The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-05

A Letter from Henri Deiescluze, Apoiogizing
Tor the Commune.

Tor the Commune.
To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD
Kepugnant as 1t Is to me to appear In the news
papers. cannot iorbear saying word against the
continued Misrepresentation OF that brave Paris
and its supporters for whom my brother lost his
life. 1t Is entirely false that the German liberals
named IN the HERALD's dispatches to-day were
''leaders of the Commune The ''true leaders" OF
the Commune were not ashamed to proclaim them
selves as SUCH and their names are to be found
signed to their public papers. The German liberals
sympathzed no doubt, with the Communicate
liberals debut to say they directed its operations Is
not true This Is the last Versailles lie launched by
the still bloodthirsty asssssins VINO SIT in council
there in order to bring these under the grip OF
the enemies OF liberty. They seek to crush out all
active republcansm from the capitals of Europe
Poor fools They are cndowing 1t with giant
strength, which VIII one day break their power like
q rotten twig.
The Commune is accused OF having retarded the
establishment of the republic. Why, the very day
that Theirs named his Minister'S the herald said
that the republic was doomed. That was more than
three months ago. The very moment that Theirs
chose his Orlcanist Cabinet ana sent his dukes
and marquises-bitter enemies OF all repubics-to
the different foreign courts; the moment he sent
the yiscounJ q Harcourt to Rome, proving that he
Intended France should support the pretensions or
the Pope. the Partisan Deputies knew that there
was a plot 10 destroy the republic The latter act
was pedging OF the government to the prlesty
party, and tnat party Is always mOnarchist.
AS Louis Bonapare got his last pteoSCte, as he got
his firstly representing "tne empire Is peace
so many OF these Versaiiiists procured their cleo
ton by representing themselves as devoted TO the
republics; but the moment they were III power they
showed tnef hahas paiis tas noaeu ior liners,
broagbt upon France through nonarchlcal rule
had taught even HIM wisdom. Paris looked on
amazed at these acts OF tue Old OTleanist-whlcn
they might have expected Paris saw the
words "French republic" erased from State docu-
ments and Kissed at by the majority Of the
Assembly. The great city that had borne. Tor the
sake OF the republic, everything having the name OF
suffering Tor nearly i've months demanded expana-
TONS. Her Deputies were hooted down, nowed at
| like dogs and finally driven from the Chamber.
Then 1t began 10 be apparent what was reserved Tor
Paris.-tnaJ evoked, frivolous place'i-wnere men
and women had cheeriuliy yielded up every comfort
OF life and braley bore the slow agony OF terror,
| want and disease; where poor wOrSmen had d.
vested themselves In the midst OF winter, OF coats
and shoes, order TO buy bread tor their children.
and saw their infants starvc daily on the withered
| breasts OF hungry mothers; Where famine crushed
the people down by thousands unto death on hearth
stones where there was no fire TO warm limbs that
slowly stinened for the grave and no nghr AT night
| to SHOW q father or mother wife or husband the
last expression OF affection on some loved, expiring
| face. Thus they died, with hunger, cold and dark
| ness for companions Then came the terrible blow
| to the heart-capitulaton. Nor was this all. The
men of Paris, emerging from this long horror, were
immediately called upon 10 submit to the crowning
torture OF all ana save Belfort to France by quietly
enduring the Prussian occupation OF the city. They
| bowed their heads To this shame, ana silently
| and brave.y drank even this cup OF unutterable
bitterness because they passionately loved France.
they turned their sad aud eager eyes towards Bor-
deauX, and listened to hear from the Assembly the
fate of France. And that Is what they heard: tnat
was their reward for suffering, famine, lame and
death-hooting, Kissing and contcmpuous lndiner-
| ence. Theirs, the consummate schemer, knew well
| that Paris would never consent TO monarchy; and,
4 when seeing mis- manrnvTlng-seelng that the re-
| pubcans were not permitted even 10 speak without
insult in the Assempy-tne Parts Deputies with
grew ne knew there was only OF two things TO be
| done-hrst, TO call upon the Assembly to formally
declare the republic ana TO form constitution, or
| lislr hpr1 do
| stroy the republican Chiefs ana thus have clear
ded for operations This, to be sure, would occasion
| some trouble: but Paris was ALREADY exhausted by
suffering and could easily be suodued II few OF the
'.reds,' should make any ouGcry. Theirs, from the
first DAYS alter the peace had 80 coo troops guarding
the Assembly Tor whose presence he mad never given
| any satisfactory reason He cnose his course. soon
the Assembly declared Paris repudiated as the seat
| OF government Theirs sent General Nmoy there-a
man hated by the Parislans as one OF the assassins
| OF the "a OF December-armei with extraordinary
| powers. These powers were 10 declare Paris,
| uuiet and orderly nj that moment, .'in state Of
slege;'' TO condemn two OF the republican leaders
| 10 death for having protested vigorously months
before against the iata inacion oil Trocnu: to sup
press all the republican newspapers and torDid the
| temperance OF any new journals until the Assem-
by should give consent; TO discharge some thirty
| thousand National Guards from th2 receipt OF the
thirty sous day Wncn tney received, aaa deny
| ana chdren-an extension OF time 10 enaolc them
| TO pay the rent which mad accumulated during the
| siege although THEIRS knew Wen that by the ugor-
Gus rent of Paris they could be stripped OF any
htte goods they possessed and put with their FAM
|
were told that the monstrous decree OF Napoleon H.,
deprivng PARIS OF her municipal liberties, was to be
continued py the Assembly; the Guards must DE
disarmed and Paris, as uuder tile empire paced IN
the hands OF the Iegulas army. Here was the reve-
| lation OF the whole scheme. Paris was 10 be bound
hand and foot and tEe monarchy formed Brave
Paris rebeled ana proposed TO DEFEND her liberties
and inc republic with her sword. sne must either
DO this or Yield and submit to see France delivered
! ND 20 another decade or Two O; monarchlca! reac-
| ton, bloodshed and inevitable revolution. she
struck TO make end OF this eternal struggle by pro-
l France make
| monarchy impossible. she has been defeated
through the selfish fears OF the other cities TO Join
her i.ur her struggle is Immortal these men of
| Paris, maduened by the defeat and dlsmemoerinent
OF France, stung by tue sense OF cruel hunilIation
wounded to the depths of the soul by death and
run-l was these men that Theirs sent his rlgor-
Gus and insulting DEGREES. And notwithstanding
| the weakness and exhaustion and suffering they
| had undergone for long and weary months, they
| neryed themselves for another trial.
They have been accused OF infamies, but these as
sertlons are Ia.sehoods unsupported by facts. They
burned the glillotine to prove their condemnation
| of the death penalty Ihey took no man me- rhe
deaths OF Lecomte and Thomas were acts OF fury
! committed by the soldiers or these Generals. II
they imprisoned priests 1t was only TO compel
Theirs TO spare the lives or prisoners, many Of whom
| he had basely caused to be murdered before the
! Commune resolved on sezng hostages. II Tners
| had not shown the greatest indifference as to the
| lives of these hostages, VINO were spared by the
Commune TO the last In spite Of all the provocations
OF Versailles--such as the butchery ut Claimant on
the "a OF May, where 900 prisoners were bayoneted
and other Ike murders-f he had not proved uat he
cared simply and solely to rid Paris OF republicans by
taking their lives i'll the most savage ana brutal
| manner these priests would never have been I'M
prisoued. Although priests are hated I'm Paris be-
cause the clergy nave long since sunk their
| religious character TO that OF mere politicians
| and court,ers they are always treated with
| respect 1t IS only in revolutionary moments
| and when the people remember that they
| the priests) are the INSCRIPTIONS supporters OF
! tyranny and imperial crimes that they suffer. Do
YOU suppose that II the priests were the real friends
and comiorters and defenders OF The people the peo-
| pie would persecute thcm9 Theirs abandoned the
priests TO their late The murder OF sixty thousand
|
stamp was OF more Importance TO him than the lives
Of sixty priests. II lie has changed his monarchica
| programme somewhat, IL was soiey because ne was
| felt compelled to make some half declarations III
| favor of the republic-decarations winch he has
never supported by acts ON the contrary when the
fears OF the Assembly at the terrible aspect OF AFFAIRS
IN Paris induced them to propose according her mu
| ncipal liberties, Theirs angrily threatened 10
resign should such bill pass. lie nad arranged
his great PLAN" and the results are before
the world. He has PLAYED botn the knave