One hundred years ago
THE bitterness of parties in France has been greatly exasperated by an attempt to assassinate M. Ferry. That gentleman is regarded by all Radicals as the leader of the Republican party of repression, and is the object of intense popular hatred. On Saturday, the 10th inst., he received a message in the Chamber, written on a card belonging to Mons. E. Hervey, the Orleanist writer, asking him to speak to the bearer in the lobby. He accordingly stepped out, when a man named Aubertin fired three shots from a revolver straight at his chest. One bullet missed him, but two struck, inflicting, however, nothing but severe bruises. Aubertin was a mechanic of some inventive ability, but bad charac- ter, soured by failure in his efforts to make a competence. He is not an anarchist, but a Radical, and declares that he is one of twenty men combined to execute summary justice on bad candidates for office. The event might have happened anywhere, and did hap- pen in the United States, Guiteau being just such a man as Aubertin; but in France it is accepted as evidence that the teaching of the Radicals produces murder. M. Rouvier, the Premier, said so to M. Laguerre, and the two men fought with their fists till separated by force.
The Spectator, 17 December 1887
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