Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 365 The Witch Hunt in the Nineteenth Century!
Paris, editorial office of "Le Petit Journal".

Editor-in-Chief Ernest Jude frowned as he looked at the newsletter and print illustrations from Lyon on the table.

In the illustration, the children raise their hands high, their mouths wide open, looking righteous; the principal stands to the side, looking excited.

He muttered to himself, "This is a bit too much..."

Although newspapers need sales and eye-catching topics, this scene still made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

However, this is undoubtedly news that could shake Paris.

He picked up a pen, signed "Published" on the manuscript, and personally drafted the title:
Controversy arises as Lyon primary school students burn Sorel's artwork.

Newspapers such as Le Figaro, Le Parisien, Les Cousins, and Le Monde adopted a similar attitude.

They sensed danger and didn't want to let the news slip by, nor did they want to directly confront the powerful Ferry cabinet.

Newspapers such as Les Temps, Le National, and Le France, which are pro-moderate and republican, took a different perspective.

They emphasized Principal Jean Veyer's "patriotic enthusiasm" and "resolute attitude," downplaying the scene of burning textbooks.

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Jules Ferri slammed a newspaper on the table; the front page featured a report on the burning of books in Lyon and a striking photograph.

His voice was filled with shock and anger: "What is going on?! Who told them to do this?! Burning books?! And they even made the children do it?!"

Foolish! Ridiculous!

He originally only wanted to teach this disobedient young man a lesson by deleting chapters from the French Reader, to make him understand the price of deviating from the mainstream.

But I never imagined things would escalate to such an extreme and ugly point!

This reminded him of the actions of the medieval Inquisition, which was completely at odds with the image of a "rational" and "civilized" republic he wanted to create!
This was practically handing a knife to his political enemies! He could almost imagine how Clemenceau, Varyan, and the like would seize the opportunity to make a scene!

He immediately had his assistant summon Edmond de Rohan.

Facing the handrail, Jules Ferri pointed at the newspaper, his face ashen: "Rohan! Look at this! Look at the farce Lyon has pulled off!"

What on earth is going on? When did I give such an order?

Edmond de Rohan picked up the newspaper, looked at it carefully, and his face first showed surprise, then turned to helplessness and innocence.

He put down his newspaper and shrugged: "Mr. Prime Minister, I am also very shocked and regretful about this. It is indeed... a bit too much."

He paused, then continued calmly, "However, please recall our previous discussion—"

We all agree that it is necessary to make Mr. Sorel and others understand that opposing the Republic's colonial policies comes at a price.

Especially in the field of education, we must ensure that the next generation receives the correct values ​​that align with the national interest.

Jules Ferry growled, “I agree to be beaten! But not in this barbaric way!”

This will make everyone think we're no different from those priests who burn heretics!

Count Rohan bowed slightly, but his tone remained calm: "I understand your anger, Prime Minister."

But the principal in Lyon took such 'decisive' action precisely because he was a staunch supporter of your policies.

Of course, his methods are debatable, but his motivation was likely to uphold your authority and the interests of the Republic.

Jules Ferry looked at the aristocratic deputy minister with suspicion, trying to find some flaws in his expression.

Count Rohan shook his head: "As for specific instructions, I have never, and will never, order the burning of books."

You can investigate this at any time!

Jules Ferri was stunned. He stared at Rohan’s calm, innocent face and was speechless for a moment.

Is that so? Was it because he expressed his dissatisfaction that his subordinates staged this stunt in an attempt to curry favor?
Luo Ang was carrying out his own intentions, but his subordinates were carrying them out incorrectly.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found himself unable to accuse anyone; a sense of powerlessness and a vague unease gripped him.

Things have gradually deviated from his intended course.

He felt as if he were sitting in a windowless carriage, able to clearly hear the roar of the wheels, but unsure of where he would ultimately be taken.

He waved his hand, his voice tinged with weariness: "I understand. You...you can go out now."

Count Rohan gave an elegant bow: "These are all trivial matters. I hope you can focus your energy on the great cause of colonization!" With that, he turned and left the office.

But as he closed the door, Count Rohan's lips twitched slightly upwards.

Jules Ferry sat alone behind his large desk, his gaze falling once again on the illustration in the newspaper, remaining silent for a long time.

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The book burning at the primary school on Boulevard Guiotier in Lyon was like a stone thrown into a cesspool, quickly tearing apart French public opinion.

The anger of liberals and intellectuals was ignited.

They couldn't believe that such barbaric behavior could occur in France, a country that prides itself on being a "beacon of civilization."

Ernest Renan of the Sorbonne wrote an article in the opinion section of the Times, exclaiming: "This is a regression of the times! A disgrace to civilization!"

The newspaper "Le Justice" went even further, directly targeting the government of Jules Ferry: "Should everything that does not conform to Mr. Ferry's wishes be eliminated and destroyed?"

Left-wing newspapers like The Uncompromising and Wallace's Voice of the People linked it to class oppression.

"Look! The bourgeois patriotism is to have workers' children burn works that contain critical spirit! They are afraid of awakening, afraid of thinking!"
What they want are obedient subjects, cannon fodder sacrificed for colonial expansion!

But newspapers like Act France cheered, calling it "a victory for the French spirit" and "the fire has purified all the poison! Well done!"

They called on “true patriots” to take action and boycott all of Lionel’s works.

Lyon's "example" had an effect.

In Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, and many other places, principals have followed the example of the Guiottier Street Primary School and organized a "textbook cleanup" campaign.

French newspapers were engulfed in a fierce battle, attacking each other with increasingly heated rhetoric, as if a civil war without gunfire were taking place.

British media across the Channel naturally wouldn't miss this perfect opportunity to mock their old rival.

In a weighty commentary, The Times wrote with no small amount of sarcasm:
The witch hunts seemed to have found new forms of expression in 19th-century France.

However, this time, it wasn't witches tied to the stake, but pieces of paper with writing on them.

We should perhaps congratulate Mr. Jules Ferry for successfully advancing the process of French "civilization" to a very unique stage.

Unlike the sarcastic remarks of the British media, the attitude of the German newspapers was much more subtle.

Major newspapers in Berlin and Frankfurt were relatively restrained in their reporting on the book burning itself, rarely offering direct criticism.

This was because after Jules Ferry's government came to power, it was no longer fixated on retaliating against Germany for the defeat in 1870, which relieved Germany of the pressure of conflict with its former allies.

Bismarck's government was pleased to see France devote its energy and resources to overseas colonial expansion.

German public opinion largely holds a negative view of Lionel Sorel, a "troublemaker" who criticizes colonialism, considering his remarks "impractical."

An article in the NDR (North German Journal of Publication) subtly indicated that:
[...Some French intellectuals indulged in a kind of moral self-satisfaction, while ignoring the real needs of national interests and geopolitics.]

Prime Minister Ferry's colonial policies provided France with a new direction for development, which was conducive to the balance of power and stability on the European continent.

Unwarranted attacks on such policies are not only short-sighted but also dangerous.

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117 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris.

A group of young people in military academy uniforms gathered downstairs at the apartment building, chanting slogans:

"Sorel! Get out here!"

"Traitor! Coward!"

"Without war, where would France's glory be?"

"Send him to a military court!"

The shouting broke the silence of the night.

　In the 1870s and 1880s, Bismarck was able to appease the French through various means. However, as problems arose among Germany's allies (Austria, Russia, and Italy), he sensed that France would eventually use this issue against Germany. After Jules Ferry came to power, instead of advocating for the recovery of lost territories, he extended an olive branch to Bismarck, allowing Germany to temporarily escape its predicament and no longer need to choose between Austria or Russia, or Austria or Italy. Bismarck therefore supported Jules Ferry's colonial expansion and did not compete with France in expanding overseas territory, establishing only a few small colonies to satisfy the demands of domestic imperialists.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)