The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-02
DELEScLUZE'S DEFENCE.

What rhe Brother Of tho Dead Communist
Leader Has to Say About the Commune.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In spite OF the profound feel at the assas-
sination OF my brother Charles there is one sent-
ment that encourages me TO speak as l 40 in
this letter. 1t is that his dear memory should be
placed beyond those perndious calumnies to which
the press OF New York has given currency with re.
gard to the Commune OF Paris. Whether 1t be from
ignorance bad faith the journals Of this city have
been the echo OF the misrepresentation OF the royal
lists at Versailles. 1t has been said that the Com
mune OF Paris aimed at the destruction Of
private property; that it wanted to divide the
domains OF the State; that its programme for
babe the existence OF religion or OF family ties
In society," &c. All these ridiculous allegations are
nothing but lies. The Commune OF Paris has MOTH
ing DO with these DOCTRINES which were originated
by few misguided individuals, ignorant OF the
wants OF our society. The Commune has never had
any other programme than that Of building up re-
public in France based upon justice and morality.
1t has claimed with an energy and courage which
one day win be admired, complete municipal fran
ehise for its city, and consequently for other cities
1t resolved TO destroy the Capitalization OF the
empire and to substitute IN Its place the decentra
cation OF administrations that is say, the right to
every commune to govern It's own affairs. But
II meant, above all, to maintain the pOllti-
cal Capitalization vested In q Datlonal assembly
TO be elected by ali the departments and sitting Ia
any one city In France Some time hence shall,
perhaps, take occasion to give exact details as TO the
principles and the future OF the Commune. To-day
my heart IS too much oppressed for that task. To
return, therefore, to my brother Never has he had
other IDEAS than those above stated; never did
meet with man who had mere respect for the
rational laws Of his country. For him the ties OF
family were on object to be cherished
Hear what ne said In q book he published In Paris
after his return from Cayenne, and you will know
his thoughts on the subject:-
II there any one thing this life which should DO
above the combinations Of the selfish
a.. love Of the M
mysterious chain which descends from and mother
TIE children and makes all Of them, as were parsakers Of
How that tAi. .entim.n. only appear. all purity
Of existence which has been ciouded BY
tom danger Such being.
Let those who accuse the radicals Of desiring the
obiteratlon OF family life think on these words, and
they will acknowledge If they are sincere, That this
sacred institution being as 1t is. the only iounda-
supporters 1nan our poor vanquished friends in
Paris. And how about this war between the two
selfish ana criminal monarchs-l mean those OF
France and PrussiaY Was 1t not vehemently opposed
before its outbreak BY the radicals The unanimous
them was distinruisned the RereH' the edItor.in.
CHIEF OF which was my brother.
Extract from the kevel, September 3, 1861
France does not want and she proclams Il aloud.
She protests against adventurous policy carried in the
what the people OF the Rhine provinces
us True they have been French, but their and
habits German Do they ask to Incorporate them with
our country No not at all Is only intended to revive
the spr' q conquest to blind our people and to
VIII France follow this Is only absorbed by
his personal interestsP We hope not.
These quotations. will suifice. They will free the
radical party In this respect from Oil responsibility
From personal 1niormation have learned that the
Cancellation If based on the condition above men
toned. In all tue sttings OF the Commune my
brQiner dbl ever invoke the best sentiments Of the
human heart. Certainly he believed Ill the neces.
sity OF revolution, he desired TO carry 1t on
without denying respect TO law and public opinion
When he was appointed Deputy he saw that in the
presence Of resistance OF the Parsians against the
monarcnioa plots Of Theirs it his duty
To his electors TO remain with them TO the last and
To await there the triumph OF the right. whatever
may be the means necessary to attain 1t. lie mas
fulfilled his duty. The work which he and others
have undertaken win be completed by the future
generation. But his profound conviction did not
IN the Ministry I' OF War he, in me private
conversation, often yet out that he had
gwen up all hope OF Cancellation, and that he was
doubtful OF success for the present In his procla
nations he told the National Guard that 1t might
advantages from the social revolutions the fruits Of
which WILL however, certainly be enjoyed by their
children. And he was right sir. On this man, who
was so devoted SO sincere so much attached to the
nght-who had throughout his life fought for
the rght-have the journals OF this city cast
alone responsible for the OF Paris caused
10y the obstinacy, disloyalty and the royalist IN
trigues OF THEIRS, MacMahon and the ike.
HENRY DELESCLUZE.