
first, by the appearance Of the
cheap penny paper; secondly, by the dis
appearance OF the subscription list. and
the substitution of the sales at the stands
and over the counter. Instead OF 100000
Or 10000 readers which the journals Of
that day had, those of today have
!, 100000. The new public which reads the
newspapers now cares nothing about Opid- !
.ons or doctrinal discussions. In the mat
Ter Of opinions all ii asks for is IA banner, |
and can get along, in case Of need, even |
without this. For its daily journalistic food, |
III IL cares for is the gossip Of the Hobbies !
md the theatres, personalities, defamation,
md calumny. The pen has fallen from the
lands OF philosophers 10 be taken up by |
leWsmongcrs. Party politicians withdrew |
when the establishment Of newspaper. in
tead OF being an effort In behalf OF an idea, |