The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-12
RIGHTS OF THE COMMUNE.
Victor HugO's ManifestO-The Preface to
HIS ExpuIsiOn from BeIgimm.

Victor HugO's ManffestO-The Preface to
His Expulsion from Belgium.
NJ. Victor Hugo has published the following
letter in the independence BeLge:-
Sir:-I protest against the declaration of the
Belgian Government relative to the vanquished
of Paris. Whatever may be said or done, these
vanquished are political men. l was not with
them. accept the principle of the Commune;
l do not accept the men. l have protested
against their acts. Their violences have made
me indignant, as the violences of the opposite
party would do now. The destruction of the
column is an act of high treason toward the
nation. The destruction of the Louvre would
have been an act of high treason toward civili-
cation. But savage acts, being unconscious,
and not crime. Ignorance is not the
crime of ignorant. The destruction of the
column has been for France a sad hour. The
destruction of the Louvre would have been
eternal mourning for all people. But the
column will be raised again, and the Louvre is
safe. Paris is retaken. The Assembly has
vanished the Commune. Who has made the
18th of March? Who is guilty, the Assembly or
OF Paris is a monstrous fact. But are there not
two incendiaries? Letu wait In order to judge.
have never understood Billioray; and Rigault
has astonished me unto Indignation. But to
shoot Billioray or Rigault is a crime. Those of
the Commune, JOhannard and La Cecilia who
shoot child of fifteen years, are criminals.
TbIse of the Assembly who shoot Wales, Bos-
1det, Parisel, Amoureux, Lefraneais, Brunei,
and Dombrowski are criminals. Here the
crime is as well in the Assembly as in the Com
mune. First, to all civilized men, the
punishment is abominable; secondly, the eXecu-
tion, without judgment, is Infamous Judge
fret, then condemn, then execute. 1 might then
blame, but not objurgate. You are within the
law. If you kill without judgment you assassi-
nate. return to the Belgian Government 1t is
wrong to refuse asylum. The law permits this
refusal, the right forbids it. 1, who write these
lines, hold as maxim Pro jttre contra legem
Asylum is an old right. 1t is the sacred right
of the unfortunate. In the middle ages the
Church granted asylum even to parricides. As
Belgian Government refuses. Where? In Bel
gium. do that honor to Belgium. / offer
asylum at Brussels. l offer it at Place des Bar
ricades No. H. (M Hugos town residence at
Brussels.) Let a vanquished of Paris, let a
member of the Commune, which Paris has but
little elected, and which / have never approved
let one of these men, were he my personal
enemy-especially If he is my personal enemy
He is inviolable. Should l, perchance, be for
eigner in Belgium? l do not believe it. l feel
myself the brother of all men, and the guest of
all nations. At all events, fugitive of the
with an outlaw; the vanquished of to-day with
| the outlaw of yesterday. Two venerable
| things, as do not hesitate to say. One weak
| ness protecting another If a man be an
| whomsoever 1t be, to tear him from 1t.
! speak here of political men. If fugitive
| of the Commune be taken at my home they
shall take me. If he be given up shall
follow him. 1 shall sit down with him on
the bench OF the accused. For the defense Of
the right, the man of the republic, who has
| been prescribed by Bonaparte, shall be seen by
the side of the man of the Commune, who is the
vanquished of the Assembly of Versailles.
shall do my duty. Principles before everything
1t may be affirmed that England will not give
up the refugees of the Commune. Why place
| Belgium below England? The glory of Belgium
is to be an asylum. Let us not take that glory
from her. By defending France l defend Bel
gium. The Belgian Government will be agains
me, but the Belgian people will be with me. A
any rate, shall have my conscience.
| Receive, Sir, etc., VICTOR HUGO.