The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-10-14
B0URBAKI AND R0CHEFORT
P.iRIS DISCUSSES FORMERS DEATH
 IND LATTER'S MARRIAGE.
Bourbaki Had Been Quite Forgotten- Rochefort's Action Strongly Condemned by His Friends-Iiow Franco Regards Marriages of This Character--periander,s Estimate of the French Journalist,

by His Friends-Eiow France Reraris
 Marriages ofThls Cliarac ter--Periander's
 Estimate of the French Journalist. Paris, Sept. 9, 1897. To the Editor of the Journal and Courier, Bourbaki is dead and Rochefort is married. So Paris has two new things to talk about, and all Paris is talking about them. An old man must die, but there is no necessity for an old mans setting married Rochefort was not as old as Bourbaki. who was over eighty, but must be well along in the sixties. His act was voluntary. Bourbaki's pre- sumably was Involuntary.
 So many years have passed since Bourbaki left the stage of public per formance that the present generation does not know him. Thirty years ago he was conspicuous. The war with Prussia made him more so. His escape from Metz, his journey to England and his interview with Eugene have never been explained. That neither he nor Bazaine cared snap of their respective fingers for the new French republic, and that they were still warm adherents of Napoleon IT., is admitted Whether they carried their partisanship to the point of treason to the republic has not been proved. Bazaine's trial was a mockery of justice. That he and Bour- baki may have had communication with the enemy as to the possible return of Napoleon, or as to the preservation of an imperial form of government, may well be, and may very well have been without implication of treason The new government at Paris was hardly on it's legs. It had not been accepted by the outlying provinces. It had none of the elements of pcrmanency It might have terminated any day. Hostility to it's rule, and fidelity to Napoleon, could international jurists. The vague and uncertain beginnings of the republic and the long duration of it's slight ten ure of life become more apparent as de- tails are disclosed. For months it's ex- istence ebbed and flowed without appa- rent life or direction. A bold man might have throttled it at any period of the first two years of it's infancy The wonder is that the bold man did not ap- pear and that the baby was not throt- tied in it's cradle Any government would have been preferred to republic by nine-tenths of the French people for half dozen years after the termination of the Prussian war Many political experts believe that if full and honest vote could be taken to-day it would be in favor of a monarchy or an empire. The growth of the French republic is the most marvellous event in modern politics. Every scheme, act, plan and ambition of man has been against it from the start. If it be securely estab- lished the consummation is the result of the unconscious working of the spirit of republicanism in the will of the people. No individual can claim praise; no par ty can point to record of contributive accomplishment.
 Bourbaki, after he got away from in, under no circumstances would France receive back Napoleon or the Prince Imperial He therefore and at once recognized the republic as the govern- fncnt de esse and served it with all his force and fury so long as the republic would accept his services His cam paisn as commander in chief of the newly levied army of the east as it was called; it's complete defeat by Manteu- fel; it's i9noninious scamper across the border into Switzerland and Bourbaki's attempt to blow his brains out. are all matters of history. Whether his suici- dal attempt was q bona fide attempt, or
 
 body as yet knows. Now that he is dead and buried the exact truth may be his papers. Far more interest," jng,would it be to find a full report Of his interview with Eugenie after the war. BourbaM was at one time militia ry governor of Lyons, and at another time commandant of one of the main divisions of the French army But in every position he showed new incapaci- ties, so that the government was very glad when he had reached the age when he could be shelved without dishonor, For the last twenty years he has been living very quietly in the southeastern corner of France, near enough to the Spanish border to jump over had the charge of treason been revived. Peace to his ashes! His father was a Greek. and he probably inherits the moral twists and weaknesses of which the Greeks have lately shown such superb examples. Let his faults be charged up efface the score.
 Rochefort's marriage is a very differ ent matter. He has married a compar- atiyely young woman, who for a dozen years or more has been his chere annie, his constant companion. his slave. his drudge, his idol, his everything else that is very French and particularly unpuri tanical. Why did he marry her is the burning question, especially when the society in which he lives regards mar riage with as little respect as it regards