Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-28
THE DOOMED CITY.
The Sad Condition of Paris - A
Touching Narrative.


Touching Narrative.
PARIS, Sept 2O.-Opportunity was
suddenly offered early this morning 10
make the last, perhaps fruitless, effort to
communicate with the outside world
through the medium of an adventurous
Englishman, who has volunteered to car
~ private mail, and attempt to get
through the enemy's lines to Calais for
the consideration of good pay. Not.
withstanding the long anticipation of the
investment and actual isolation of the
capital, now that it really comes, it falls
like an unexpected blow, and leaves the
people stunned and stupefied with feel
ing akin to that which Is experienced at
the death of dear friend whose long
sickness compelled expectation of fatal
termination, but whose loss, when it &C
tually comes, seems like sudden and I'M
fOreseen calamity.
In fact, until the last moment the PEG
pie persuaded themselves that some mi
raculous interpositiOn would stay the pro-
gress of the German armies, unwilling to
believe in the possibility of a siege. But
grim troops, with spiked helmets, pressed
steadily on in dark masses. Light clouds
of flying cavalry surround the city, des-
troying the communications in every d.
rection. The iron bonds grip closer and
closer, till Paris scarcely breathes, even
now. However, the hope that Jules Fa-
vre will succeed in winning terms of
peace from Bismarck animate many with
a single ray of consolation amid the gen
eral gloom; but those well informed have
little expectation of settlement until
Paris has experienced further horrors
Unhappily the German statement that
the Provisional Government cannot speak
au,horitatively, receives confirmation.
The action of the extreme Republicans
(even in this hour of trial when unity is
Indispensable on Saturday and Sunday,
was disgTaceful. There were demonstra-
tons in several portions of the city, in
consequence of the announcement of the
demands of the Reds for the creation of
committees of defence in the different ar
rOndissments 10 be chosen by the people,
and for a general collection and division
of food and ammunition. Noisy and
dangerous crowds assembled in different
quarters, uitering revolving cries. A large
number of the roughs were armed. In
some cases violence was committed;
in one instance, a store-housc was
broken open and a quantity of
provisions seized, under pretense of au-
thority from the Committee of Defense.
On Sunday night much terror prevailed
among the better class of the population.
On Monday large force of the National
Guard and some regulars and marines
from the forts marched into the city to
preserve order. There is little doubt that
an attempt will be made before long by
the extreme party to seize and control the !
Government. Il is difficult to say where |
the end will be.
The last hours for leaving the city were |
marked by the rush of hundreds whose !
courage gave way at the latest moment. I
Hundreds of applications were made to |
Minister WashbuIne for passports by |
Frenchmen who were never outside of |
France, and who pretended to be natural |
lied Americans, but were unable TO pro-
duce their papers.
Beyond doubt Paris is provisioned for
four months. An appeal has been issued |
by the authorities, begging the citizens 10
exercise the greatest care AMI frugality in
the use of provisions from the present |
moment TrOchu is working indefatiga- |
bly,. Yesterday he was confined from in
disposition.
Heaven knows when an opportunity !
will offer to communicate again. For the |
past two nights the city has been in almost |
total darkness. The citizens are adopt |
ing measures to light the street lamps
1t is impossible to separate now the po-
litical from the military question. for, |
understanding one you must understand |
the other. There are two different powers |
in Paris. One official-the Provisional |
0overnment-whichs satisfies nobody, but |
is accepted and tolerated by everybody. |
The second one is the Central Republi- |
can Committee, composed of four dele
gates from each reimbursement, or eighty |
delegates in all These four delegates are
selected from twenty-five delegates elect
ed by the people in every reimbursement.
They are in constant communication with |
the population during the day through the
twen,y-one delegates remaining in the ar
rondissements, and at night by public !
meetings. 4 special committee of five |
remain in permanency day and night. At |
the sitting of the Assembly these eighty |
delegates constitute the commune of Pa
ris. The international Association of |
Workingmen has been the cradle of that p,
powerful organization which is objection |
able to the burgeois and source of fear |
to the Government, but has the deepest |
root in the hearts of the people.
They sent yesterday message TO the !
Government, asking for immediate meas |
ures, first, TO transfer the Police from the /
Central Government to the municipalities; !
the election of the magistracy; the abro- 1
CATION of every law or decree interfering
with the absolute freedom of speech, |
press, meeting of association. Second, the |
appropriation of the necessaries of life |
VIII arever TO be found, and their distribu- I
ton among the families of the National /
Guards and those in need, proportionslly
TO the amount of provisions, the probable
duration of the siege, and the number of
n, sons to be fed. Third, the immediate
appropriation of all the empty apart
NJ nts or public buildings for the accom-
mo latiOn of the defenders of
tbe city. Fourth, levy en-
M Sc of all Frenchmen, without excep-
tiua. Fifth, the immediate dispatch of
O., eral Commissioners to the Depart
mcnts to rouse the population and send
the II to the defense of Paris.
The Government refused, yesterday, TO
Weld to these demands. To-day a dele
gsfion of $50 members, comprising the.
eighty members of the Central Committee
and two special delegates from each ar
rondissement, will again present them,
and if the Government persists in its re-
fusal the people themselves will come
peacefully, but en- n1GSSe, tonight.
At Lyons the workingmen have consti-
tuied an independent government for the
defense of France As am going there,
| will be able TO tell you more in couple
of DAYS. The first success of the Prus-
slams will overthrow the Provisional, as
Sedan overthrow the Imperial govern