CLEMENCEAU, Georges (1841-1929)

CLEMENCEAU, Georges (1841-1929)

Autograph letter signed “GClemenceau” to Michel Alexandre Gaston Tournier
Paris, 20th December [18]99, 1 p. 1/4 in-8
Tiny spots, usual fold mark

Clemenceau announces that he is leaving the newspaper L’Aurore, a leading figure in Dreyfusism, and of which he was the editor-in-chief

“Mon cher Colonel,
Ma décision a dû vous surprendre moins qu’un autre puisque nous avions déjà échangé des pensées sur la question qui m’a mis dans l’obligation de partir. Je ne désire rien tant, comme vous le pensez bien que de reprendre le bon combat. Encore faut-il que j’en trouve le moyen. Ce sera une joie pour moi si vous venez aux sapeurs-pompiers de Paris. Je vous envoie, en atendant, ma plus cordiale poignée de mains.
GClemenceau”

Clemenceau joined the newspaper L’Aurore as editor in October 1897 and wrote nearly 700 articles relentlessly in the defense of Alfred Dreyfus. Although he was not initially convinced of Captain Dreyfus’s innocence, he gradually entered the Affair until Esterhazy’s acquittal on 11 January 1898. Two days later is published the famous J’Accuse…! by Emile Zola, of which the title was suggested by Clemenceau.