New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-10-18
TIE PRUSSIAE SIEGE OF PJEIS

LECTURE BY TIE REV. ATHANAsE CoouFEEL,
Fills.
The Rev. Athanase Coquerel, fila, of Paris,
delivered lecture last night at the Cooper Institute on
THE Siege of Paris by the Prussians highly appre-
ciatlve II not very numerous audience listened with
great interest the graphic description OF the events
which have made Paris famous In terrors in our own
day. Peter Cooper the Rev. Dr. Bellows and other we'll
known gentlemen occupied the platform. Mr. Coquerers
styleis moro conversational than oratorica but his
English good in spite Of the accent which berays his
native tongue. The lecturer introduced by the Rev.
Dr. Bellows.
THE LECTURE.
know bold attempt Of NINE when all your hearts
and all your minds full Of the catastrophe
has occurred in yOur own country ask you listen to
me- speaking to you about the Lardshp msfortunes
OF my own country far distant one; but know all Of
Won have felt the duty Of charity OF brotherhood Of Gel
ow-cseusp, all Of you have done what they could to
help tho Inhabitants OF that city which saw few weeks
AGO In full prosperity and which seemed wonderfully
thriving You have done what you could, and you wf1l
not permit such great and recent surngs to debar
from feeling interest events scarcely less eYentfu
from which you have all taken am quite convnced.a
really kind interest members Of the human family.
Perhaps ought to begin by sweeping away objection
that very general in all countries and that seemsO be
very natural. It s generally believed that France
wished tn is and has been desorvedy punished
This deny and think that prove that the people
the nation OF France-were against the war; not In
any degree the people Of Paris. About before the
war broke out asked to deliver lecture for girls
schools which are among the useful aud necessary
things in my country. And when uncertain what matter
l should speak Of some suggested that should
sneak about the war: the Emperor wishes for
war against Germany, and II We can find
an opportunity to protest against we
shall be glad. hated all my life with all my heart
especially for that which WAS looming in thc future,
spoke against war As began to speak against
and allude to the possibility Of war aganst Ger
thy and enthusiasm OF my hearers who showed that
they would not have war. and would DO haHy TO take
any occasion 10 show their opposition. The WORKING
men were against the war. do not. howrtrr accuse
tie German nation OF having wished 10Y ,i1 "at'
know they noble nation OF tIhE'fS ~ s,th'iho
believe that nation is accustomed " great no-
erty. 1900.
The want OF food caused greatest OF our physical
euf rings because the Winter was extraordinarily So
we're. and had not got IN our Winter sully before
the Siege began. Many died from cold and want OF ooH
after they had burned oil their furniture Mothers lost
their children because they could longer nurse them
But while MI this s. ing on nobody a'kre Tor sur
render they wanted longer siege and more suffering
the hack smallpox aud other epldemcs that
carried of many. heard before the srge
the %ucst whether pans would hold out in Of
siege "oh yes # Tue inhabitants 90 nt want ioT srtnW
them it was everything life health ersaa ana S f c no
not unnamed us; aud men let us suffer IA long
as possible and show that are devoted 10 our country
and like death better than shame. lApplausc.J .
think the BON dInent perfectly useless Paris
was too large far OF from the enemy NOrE. -
be destroyed. But the Irussitns wanted TO show mat
Paris more to be rrspcird ih"n "Intf Gl,iT
They expected, also that their honibaIdmtnt WOMB
bring on the geological moment" ThN IA rather
neda1tIc | know but il is not my fault. II ia not
Euglish nor French II is-Prussan The pychoiog!caI
mulncLt' WAS the moment when Frenchnrn were 70
come on their knees bCgg nS for mercy Eat ms pt'
liar moment didn't come, for nobody was aIalu'
THE
France deserved what she suffered not because she
wanted that war; but she yielded to the rule OF
the tyrant who brought 1t She ought to have known
what friit would spring from such seed. have one
comfort amid all this sutieng-my cOury Il Tree; and
must add that pity the other country though she has
rancd c-rat military fame and magnificent success, no
cause she Ia not free ; because abe has now an
imperial reign to bear: have let what tiat
even an enemy, such calamity as that | can
say truly that prefer 10 be vanquShed irrnchnah'
Tnt free rather imam triumphant slave; and viii con.
cIndr by saving OF Paris and all her men, women ana
children IN the words OF Milton, Freely theJ sooh WHO
stood and fell who fell" lGreat applausel