The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-19 00:00:00

CORRESPONDERCE FROM l'Altp,

(FRO)S OUR OWN COIINESPONDENT.)

PARIS, FRIDAY, June .0.

The collision between the troops and the colliers at St.
Etienne was fully as serious as was indicated by the
earlier accounts. It appears that the managers of some
von works, being short of fuel, had sent a party of twenty
nen to one of the pits at Montrambert to procure
lome., Whilst they were loading the waggons
a strong band of colliers came up and opposed
;he proceeding, declaring that no coke should be taken
away. Their hostility was so vehement and menacing
that the men of the ironworks gave, way, and departed
without the fuel, the triumphant miners then retiring`
This was at half-past ten. In an hour a large band again
came up upon the pretext of assuring themselves that the
';oke had not been taken away. They departed and
returned again, their manifestations becoming more and
more violent. At length several of them, between thirty
and forty, were captured by a detachment of troops
on the way to relieve their comrades who were
guarding the pits at Oudaine. A small body of
the rioters was surrounded and taken en mane,
the troops then forming two ranks, with the
prisoners in the middle, in order to convey
them back to the barracks. The officer in command did
not think it wise to return to St. Etienne by the great
street of Ricamerie, which was crowded with men on
strike. He therefore ordered the troop to make a cir-
cuitous tour by the railway cutting which I mentioned
yesterday. This change of direction did not, however,
mend matters. The cort(ge was soon perceived,
and a large mob, men and women, gathered
together. Both sexes addressed themselves with
energy to the work of releasing the captives. The
women screamed, and the men howled ; the former
fetched aprons full of stones, and the latter threw them.
The shower became so thick that the soldiers, who be-
haved admirably, had the utmost difficulty in making any
progress. At one point the road was deeper, tho cutting
by the side of it being higher, and a bridge crossed over
it. The mob skilfully availed itself of this strategic
position. It manned the bridge and the heights by the
cutting, and discharged a tremendous shower of stones
upon the advancing troops. The route became almost
impassable, and the captain halted his men—standing
still, however, being very little preferable to going. for-
ward. A discharge of rifles in the air produced no effect.
The officer parleyed with the crowd e x horting theni to leave
the road open; but the ringleaders refused to draw
off their host unless the prisoners were given up. This
declaration was followed by a discharge of pistols from the
midst of the mob, four soldiers being wounded and two of
their bayonets bent by the balls. The soldiers of the first
line fired spontaneously, and several advanced forward
with their bayonets to clear the way, but the captain
called them back. The mob dispersed -and fled iu all
directions, the troop pursuing its way, and reaching the
barracks in safety.

The total number of rioters killed is twelve ; one died
of his wounds since I wrote yesterday. Unhappily, three
are women, and one a child. Fourteen soldiers were mare
or less injured by pistol-bullets or stones. Tranquillity
has prevailed in the district up to the time when I write.
Not less than ten -battalions of infantry, besides
cavalry, are assembled in different parts of the
neighbourhood. One writer says that the strike which

has led to this lamentable affair was pending long Leforo
the elections, the workmen demanding more wages,
reduction of hours, and the ntolition of certain
" drawbacks." The news from Paris seems to have
decided the men to turn out.

The papers continuo to criticise or applaud the Empe-
ror's letter, and on the_ whole their comments aro
reassuringly moderate. The Liberal journals do not, of
course, like the letter, but th( yseern disposed to make the
best of the situation. The Sac* regards the Emperor's
epistle as a declaration in favour of the stags Quo, but it
observes that inaction is not solution, and that the state
of affairs created by the vote of the French pcopleremains,
with all its imperative consequences, let the Emperor take
what resolution he will. The Government obtained in
1863 5,150,000 votes from the electors of France,
whilst in 1869 it received but 4,440,600. The
Opposition was supported by 1,6:0,000 in 1863,
9,nd by 3,320,000 in 1869. These are the great
facts in face of which the Emperor must act. The
Avenir National is much of the same opinion. It does not
believe that the riots in Paris were of such importance as to
justify a postponement of reforms which are de-
manded by public opinion. The Arenir wonders how
the excesses committed by the band of men in white
blouses could have such effect with his Majesty. What
connection is there, it asks, between the riots and liberty
in France ? The Journal de Paris observes that
21e Emperor may well refuse to a band of
kiosk-breakers what he ought to grant to 3,320,000
electors of France. The Constitutionnel is desp.ond.
ing ; the Patrie, of course, exultant; the Opinions
Nationale, equally of course, defiant. The Paris, weeping
metaphorical tears, addresses a letter to the Emperor
himself, imploring the elected of eight million voters not
to be turned aside by a few roughs.
The reason why these journals deduce that the Emperor
aitends to make no changes or concessions is this : The
esiion which is about to open will not undertake any

egislative duty. It will be devoted solely to tho
examination of the various returns. Had it been a
session proper the Emperor might well have refused to
consider reforms in the face of these disturbances ; but as
the session proper does nut open until November, and as
no reforms could be considered before then, it does seem as
f the policy of inaction had been determined upon. The
effect of the riots, such as it is, must surely have passed
sway in six months, and concession, if made at all, might
as well be made then as at any other time. Hence the
papers here generally abandon all hope of an enlargement
of the January reforms.