The death of Alexandru Marghiloman reported in the contemporary press

Abstract

Our paper aims at analizing the way the press of the time (1925) covered the death of Alexandru Marghiloman, a Romanian politician. As an exhaustive analysis of the entire Romanian press is not possible, we have selected seven publications we considered significant for our survey: one partisan newspaper (Opinia), two opposition newspapers (Mișcarea and Viitorul) and four “neutral” ones (Universul, Neamul românesc, Dimineața and Adevărul). In the articles dedicated to the death of Alexandru Marghiloman, we have identified two major topics of interest: details about the event – such as the date (May 10, 1925), cause of death, testamentary dispositions, the organization and conduct of the funeral ceremony –, and the presentation of Alexandru Marghiloman’s personality, biographical and professional data, political activity and so forth. All publications emphasized his culture, refinement, oratorical talent, and perseverance, qualities that justify the political rise of the conservative leader. Alexandru Marghiloman was a happy man prior to becaming a Prime Minister and signing the Peace Treaty of Bucharest, event that changed everything in his life. Nevertheless, at the time of his death, the language of the press wa s characterized by decency and they no longer considered Marghiloman a traitor. Prominent names, such as N. Iorga and C. Bacalbașa, p ortrayed Alexandru Marghiloman as a man of sacrifice, who was forced to accept the solution imposed in the given historical context.