Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 363 Get out of the French textbooks!

Paris in July is sweltering with heat.

The leaves on the tree-lined avenue were curled at the edges by the scorching sun, and the wind blowing from the Seine carried a sticky feeling.

However, thanks to the latest municipal engineering projects, Paris has a newly connected sewer system of over 200 kilometers, which has greatly reduced the odor.

Meanwhile, inside the Bourbon Palace, where Parliament is located, another debate on colonial appropriations has just concluded.

Despite vehement opposition from figures like Clemenceau, the bill to allocate an additional 45 million francs for military operations in Tokyo was passed.

The news spread like wildfire through Parisian salons, cafes, and stock exchanges.

"Victory! Yet another victory!"

"The glory of France will surely shine throughout the world!"

"Mr. Ferry is the true helmsman!"

The cheers came from those who could profit from colonial expansion—

Arms dealers who heard the roar of machinery, shipping companies dreaming of rolling in money in Indochina, and financiers who could lend money to the government at exorbitant interest rates...

For them, every round of applause in parliament was like the pleasant echo of gold coins falling into their pockets.

Jules Ferry stood on the steps of the parliament building, facing the throng of supporters and reporters, full of confidence.

He raised his voice to make sure everyone could hear him:

"Gentlemen! Citizens! This is not just an allocation of forty-five million francs; it is France's firm stride toward the future!"
How pale and powerless those dissenting voices and those arguments that question our mission seem at this moment!
I want to reiterate—at this critical historical juncture, opposing rational colonial policies that are in the national interest is tantamount to opposing France!

This is a betrayal of the spirit of our great republic!

"To oppose colonialism is to oppose France!"

This slogan was quickly adopted by Ferry's supporters and spread throughout France through the newspapers the following day.

Le Figaro published an editorial praising the government's "vision" and "decisiveness," and implying that "any talk that hinders the country's progress is irresponsible."

Media outlets such as *La Repubblica* and *Le Temps* lavished praise on Ferry, portraying him as a hero who led France to glory.

Amidst this uproar, several reporters blocked Lionel's way at the entrance of his apartment at 117 Boulevard Saint-Germain, where he had just returned.

They pressed Lionel on whether he still opposed French colonial policies, particularly the recent military actions against Tunisia and Vietnam.

Lionel said calmly, “I still stand by my previous view. To package military conquest and plunder as a ‘civilizational mission’ is a profound hypocrisy.”

France's glory should not be built on the suffering and humiliation of other nations.

A reporter pressed further: "But Mr. Sorel, Parliament and public opinion are currently on Prime Minister Ferry's side."

Do you believe your views are outdated?

Lionel gave a mocking smile: "Truth is not always decided by majority vote, sir."

When everyone is marching forward in one direction, perhaps what's needed most is for someone to remind them to look at the precipice beneath their feet.

As for whether it's timely or not, let time tell!

He didn't say anything more, pushed open the apartment door, went inside, and shut out the reporters' questions.

His statement quickly appeared on the front page of the next day's "Little Daily," with the headline:
Sorel maintains his anti-colonial stance, stating that "French glory should not be based on the suffering of others."

The report quoted his original words relatively objectively, but at the end of the article, it also hinted at something:

"At a time when the nation is celebrating a new breakthrough in the colonial cause, Mr. Sorel's isolated stance stands out in particular." However, this was merely the prelude to a storm.

Two days later, Le Gaul published a report in a prominent position, accompanied by a clear picture.

The image shows a publication with a binding style quite different from European books; the cover has traditional Chinese characters, and below it is a line of French annotation:
"A collection of Lionel Sorel's short stories published in China."

The report was written in a seemingly objective tone:

[This newspaper recently received a sample book from the Far East. According to the sender, it is a collection of translations of works by the famous Chinese writer Lionel Sorel, published in China, including works such as "The Old Guard" and "Hometown".]

It is believed that these works were somewhat popular among the intellectual class in Qing China…

At this point, the writing style suddenly shifts:
This may explain why Mr. Sorel has recently shown such stubborn opposition to our military actions and colonial policies in Tokyo.

As is well known, the Qing government was in friction and even military standoff with my country in the Red River region because of its suzerainty over Vietnam.

This inevitably leads one to some speculation—perhaps Mr. Sorel's criticism of the French colonial cause was not entirely motivated by humanitarian concern.

We should understand that perhaps his remarks could make his collection of short stories even more popular in Qing Dynasty China!

When Lionel saw the report, he almost popped his eyes out—he hadn't even received a sample copy himself, so where did Le Gaul get it from?
Judging from the pictures in the newspaper, the cover of the thread-bound book, the vertical layout, and the traditional Chinese characters, it doesn't seem like something that "Le Gaul" could have forged.

More importantly, he hadn't received a single tael of silver in royalties!
Almost simultaneously, another piece of news also circulated within the Ministry of Education.

Edmond de Rohan, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Public Education and Arts, made a meaningful statement at a closed-door meeting:
"Education aims to cultivate the future citizens of the Republic and shape their patriotism and national identity."

Therefore, in selecting teaching materials, we should give priority to works that can inspire students' love for their motherland and their pride in French civilization.

Only the writings of true patriots who cherish France and whose words and actions align with national interests deserve to be printed in textbooks and serve as role models for children.

Although these words did not name names, their implications were obvious.

Who is the most prominent writer whose words and actions seem most inconsistent with national interests? The answer is almost obvious.

The news that Lionel's work would be removed from the table of contents of the new semester's French textbook spread far and wide.

Previously, most criticisms of Lionel focused on his views themselves, debating the right and wrong of colonial policies.

But now, the attacks are turning to his personality and motives.

"See! I told you long ago, this kid from the Alps couldn't be trusted!"

"His books are so popular in China? No wonder he always speaks up for those barbarians!"

"Think about his relationship with those Qing people... I heard he attended a dinner hosted by the Qing ambassador."

"Count Rohan is right, only the works of patriots deserve to be included in textbooks!"

"Sorel's words will only poison our children!"

Similar discussions began to spread in conservative salons, in the opinion sections of right-wing newspapers, and even in casual conversations on the street.

"Traitor," "non-citizen," "bought off by the Chinese"...

Various malicious labels began to be ruthlessly affixed to Lionel's name.

The aura surrounding him seemed to dim considerably in that instant.

And it was in a primary school in Lyon that the most disheartening thing happened to Lionel.

(That concludes today's three updates. Additional updates will begin tomorrow.)
(End of this chapter)