Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-10-08
ORIGIN OF THE WORD BLOC"
YIrns IHlaS4 lrsol H. VI lu

Historic Term Of French Politics
Was First Used by NJ. Clem-nce1u.
The dissolution of NJ. ~Clemenceau's
bloc makes 1t %opportune to recall in
what circumstance II vas created and
how the term anne into use. 1t was
In connection with the performance Of
Victorien Sardou's "Thermidor." which
took place on Jan. "a. 1891, the late
Coquelin playing the part Of Labus-
siere, and his son Jean Lupin.
From the very outset Of the perform
ance the audience manifested Its hos
tility to the sentiments set forth in
the play, says the Pail Mall Gazette,
and when the third act was reached
a furious storm ragged throughout the
housA4
In this act Jean Coquelin was an
nouncing the death of Robespierre
when M. Lissagaray, a once notorious
member Of the commune. stood up in
his box, and putting a whistle to his
lips to insure order harangued the
audience, but in vain, for the uproar
was deafening. He ]thereupon emptied
his pockets and flung their contents on
the stage. M. Lissagaray and his
friends were after a five-minute pande-
monium hustled out Of the theater.
M. ~Clemenceau, who was present.
was heard to express approval Of NJ.
Lissagaray's behavior. What" shout
ed several playgoers, "Clemenceau as
sociating himself with Lissagaray!
1t cannot be-" The disturbance con
tinued to the end Of the performance,
n next day the government forbade
the production of "Thermidor." Thus
it came about that LIE Depit" and
'Tartufe' were announced to take the
place Of "Thermidor," but the per-
formance Of these two comedies vas
not allowed to proceed, the audience
clamoring for "Thermidor."
The late M. Coquelin cadet was then
the semainier (the actor having
charge for the week Of all details con-
nected with a production); he stepped
to the footlights and announced that
the spectators money would be refund
ed to them. The government having
forbidden the performance, an Inter
pellation" followed in the chamber of
deputies as a matter of course. The
request to 'interpellate" was signed by
MN. Joseph Reinach, Francis Charmes
n Henry F%ouquier. The sitting at
which the question was raised too
place on Jan. 20. NJ. Henry Fouquier
led the attack and was followed by
MN. Leagues, Leon Bourgeois, Arene,
Constans and the Comte de Nun.
The speech Of the day was. how-
ever, that Of NJ. C~lenenceau, who ex-
pounded his famous theory in regard
to the bloc. He had already revealed
his attitude in the matter while at
the play. He emphasized it so strong
Ly within the precincts of the Palais
Bourbon that the deputies heard him
pronounce one Of the most ~virulent
speeches 1t had over been their fate
to listen to.
ut is not a question:" he said, "of
voting for or against Danton, for or
against Robespierre. Whether you
will or not. the French revolution Is
a bloc (solid mass) from which moth
Ing can be detached. Does NJ. Reinach
wish to pick 1T to pieces? Does he
condemn the revolutionary tribunal?
Has he forgotten that we created one
together? We went even further. We
handed over politicians to the mercies
of politicians on an occasion when one
Of US remarked: In politics there is
no such thing as Justice The re-
public must be preserved; such must
be our excuse. But the revolution still
exists, for there are still the same
men, and they are still face to face
with the same enemies"
1t may be pointed out that NJ. Henry
Fouquier had written some time be-
fore that the revolution constituted
a bloc, but he had done so in a news
paper article, and it was M. Glen
enceau, the speaker, not NJ. Fouquier,
the writer. who launched the historic
word bloc On the stormy sea Of French
politics.