Paris, Le Petit Journal editorial office.
Editor-in-chief Ernest Judet frowned as he looked at the dispatch and woodcut illustration from Lyon on his desk.
In the illustration, children raised their hands high, mouths agape, faces full of righteous indignation; the principal stood by, his face animated.
He murmured to himself,
"This is a bit much..."
Although newspapers needed sales and eye-catching topics, this scene still made him feel a little uncomfortable.
Nevertheless, this was undoubtedly news that could shake Paris.
He picked up his pen, signed "Publish" on the manuscript, and personally drafted the headline:
"Lyon Elementary School Students Burning Sorel's Works Sparks Controversy"
Le Figaro, Le Petit Parisien, La Lanterne, Le Matin, and other newspapers adopted a similar stance.
They sensed danger, not wanting to miss out on the news, nor wanting to directly oppose the ascendant Ferry cabinet.
Le Temps, Le National, La France, and other moderate republican newspapers took a different approach.
They emphasized Principal Jean Weiller's "patriotic fervor" and "firm stance," downplaying the scene of books being burned.
———————
Jules Ferry slammed a newspaper onto the table; the front page featured the report of the Lyon book burning and the highly impactful image.
His voice was filled with shock and anger:
"What is going on?! Who told them to do this?! Burn books?! And let children burn them?! Stupid! Absurd!"
He had originally only intended to chastise this disobedient young man by cutting down chapters from the 'French Reader,' making him understand the cost of deviating from the mainstream.
But he never imagined things would escalate to such an extreme, unsightly point!
This reminded him of the actions of the medieval Inquisition, completely at odds with the "rational" and "civilized" republican image he wished to project!
This was practically handing a weapon to his political enemies!
He could almost imagine how Clemenceau, Vaillant, and others would exploit this issue!
He immediately had his assistant summon Edmond de Rohan.
Facing his subordinate, Jules Ferry pointed to the newspaper, his face ashen:
"Rohan! Look! Look at this farce Lyon has cooked up! What exactly is going on? When did I ever issue such an order?"
Edmond de Rohan picked up the newspaper and read it carefully, a look of surprise first appearing on his face, then turning to helplessness and innocence.
He put down the newspaper and spread his hands:
"Mr. Prime Minister, I am also very shocked and regretful about this. It is indeed... a bit extreme."
He paused, then continued in a calm tone:
"However, please recall our previous discussion—
We unanimously agreed that Mr. Sorel and others needed to understand that opposing the Republic's colonial policy would come at a cost.
Especially in the field of education, we must ensure that the next generation receives values that are correct and in line with national interests."
Jules Ferry growled,
"I agreed to chastise! But not in such a barbaric way! This will make everyone think we are no different from those priests who burned heretics!"
Count Rohan bowed slightly, but his tone remained calm:
"I understand your anger, Mr. Prime Minister. But that principal in Lyon, precisely out of strong support for your policy, took such a 'decisive' action. Of course, his method is debatable, but his intention, I'm afraid, was still to uphold your authority and the interests of the Republic."
Jules Ferry looked suspiciously at the aristocratic deputy minister, trying to find a flaw in his expression.
Count Rohan shook his head:
"As for specific instructions, I have never, and would never, order the burning of books. You can investigate this at any time!"
Jules Ferry was stunned.
He looked at Rohan's calm, unperturbed, innocent face, speechless for a moment.
Is that so?
Did his subordinates orchestrate this farce to please him because he expressed dissatisfaction?
Was Rohan carrying out his intentions, but his subordinates distorted the execution?
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found he had no grounds for accusation.
A sense of powerlessness and faint unease seized him.
The course of events had gradually deviated from his intended path.
He felt as if he were sitting in a windowless carriage, clearly hearing the rumble of the wheels, but unsure where it would ultimately lead.
He waved his hand, his voice tinged with weariness:
"I understand. You... you may leave now."
Count Rohan bowed elegantly:
"These are trivial matters. I hope you can focus your energy on the great colonial enterprise!"
With that, he turned and left the office.
Only as he closed the door, a slight upward twitch appeared at the corner of Count Rohan's mouth.
Jules Ferry sat alone behind his large desk, his gaze falling once more on the illustration in the newspaper, silent for a long time.
————————
The book-burning incident at Lyon's Rue Guillotière Primary School, like a stone thrown into a cesspit, quickly tore apart French public opinion.
The anger of liberals and intellectuals was ignited.
They found it hard to believe that such barbaric behavior could occur in France, a country that prided itself as a "beacon of civilization."
Ernest Renan of the Sorbonne wrote in Le Temps' commentary section, urgently appealing:
"This is a regression of the times! A disgrace to civilization!"
La Justice even directly targeted the Jules Ferry government:
"Must everything that doesn't align with Mr. Ferry's wishes be purged and destroyed?"
The left-wing L'Intransigeant and Vallès's Le Cri du Peuple linked it to class oppression.
"Look! Bourgeois patriotism is making workers' children burn works imbued with critical spirit! They fear awakening, they fear thought! What they want are docile citizens, cannon fodder to be sacrificed for colonial expansion!"
But newspapers like Action Française cheered, calling it "the victory of the French spirit" and "the flames have purified all toxins! Well burned!"
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... many principals also emulated Rue Guillotière Primary School, organizing "textbook cleanup" activities.
French newspapers descended into a melee, attacking each other, the language of the debate growing increasingly fierce, as if engaged in a civil war without gunpowder.
The British media across the Channel, naturally, would not miss this excellent opportunity to mock their old rival.
The Times, in a rather weighty commentary, wrote with no small amount of sarcasm:
[The witch hunt seems to have found a new form of expression in 19th-century France.
However, this time it is not witches bound to the stake, but paper printed with words.
Perhaps we should congratulate Mr. Jules Ferry, who has successfully advanced France's "civilization" process to a very unique stage.]
Unlike the sarcasm of the British media, the attitude of German newspapers was much more nuanced.
Major newspapers in Berlin and Frankfurt reported on the "book burning" incident itself with relative restraint, rarely offering direct criticism.
This was because after the Jules Ferry government came to power, it no longer obsessed over retaliating against Germany for the 1870 defeat, which eased Germany's pressure to clash with its former allies.
The Bismarck government was pleased to see France direct its energy and resources towards overseas colonial expansion.
German public opinion largely held negative views towards Lionel Sorel, this "troublemaker" who criticized colonialism, deeming his remarks "unrealistic."
An article in the Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung subtly stated:
[...Certain French intellectuals indulge in a moral self-satisfaction, yet ignore national interests and the practical demands of geopolitics.
Premier Ferry's colonial policy has found a new direction for France's development, which contributes to the balance of power and stability on the European continent.
Unwarranted attacks on such policies are not only short-sighted but also dangerous.]
——————
Paris, 117 Boulevard Saint-Germain.
A group of young people in military academy uniforms gathered below the apartment building, shouting slogans:
"Sorel! Get out!"
"Traitor! Coward!"
"Where is the glory of France without war?"
"Send him to military court!"
The shouting broke the night's tranquility.
(End of Chapter)