The New York herald., 1870-09-21
PARTANT POUR LA FRANCE.
Departure Of the Steamship Lafayette
With Freight and Passengers. e ,
Candidates for Glory and Guns for Vengeance
Enthusiasm Of the People-Arrest Of Some
Of the Passengers-They Are Bot at
Liberty on the Dock-Scenes and
Incidents-List Of Passengers
by the Lafayette.

by the Lafayette
AS the struggle in f urope grows In intensity and
Interest our local French residents become more
and more absorbed in contemplating the progress
OF the military operations The first errervescence
OF exuberant patriotism has now Gained down, but
1t has simply given place TO far deeper and nobler
feeling IL is felt that the destines Of France are
now hanging in the scales; and Frenchmen, firmly
as they are supposed to believe In the omnpOtence
OF blind fate that guides In some inexplicabfe
manner the fortunes OF men and nations believe
also far more strongly in the overwhelming
power OF enthusiastic and self.denyina
patriotism What though the God OF Battles
has decided so far with almost undertaking
regularity against the arms Of France In
this hour OF greatest trial and national afiction
the men who proudly clam that they are children
OF the great naon," rise to the almost awe-inspir-
ing height OF the political situation, and still hold
fast TO an unwavesing faln the ultin te triumph
Of the tricolor.
The fall OF the empire and the PROCLAMATION OF
the third French republic has stirred the soul OF
every true son of France TO its innermost depths,
and yesterday this city witnessed a significant ex-
expression OF the present condition OF
FRENCH POPULAR SENTIMENT.
For some time 1t had been announced that q
strong party OF French recruits would shortly 20 To
the relief OF Their imperlied country. How large
the French population OF New York is can only be
credited by those who have a pretty thorough
knowledge OF every phase OF Gotham lfe Chiefly
drawn from the poor and unfortunate classes
they have come 10 the New World to seek their for
tune, and In the sharp and bitter competition OF the
labor market forced to accept pursuits that are
neither very lucrative popular. They are largely
personal servants to rich New Workers., whose
wealth makes 1t unnecessary for them to walt upon
themselves. walters IN restaurants, bartenders,
cooks &c. Even this class has felt tho contagion of
the enthusiasm OF the present national crisis,
extent drawn from this section OF the community
a iel yesterday morning IN the LAFAYETTE with the
snouldering musket, repel 49,
TnE PRUssIAN INVADERS,
whose presence as the phrase goes, DOlutes the soil
OF France Some OF these gentlemen however
were political eXles, who had been banished frOr.
their native land by the man whose incapaclty and
disasters. Some OF these latter recruits mad been
driven from France as far back as1s6l, Immediately
Curio1sly mingled indeed must have been the
emotions they felt as the good ship left
ssres s dock xns sr sv sS Wsss, 70 those .v
scarcely hoped to behold again. Gratifed
they must have been. 10 some extent, at the igno-
miniOus overthrow or the tyrant whose despotism
had poisoned many OF the best years of their lives
and they must also have felt some degree OF pleasure
at the glorious triumph the democratic prfncIples
for which they had suffered But these feelings
were no DOUBT more than cOunterbaanced by the
sadness with which every loyal French heart must
be filled at the grevous disasters that have recently
Overtaken the national arms.
THE NIGHT BEFORE
this expedition sailed all the various local resorts
OF resident Frenchmen were naturally IN state OF
abnormal activity. StrOling through the half q
could not fail to be struck by the general air OF
animation that seemed to prevail. The tables were
unusually full and the popping OF corks was
ally lively. Many little group, composed OF COM
rades VINO had probably grown dearer friends
from the mere fact that they had been together
strangers In a strange land,n was evidently
employed IN demolishing farewell reunion dinners.
Joining party such AS TINS. a HERALD reporter
found himself surrounded by an atmosphere of en-.
tnusiastc patriotism that was really quite Inspiring
Thanks TO that intimate knowledge OF the minor de
SAILS Of city life which is sedulously cultivated by
Journalists and detectives, he recognized at once the
character OF the men who made up the group-this
a bartender in saloon, that one wafer, and
usual intelligence, and In their native land had filed
very much higher positions in society than those In
which they now gained their bread conversation
ensued, which soon TOOK an Instructive anu interest
ing turn.
ny to the defence OF his country, |, alas, have u
family. and am obliged 10 stay md and lind them
bread"
..But how many men are going with the expedi-
ti0n 2" asked the HERALD reporter.
''Well, there are 100, whose passages are paid by
the French Consul. Then there are SOM 200 Others
who pay themselves the expenses OF the voyage. We
shall also have some z0J or 800 Americans and nom
French passengers, many OF whom, think, are, ike
ourselves, volunteers"
''how are your armst"
''wel, now you are touching a matter which
ought to BE kept secret, at least until after the
sailing OF the Lafayette We have less than forty
thousand Remington rifles, made by The best AmerI-
makers and three million six hundred tnou.
sand cartridges. Then we have also ABOUT five
hundred revOlvers. The mitralleuse mas proved
the biggest deusion that the nephew OF his
uncle ever nursed. But we think that Ameri-
can rifles an immense improvement on
the needle Idle gun and r. iar better adapted for
may still do good service from the walls OF Paris;
but In the campaign that Will follow-the campaign
in which the French army will be vigorously driving
the foe beyond the khlne-Our new arms win be an
immense advantage
Further conversation only led 10 q reiteration
OF these statements and general explanation Of
tle feelings O. the recruits.
"Nearly every man that goes with u.s. said the
abest aud most enthusiastic OF the party, ISIS a
staunch fo''dD republican. Here and there, perhaps.
there may be man who still believes in the empire
IN the background. We are for liberty and France.
But let us I'LL our glasses aud drink TO
ola REPUBIIQUE UNIvERsELLE."
ia TppubiiQ,te un,cersetle ~ echoed the remain.
der Of the party with thr ling enthusiasm adding,
too, "a bds la despotisDte ~
Then followed a glowing picture OF the future OF
Europe, and the man who drew It's Outllnes-hiIn-
sell of those who rose In the last great European
cOnyulsiOn OF 1S4s-loudIy proclaimed that he was
hoping for the success OF MS country, chiefly be-
cause it involved the political liberation Of every
branch Of the Caucasian race. and that he had
doubt that within year ir0m the present date-Rnd
t any rate before the completion OF the first Ameri-
can centenary Of lndcpendence-the whole OF the
European Continent would be family of repubilcs.
and then, OF course. the antagonism OF race and
even the antpathles OF religious creeds, would be
stilled, and the graad hope OF the noplest men who
have ever lived, iberty. fraternity and equality"
would cease TO be vain dream, but would become
the fundamental principles Of al civilized govern.
ments. ~
Having thus given some insight into the chara"