The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-17 00:00:00

Z EIE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 187 e.

THE WAR.

THE SIEGE OF PARIS.

A MEETING AT BELLEVILLE.

The Journal des Debats has an account of a sitting of
the Revolutionary Club at Belleville. The meetings at
Bellevile are- now held in the Salle 'Fa,vie rue de Paris,
opposite the celebrated Folles-Belleville. On the evening
in question there was a numerous assembly. They cele-
brated the triumph of citizen Ranvier, who had just been
named mayor by ballot. First of all in awaiting the re-
sult of the balloting they directed their attention to the
armistice and the social question. An orator with white
hair was applauded for saying that the interests of the
workmen and the masters were identical, and that the
masters are for the most part old workmen of greater in-
telligence, and more laborious and more happy who have
risen in rank. This theory did not please everyone,
and one of the party refuted it, accusing the
bourgeoisie, and more especially the petite . bourgeoisie,
who were more corrupt than the higher ones. " Ask
the citizens what they give those who would buy for
four sous black puddings from horses ? (Cries of ' Yes,
yes ;itis a shame.') The grocers, the butchers, the
bakers, are all robbers and monofioliseis. During the
last two days have we not seen them rejoicing at the

prospect of the armistice, and speaking to us of the neces-
sity for peace, declaring that enough has been endured,
and that we must come to an end of it ?" (Murmurs of
indignation among a group of freeshooters, and feeble pro-
testations from a group of citizens). The President rose
to proclaim the result of the election by ballot of the
mayor of the twentieth division, and there was a profound
silence. " Braleret," he said, in an ironical tone, " only had
4,500 votes, and captir Ranvier has obtained 7,500 votes
(Great applause.) We must now give him worthy col-
leagues. The popular voice has already proclaimed them
to be Milliere, Flourens, Blanqui ; choose them, and you
will have revenged the thirty-first of October ; you will
have annihilated the reaction. Paris will save France
and the universe. (Renewed applause.) A hero of the
day of the thirty-first of October succeeded the President.
He strongly supported the candidature of Milliere, as a
citizen devoted to the interests of the people, the learned
professor of Communism, who had resJlved the social
question. He then indignantly denounced the members
of the Provisional Government. " They pretend,"
said he, "that they pardoned us at the Hotel
de Ville; but it was we who showed mercy
to them, for we had taken possession of them
and we had the right to make an example of them. Yes,
we had the right (here the orator became violently excited).
We could have invoked the great examples of our first
revolution, but patience, our day will come and our
revenge is not far off. Everything informs us of the
failure of the armistice, and the triumph of our
candidates, Mottu, Bonvalet, Ranvier (applause).
Such was also the opinion of the citizen Jules Allix, who
proved, in an elaborate discourse, that the force of cir-
cumstances would precipitate the Government into the
abyss into which it wished to plunge its adversaries.
" What has it done ? It has endeavoured to conclude an
armistice, and it has failed. See its imprudence. It has
refused us the commune, and now we are to have it with-
out dispute. It told us that in making us appoint our
Mayors and their assistants it has given us the opposite
of the commune. We have replied by electing
Ranvier, IVlottu, Bonvalet, Delescluze. We will reply
to-morrow, by nominating Milliere, Flourens, and
Blanqui. But we will go further. The Government
wished to apply the law of the Empire, it must apply it
thoroughly, and if we are to be allowed to elect a mayor
and three assistants, we must, under the same law of the
Empire, be allowed to elect a municipal council and
fifteen members to control it. Well, then, let us calcu-
late. For twenty arrondissements; that would be three
hundred councillors. We should be satisfied with half.
(Laughter and applause.) We still have our commune
then—our grand democratic and social conmmue. We
shall sweep back the reaction, for we have Ranvier
and Mottu ; light from the heights of Belleville
and de Menilmoutant will dissipate the darkness
of the Hotel de Ville, We shall sweep back the reaction
as on a Saturday the porter sweeps this room." (Laughter
and prolonged applause.) A great tumult arose in the
middle of the hall, and one man was roughly expelled.
Tranquility was restored, however, and an orator asked
leave to read a letter from citizen J. Valles, in answer to
a calumny in the journals of the reaction, These shame-
less journals represented that the battalions of Belleville
surrendered themselves to an orgie at the Hotel do Ville.
The truth is that they were thirsty (laughter) and
a herring per head was given them (more laughter) with
half a pint of wine and a piece of bread. This was
all the orgie. The citizen Jules Valles offered to pay the
expenses out of his own pocket. At last a speaker made
an effort to recall the public attention to the elections of
the morrow. " Let us," he said, "nominate Milliere
Flourens, and Blanqui. They form a democratic trinity,
which will overthrow the hydra of reaction." There was
a marked expression of satisfaction in the audience, and
loud applause. At ten o'clock the salle grew gradually
empty.