Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-06-07
THE COMMUNE.
Brief Outline ofthe Origin and Prog
of the Movement

the Commune was the creature of acci-
dent or of design, so exceedingly for
tuitous were the circumstances from
which opportunity it sprung. On the
| acceptance Of the preliminaries of peace
with Germany by the Assembly, March
l, barricades were erected in Montmar-
tire, Belleville and La Chapelle, in ap-
prehenslon of disturbances with the
Germans who were to enter Paris under
the terms of the treaty The following
day, Thursday, Maach 3, the Germans
marched in, but no disturgance occur
red On Friday they left, and all re-
strictions on communication with the
city were removed, and Paris began to
assume its ordinary appearance
The journals reappeared and
exhorted the people to give
all the aid possible to the govern
ment In restoring order, by remaining
quiet themselves. Regular troops from
the provinces began to arrive soon af-
ter to relieve the Gardes Mobiles re-
turning to their rural homes. Gen. de
Palladines, on the 7th of March, as
sumed command of the Garde Nation
ale of Paris, issuing an address asking
their cooperation in maintaining order.
The Assembly was still in session at
Bordeaux, discussing the question of
the future seat of government Slight
disturbances occurred in Paris, and an
indisposition to hold the sessions of
the Assembly there was developed. An
assurance was given by the Mayors of
the City that the cannon still in the
hands of the Garde Rationale, of Mont
martre, and Belleville, at Montmartre,
would be surrendered without trouble,
and conciliatory policy was adopted
toward the malcontents. The officers
of the Belleville Gardes held an inter-
view with Gen. e Palladines which
seemed satisfac
The Assembl on the 10th of March,
voted by 407 to 1O4 to hold its sessions
at Versailles after the Goth. The garri-
son of Paris at this time consisted of
40, 900 troops from the Army of the
Loire, and the Montmartrists still held
their AIT cannon, not by force, but be-
cause the government made no effort to
take them. They were guarded by only
a few sentinels. A strong hand was
kept on violent journals, and half do
zen were suppressed by Gen Windy in
one day, but the attitude of the Mont
martrists was not regarded as threaten
ing. The 10th of March was named,
however, as the day on which they
should deliver up their cannon, but in
this failed. The Government still re-
Trained from using force. On the 18th
the battalion of Gardes In charge of
the guns was superseded by another
less open to suspicion of dis
loyalty to the Republic From
this point distrust of the Assem-
bly, appears, and some of the guns were
removed to Belleville. The hill of
MOntmartre was surrounded by troops
under Gen. Faron, and at midnight the
gendarmes took possession of the can
non, arresting 40G prisoners. A Gordon
of troops surrounded the hill, the ap-
proaches to which were defended by
rounded by groups of angry people, who
asked why the Government distrusted
the people, and if the troops meant to
massacre them. No reply was made by
the guards, and a general fraterniza-
tion followed. AS fresh troops arrived
they also affiliated with the multitude,
and in short time the Garde Rationale
occupied the hill, shouting HVive la
Republique. Gen. Faron was sur
rounded, but with small force cut his
way out Gems. LIE Comte and Clement
Thomas were less fortunate, and were
made prisoners, and, after the mockery
of trial were shot. M. Assy, of the
International Society of Working Men,
iIant Of tho lTi1iforr1
No definite purpose Was apparent
other than was shown by clamors
against the Assembly at Bordeaux. The
staff and headquarter buildings of the
Garde Rationale were occupied, how
ever, and the movement rapidly grew
to formidable proportions. A central
committee of the Garde Rationale is
sued a proclamation, declaring the
Government driven out of Paris, and
the people invoked to Communal cleo
tions. The Journal Officiel announced
that the men of the barricades had
taken possession of the Ministry of
Justice, and aSsassinated Gems. Lecomte
and Clement Thomas; but of whom the
Central Committee consisted was
then declared to be unknown. While
Government contented itself with issu-
ing proclamations, the Nationals were
active and occupied Forts Issy, Van
vres and Bicetre, and March 20, issued
its EEOfficial Journal of the Republican
Federation" A manifesto, claiming
to be the voice of 215 battalions of the
Garde Rationale, declared they were
opposed to disturbance, and accused
the Government of imposing COM
mander upon them and committing
other tyrannical acts. Some indi-
cation of reaction appeared,
and the Mayor of Paris refused to con :
cur in the measure for an election.
This WAS of short dura tion, and obnox-
ious Mayors were expelled. Names
began to appear prominently in con-
nection with the movement, and Gen.
Cluseret is seen in the Ministry of War,
Lullier is nominated General of the
Nationales, and Sanglier, Delegate
Minister of Foreign Affairs. Ranvier
and Flourens appear signed to manlfes-
toes demanding an army composed
wholly of Garde Rationale.
A quiet interval permits the holding
of elections ON Sunday, March 26, and
the Communists carry the city, but out
of 500, 900 votes, 200, 900 only were cast
The Commune was proclaimed on the
26th, and the Sub Central Committee
remitted It's powers to the Communal
Committee. The organization of the
Natlonales for active service against the
Assembly was now vigorously prose-
cuted. The citizens were urged by the
National Federation " to be loyal to
1T, and they would aid in founding the
Universal Republic. The first conflicts
occurred at Puteaux, Courbevoie and
the Bridge of Neuilly, and were defeats
to the Communists. The progress of
subsequent struggle is fresh in the
minds OF our readers. The Commune
made no progress outside of Paris, and
It's record has been a succession of fol-
lies. 1t was initiated March 20, and
after an existence of two months, it
came to an end May 81.
One by one the old Yale College Gus
toms pass away. That of presenting a
class cup to the boy first born to a
member of each class at the triennial
meeting will be omitted this year, John
Lewis. of Hartford. to whom the dis