Year: 1871

JOuEhbIlbtbs


Correspondence Of the London Times


PARIS, June 14.-The total absence of any
thing like political common sense which, as the
period OF the elections approaches, the Paris
newspapers display, is doubly to be deplored
since the people have none of their own, aud
are compelled to trust entirely to the guidance
OF these leaders of public opinion. 1t is painful
to see these blind animated by the highest and
most patriotic motives, leading those other
blind ready humbly to follow them anywhere,
even into the ditch which is in the inn
mediate neighborhood Completely unused
to political responsibility, the bourgeoisie
of Paris, not having for the present an
Emperor to lean upon, throw themselves upon
the newspapers. These have to prepare and
issue the lists of candidates, to tell them what
the political questions are upon which they are
to decide, and what they are TO ask themselves
upon this momentous occasion, and what they
should require from their representatives. 1t
is due to the journalists to cay that they endea-
vor manfully 10 accept the responsibility
thus thrown upon them, and that however un-
practical and wild, according TO our notions,
their views may be, they are given in a spirit
of patriotism and disinterestedness, and with
sincere desire TO educate the people in
their political duties. 1t is not their fault if
owing to the peculiar conditions under which
the press has always existed in this country
they have been deprived of any opportunity of
educating themselves. NJ. Emile de Girardin,
Tor instance, whose talents increase his powers,
most unwlttingly exercised tor misleading his
countrymen, has written an article to explain
to them that the elections should neither be Or
leanist, Legitimist, nor Bonapartist-but Ma
tlonal. very vague programme to present to
an unhappy voter who may think a monarchy
the best form of government for the nation, but
one to which he proposes to give effect by the
following curious process. Tue French public,
1t is admitted, are completely at the mercy of
the newspapers, SO far as politics are concerned;
let them then return nothing but newspaper
editors to the Chamber. Take Paris for in
stance; we have 81 vacancies, we want 81 jour
Dalists to fill them. Universal suffrage owes q
debt to all the newspapers that protested on the
2Sth of January against the dictaton of
NJ. Gambetta, and on the 2lst March against
the usurpation of the Commune; and
universal suffrage is bound to discharge this
debt by choosing a representative out of each
editorial department. NJ. de Girardin can offer
the scheme with the more propriety, as he
modestly remarks that he has Withdrawn from
journalism as profession, and under no circum-
stances would accept a seat in the Chamber.
Not only are the names of the journals speci-
fed but NJ. de Girardin goes SO far as to give us
list of the gentlemen connected with them who
should be thus chosen. In one sense list ma
tional enough, If by that phrase is represented a
diversity of opinion. We have VI. Portals, of
the Verite, side by side with NJ. Veuillot, of the
Uni0erS; here are Oreanists, Legitimists, and,
possibly, Imperialists and Communists - the
two last not yet openly avowed-all con-
pretended, for it by no means follows
that a journal which protested against
the dictatorship of Gambetta and the
usurpation of the Commune is ever after to be
relied upon. If M. de Girardin can carry out
the first part of his idea, and unite the twenty
one leading Paris journals in holy alliance of
this sort, there is no reason why they should
not succeed. They would give their own candi-
dates exclusive support, and in the present
state of the middle classes of this city it would
be no more possible for them to vote against
the candidates, If the twenty one newspapers
were united, than it is for the peasantry of


France 10 vote against their ruler whoever he
may be- on the occasion of a plebiScite. Why


the inventor of this very original piece of politi-


cal machinery did not extend it to the journals
| of the provinces, who have just as much right
| to represent the nation in the Chamber as those


of Paris he does not explain; Intact practically,
| any Journalist under this system might con
slider himself de fdcto legislator, and there is


no limit to the brilliant future which might
| thus open to the members of this favored
| profession. The proposition of NJ. de Girardin


to the editors of newspapers possesses, then, a


certain fascination; but NJ. Gueroult, also with


the earnest desire to serve his country, actually


assembled fifteen of the representatives of the
| leading papers in Paris, and, more visionary
| than his contemporary expected them to agree
| upon something. The object of the meeting


was to come to general understanding that all


minor political differences were to be laid aside
| in order to meet the wishes of the Chief of the


Executive, and give the Government of which


he is the head fair chance, in order that pc
| riod of repose might be inaagurated, during
| which the country might recover, and especially


toorganize an opposition to the tactics of the
| International 1t is needless to say that the
| fifteen journalists whom NJ de Girardin would
! put into the Chamber of the country were quite
| unable to come TO any accord in the Chambers


of NJ. Gueroult.