The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-30

but the willy Prussian statesman declined to dis
cuss the purely military question, which was
already pending between General Moltke and
General Wimpffen. In his turn, however, Bis
marck broached the question of peace, only tobe
assured by Napoleon that as prisoner of war,
he was not in position to entertain the sub
ject, which lay with the Government of the
Empress Regent, at Paris. The interview be-
ween Napoleon and Bismarck took place about
eleven o'clock in the morning. and shortly after
one o'clock in the afternoon Napoleon and King
William were brought together, by the earnest
desire of the former but not until the articles of
capitulation had been definitely agreed upon
and signed. Many versions of this famous meet
ing have been published, but the only one on
which implicit reliance can be placed is that
contained in King Williams letter to Queen Au-
gusta, dated September 8. in these words
"The interview lasted fifteen minutes. We were
both deeply moved at thus meeting again. What
felt having seen Napoleon three years ago in
the very summit of his power, cannot de-
SCRIBE"
Wilhelmshohe, near Cassel was assigned as
place of residence for the captive Emperor by
King William, and for this place the imperial
prisoner started at once attended by large
cortege, including Prince Achllle Murat. The
party arrived on the evening of the 9Th, and
were received with marks of high consideration
and all the ceremony BETTING their former sta
tions in life. There Napoleon has remained,
surrounded by the semblance of power and the
realities of luxury, employing his time mean
while in making short excursions into the mme-
diate neighborhood, and inspiring various
documents intended to palliate the policy of his
reign and the motives which drew him into the
disastrous struggle with Germany. Just before
the disaster at Sedan he had parted from the
Prince Imperial, and that hapless youth had
crossed the frontier into Belgium, whence he
made his way without obstruction to England,
and was soon joined by the exiled Empress at
Hastings.
The Republic Proclaimed and InauRurated In
Paris.
The capitulation of Sedan and the surrender
of Napoleon were accepted by all France as the
virtual and actual overthrow. of the Empire
The news of the disaster reached Paris on the
afternoon of Saturday, September 3. and the
capital was plunged into indescribable excite
ment Vast crowds surged through the streets
during the evening and throughout the night
demanding the decheance, or formal deposition
of the Bonaparte dynasty, and the proclamation
of the Republic A session of the Corps Legis-
latf was held in the evening, but Count de
Palikaos ministry was able to carry an ad-
journment until the following afternoon, with
out any action whatever being taken.
The Senate and Corps Legislatif were con-
vened on Sunday shortly after noon. In the
former body, which was made up almost en-
tirely of the mere creatures of the dynasty,
there was a disposition to still cling to the en-
pire, and the cryof " VjUe rEmpereur!" started
by NJ. Rouher, the President, found ready
response. But the Senate was oppressed with a
sense OF its helplessness and soon adjourned to
await the action of the Corps Legislatif.
The latter body remained in session about
three hours, the proceedings being characterized
by the greatest confusion and uproar The
streets surrounding the place of meeting were
densely crowded with people, who clamored for
the dechednce and the proclamation of the Re-
public. NJ Theirs made effort to secure the
selection of committee of five by the Legisla-
tive Body, to be charged with the government
and defense of the nation until Constituent
Assembly could be convened. But the pro-
nounced Republicans, under the leadership of
Jules Favre and Leon Gambetta, saw their
opportunity and fully answered the popular
camor by making the most of it. Eventually
the mob made its way into the chamber,
the adherents of the Empire withdrew,
and the dechednce was proclaimed by the
Republican deputies, who, headed by Favre and
| Gambetta, hurried from the Chamber to the
Hotel de Vile, where the Republic was formally
! proclaimed amidst tumult of enthusiasm. The
| Republicamdeputies of Paris arrogated to them
| selves the duty of saving the nation, and under
| the title of the Government of National Defense
assumed the direction of affairs, with the tacit
| approval of the people. These deputies, eleven
in number, were the following:-Jules Favre,
Leon Gambetta Jules Ferry, Emanuel Arago
Emanuel Cremieux, Garnier-Pages, Glais- -Bizoin,
| Eugene Pelletan, Ernest Picard, Henri Roche
! fort, and Jules Simon.
! The Government of Defense.
The Government of Defense went to work
| systematically, and on Monday morning the
following Ministry was announced - Jules
Favre, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Isaac Gre
mieux, Minister of Justice; Leon Gam
BETA, Minister of the Interior; Ernest Picard,
| Minister of Finance; Pierre Dorian, Minister of
| Public Works; Joseph Magnin, Minister of Com
merce and Agriculture; Jules Simon, Minister of
Public Instruction; Admiral Martin Fourichon,
Minister of Marine; and General Lefo Minister
| of War. Count de Keratry was installed in the
| important position of Prefect of Police, and
Etienne Arago as Mayor of Paris.
! General Trochu, who had been known as an
Orleanist, was acting as Military Governor of
| Paris at the time of the overthrow of the en-
! pire. The people and the army reposed the
utmost confidence in his ability and patriotism.
| There was in fact, a universal, almost an in
stinctiye belief that he was the greatest soldier
| IN France, the one man to whom the nation
could turn for salvation. Happily he gave in
| his adhesion at the outset to the Republican
movement, and retained as Governor of
Paris and nominal President of the Government
1