Descending On France 1780
Chapter 58 - 58 054 The Birth of Friend of the People

58: 054 The Birth of Friend of the People 58: 054 The Birth of Friend of the People Anning was spiritedly engaging with his opponent when the voting Clerk loudly announced, “Alright, voting begins now!

Those who can write, come this way; those who can’t, head to the other side!”

As soon as the Clerk finished speaking, the majority of people surged towards the entrance for those who could read and write.

Just as Anning predicted, the majority of the voters were literate small Bourgeois.

Despite the seemingly effective speech earlier, Anning did not let his guard down.

He brought over a table and stood next to the crowd of voters, loudly urging, “Vote for me, and I’ll give those Nobles a run for their money!

Vote for me!

I am Andy Frost!”

This tactic worked immediately – even those who were undecided penned down “Andy Frost” under his aggressive campaign.

As for the lawyer competing against Anning for the position, most of the onlookers did not even know his name, let alone consider voting for him.

In this disorderly manner, the noisy voting process continued until the afternoon.

By the afternoon when the true culottes finally finished their work, the plaza’s voting had ended, moving into the vote-counting phase.

That evening, the preliminary results of the vote were out.

Anning, with the results in hand, joyfully went to the Brittany Club to report to everyone, only to walk in and see Marat sitting at the card table with a sour expression, playing solitaire gloomily by himself.

Confused, Anning asked, “What’s wrong?”

At that moment, Dan Dong came over to lead Anning away, “Let him be alone for a moment.”

Anning, still puzzled, inquired, “What happened?”

“It’s simple, he ran for a representative seat and lost,” Dan Dong said nonchalantly.

Anning frowned; to tell the truth, he couldn’t remember if Marat had been elected as a representative during the first summoning of the Third Estate.

However, even if Marat was not elected, there was nothing surprising about it.

This timeline had many details different from the original one, and although the general trend of history was fixed, the specifics were full of randomness and unexpected events.

While Anning pondered this, Dan Dong continued:

“Marat delivered an impassioned speech in his district, but in the end, he couldn’t beat the handsome face of his opponent.”

Hearing this, Anning almost thought that the “revolutionary archangel, Saint Just” had finally entered the stage.

Marat was famously unattractive, and to compete in the same district as Saint Just would indeed be fatal.

After all, this “Horror Angel” was in a league of his own in the history of the French Revolution – others were known for their literary or military prowess, but he was remembered for his good looks.

Just then, Marat loudly proclaimed, “I cannot accept this!

Just because he has a handsome face, to defeat my thoroughly prepared speech, I cannot accept it!”

Anning really wanted to tell Marat that centuries later during the presidential elections in the United States, there would be a guy named Kennedy who would also win over his shrewd and seasoned opponent with good looks.

It’s just the way of the world in an era that judges by appearances.

Marat was still ready to complain, “And that Mirabeau, you know what?

He didn’t give a speech; instead, he distributed his lurid pamphlets about the Queen’s love life for free at the event.

I saw many people who couldn’t spell his name just traced the signature from those booklets!

Electing these people, how can they represent the people?”

Dan Dong shrugged, “At the very least, Mirabeau can represent all the drunks in Paris.

Whenever you see Monsieur Mirabeau at night, his face is always flushed, and one word from his mouth could intoxicate someone to death.”

Then Dan Dong changed the topic, looking at Anning, “Andy, how did things go on your side?”

“The Nobles seem to have chosen the principal of the Paris Military Academy as their representative,” Anning spread his hands.

“While the commoners have picked the son of a Leatherworker, the Noble Killer, the man who has won three duels.”

Marat: “They voted for you just because of your notorious reputation as the Noble Killer!”

Anning: “Marat, what’s done is done with the representative issue; it can’t be changed now.

You’d better think about how to expand your influence.

That way, next time when it’s time to elect members, you can capitalize on this reputation.”

Marat frowned: “What are you talking about?

Next time?”

Anning: “Yes, next time.

You don’t think we elected representatives just to go sightseeing at the Versailles Palace, do you?

“I’m telling you, the King wants us to discuss how to raise taxes, but we’re not interested in discussing that.

We don’t want anything to do with the Royal Family’s financial crisis.

We’re going to Versailles for constitutional monarchy.

“Think about it—if it’s going to be a constitutional monarchy, naturally there will be a next session of Parliament, won’t there?”

Marat snapped his fingers: “You’re right!

I shouldn’t be too fixated on the outcome of this time.

I should pick up my pen and fight for my election next time.”

Dan Dong: “Right, that’s much more suitable for you than sitting around here blaming heaven and earth.”

Marat: “I need to take action.

I should…

Yes, I should start my own newspaper.

I have some money saved up from when I was a doctor; I can use it for now.”

Anning: “You could also invite the Duke of Orleans to have a hand in it.

He loves investing in progressive newspapers.”

It should be said that the Duke of Orleans liked any media that could smear Louis XVI.

The current Duke of Orleans was still dreaming of becoming Louis XVII, supporting enlightenment ideas, engaging in various publishing ventures, and even opening his private Royal Palace to the common people of Paris, all were chess pieces moved for this purpose.

He would still need some time before he became the famous “Mr.

Equality.”

Marat had completely shaken off the shadow of not being elected, his spirits high as he planned for the future: “Not only do I need to find investors, but I also need to find writers willing to contribute.

“Providing articles to other newspapers, they always bury my pieces, tweaking this and that.

This time I’ll be the one choosing contributions!

I’ll pick the most forthright, the most intensely straightforward ones that will shame those noble lords to death!

“Fellows, what do you think a compelling name for this new newspaper should be?”

Dan Dong: “I suggest calling it the Seine River Newspaper, to correspond with the UK’s Times.”

Anning was astonished; was there already a Times at this time?

Was it unique to this timeline or was history the same as before?

Marat shook his head: “No, Seine River Newspaper won’t do.

How would anyone know what the newspaper is about just by the name?

It needs to be more clear-cut!

I think Seine River Pioneer sounds better!”

Anning couldn’t help but frown.

What the heck, wasn’t Marat’s newspaper supposed to be called the Friend of the People?

He thought for a while and decided to rectify this small mistake, saying: “I think Friend of the People works better.

You see, it’s simple and direct, one glance and you know what the newspaper stands for.”

Marat repeated the phrase Anning had just said: “Friend of the People…

My old friend, you are a linguistic genius, it’s good, concise and powerful.

“If all goes well, my newspaper might even hit the streets before the Third Estate formally convenes!

Just wait, I will certainly be advocating for you in the newspaper!”

Dan Dong: “I thought you were going to watch over us fulfilling our representative duties.”

“Of course, there will be oversight as well, after all you guys are taking my place at this conference, so I’ll definitely be keeping a watchful eye on every move you make!”