New-York tribune., 1871-04-22
THE COMMUNE INCAPABLES.
BLUNDERs OF THE COMMUNE GENERALs-ARBl-
TRARY ACTS OF THE COMMUNE-BLOODf
REPRIsALS THREATENED ON BOTH SIDES
GUSTAyE FLOURENs-THE COMMUNE FOX
ElGN MINISTER,

REPRIsALs THREATENED ON BOTH SIDES
GUsTAyE FLOURENs-THE COMMUNE FOR
ElGN MINISTER.
| lPROM DUB SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
PARIS, April THE last three days fighting
has greatly discouraged the National Guards faithful to
the cause of the Commune 1t is admitted on all hands
that the have fought bravely but that they have
never been able to take position Of the slightest I'M
porance from the troops commanded by Gen. Vinoy IL
| is hard to say which Of the so-caed "Generas"-Ber-
geret or Endes Duvahas shown the greatest ncapac-
ty Henri Rochefort who spares neither friend nor foe
whenever he chance Of making bon mot observes
witty. in the Not GOrdre that such kind of military
enterprises those lately undertaken by the Commune
made him feel inclined to pardon Gen. Trochu for
his ncapaeity NJ. Rochefort also observes, with good
sense that he does not clearly what good the Come
Central would have done by taking Versailles a. the AS
| sembly would have fed TO Fontainebleau or Bor-
deax and have been completely out OF the reach OF
| the members Of the Commune. The latter gentlemen
continue to interpret their municipal" duties In the
very largest accepaon Of the word After suppressng
| q standing army-I mean decreeing its suppression
they have proceeded to form rs battaons out of the
National Guards. These men are to receive H. 6oc go
cents day, the officers being paid 2 6Oc go cents
day peace tme and at the rate Of pay Of their rank
in the army" when active service Considering that
| the Commune has decreed the abolition OF a standing
army, does not quite understandlthis latter provso
The Commune appears to be inclined to carry Its decree
relative the suppression Of state Church into action
in somewhat summary manner viz: by proceeding to
arrest the principal Roman Catholic priests In Paris NJ
Darboy the Archbishop OF Paris arrested yesterday
and beside the Archbishop the Cures Of the Madeleine,
Of St. Sulpce OF N6tre Dame de Lorete, and those OF
other churches have been arrested No accusa-
tiOn far learn is brought against any OF the
priests arrested but 1t is said that they are to be held
hostages ohe safety Of the members of the
Commune should any Of these latter fall into the hands
| Versailles" the Journal ODtctt
| styles NJ. Theirs and his friends
The members OF the Commune inform that prisoners
are daily shot in cold blood by the troops under Vnoy
truth be that the only prisoners shot as
yet have been soldiers in the line who have been taken
In full uniform and treated deserters. The Steele
though very hostile to the Commune raises its voice
against this severity the part Of Gen. Vinoy but IL
should be remembered that there is terrible want OF
discipline the French army and that ft is to hold to-
gether all, 1t is matter OF prime necessity that SOL
should be taught that fidelity TO the colonel lis the
first article in soldiers creed The Commune announces
that II any OF its prisoners shot at Versailles,
reprisals will be made and a triple number OF per-
sons shot in Paris Now, this can only mean that the
Commune intends to pounce unoffendng citizens in
the street them by Wholesale for OF prison
ers taken in fair fight they have next to none However
much we may depore W Thierss most impoltic conduct
in treating the National Guard taken In the recent con-
nicts with severity, 1t must be admitted that he has
the right TO urge that his victims taken In open
fight with arms in their hands, and in armed rebellion
against tho Of France duly elected by the
whole French nation. But the Commune can put for
ward no such tC justify the aughtering OF HARM
less individuals arrested hostages. most hateful
decree has issued this subject from the Hotel de
yie This decree, published the 5th OF April states
that every person accused OF completely with the Gov
ernment Of Versailles shall be arrested and brought be-
fore jury OF accusation Any one retained prisoner
by order OF jury will be considered as hostage OF
| .,a paris an
nable that ] translate i literally;
"ARr g. Every execution Of prisoner OF war. OF
partisan Of the regular Government of the Commune OF
Paris will he followed Immediately by the execution ot
triple the number OF hostages retained by virtue oI
| Article They will be chosen by lot'
| Now, whether the Government Of Versailles has or
has not executed National Guards taken with In
their hands it is quite plain that there is vast step
from this to the summary execution by lot OF persons
merely accused OF completely with the Government OF
Versailles bare suspicion This is Law OF the sus-
pect as terrible that OF the First Revolution Fou-
quler Tinye and his accompces had at least the ex-
cuse that the country in danger but now, though
the Prussians still at gates, they are there in
| peace and only too anxious to go home TO Germany
The losses the insurgents in the last few days fight
ing are variousy estimated at from 1000 to 5000 men
killed and wounded suspect that their losses in killed
aud wounded have been greatly exaggerated, aud that
when the present miserable state OF things comes to an
end many man who Is being wept over as martyr
| sadder and wiser man.
The only man OF note or OF merit who has been killed
during the recent action Is Gustaye Fouren VINO would
deserve mention il only account Of his father the
| lustrious psychologist, the friend OF CuYier and
Geoffroy ST. Haire NJ. Gustaye FlOurens, who was
killed at Rueil on Wednesday by sabercu was born at
Paris in 1888 duly took his degrees as Bacheerdes
Ietres and at the University of
Paris He was named to assist his father III his duties as
Professor OF Natural History at the College de France in
lse, His course Of lectures The History OF Man,
an Organized Being gave great oense to the clerical
party, and NJ Duruy, the then Minister OF Public In
strcton declined to authorize second course of lee
lures in the following year. FOurens left France in dis
gust and spent some time in England and Belgium, con-
trbung articles to the few Republican journals which
then appeared in Paris. He took an active part In the
Crean nsrrection in 1886, and was elected member
of the House Of representatives in Crete When the
Creans had definitely conquered Fourens returned
| ia Paris He took very active part in the cleo
tions for the Corps Legslatif in 1862 and got
| into trouble with the Imperial Police at Belle
| VILE He attempted TO proclaim the Republic
an the Place du Chateau dEau, IN 1870, but his
appeal was listened to, aud he was compelled TO
Ace IN England where he remained until the fall of the
Fmnire In 1862 Fourens fought desperate duel with
the Imperial bravo Paul de Cassagnac, and received
thrust through the lungs which came near killing him.
Even his enemies admitted his courage and generosity
and il IL general OF regret that so brave ana
| single hearted a as Flourens undoubtedly was
should have fallen fgtng for 40 unworthy cause as
that Of the Commune. He had published small pam
nhlet Paris Lyr6" only few days before his DEATH
~ hook is fu of violent accusations Of treason against
Trochu Gambetta, Jules Favre, Picard and Thlers-n
fact against every The only word OF praise In 1t Is
| for Garibald whom NJ. Flourens declares to be only
French General Of whom the Prussans we're afraid As
matter OF fact the Prussians never cared to conceal
their contempt for Garibalds generaship, ana never
| - him IL
| ,oarch "a the East Then Manteufel came down and
naved with Garibald If the latter had been child
deluding aud tmaneuvering the! Italian most COM
| pletely.