The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-06

report oi iast Marcn, amounts to oOO0OOL You
must not THINK mat such asum again be DC
voted to such purpose. convict has not thu
rights OF workman. In granting wages to the
prisoners you revive the scandal or the
national workshops OF 1s4s." Such are the
good laith OF the government and the
value OF the attacks made on us. And
with ike sincerity they pretend to encourage agri
culture in this colony. few days before our
escape, ana the better to conceal our designs, my
comrade, Olivier Sain wrote to the military Gov
ernor OF the peninsula request for a piece OF
land. The request was coucned In the prescribed
terms, and the plot OF ground In question
seemed to be at our disposal, as the law
ordered such q request to be Immediately
compiled with. However that may be, notice,
without any explanation. was put up the next
day, refusing the request. Considering the situa-
ton at that time, and on the eve OF our departure
from New Caledonia, You may imagine our mirth
and laughter when heard OF this last folly OF the
government. Yet 1t showed that the authorities,
far from encouraging praiseworthy efforts,
let no opportunity pass to prove thar
military power is the enemy OF progress.
You see, not alone did my letter to the NEW
YORK HERALD exagRerate nothing, but 1t essened
many things. ! have made during the last three
years kind OF voyage through the horrible, and,
far from heightening the colors, there are ques-
Ishould not be accused Of creating terror wantony
in the minds OF my hearers There is one, how.
ever, that has attracted such attention from
great minds and large hearts, and that we
have studied closely enough In New Caledonia to
be able to throw an unexpected hight upon IL. This
question is the one which Victor Hugo has so pow
erfully dealt with IN his romance, Lies Mserables"
that Eugene Sue has developed in the mysteries
OF Paris" and that many others nave discussed
without being able to solve; this IL the ques-
uion OF the bagnes In consequence OF bloody
violation of the law abolishlng the punish
ment of death Tor political offences. Colonel
Rossel, CASTOR Cremieux and many others were
shot The same contempt for the penal code was
the cause OF men OF letters and journalists, judged
and condemned for press onences, to be sent to
the galleys. Humbert, formerly editor Of tho
Mdrselldise breaks stones on the road Henri
BrissaC, who was editor OF the VenDeur, is In q
double chain, coupled with the chief OF the Mar
settles prisoners, the most dangerous man in tho
galleys Lullier, LIEUTENANT Of the navy aud for .
moment a general OF the Commune, has been in .
dark cell for three months, with irons on his hands
and feet, after having passed the whole time of
the voyage in the bottom OF the hold Of the rigate
Var, which transported HIM to the Island OF M.
No matter how unfortunate they are, the political
prisoners OF Peninsula Ducos and the Isle OF Pines
space and outside the nsufflciency of the iood ana
the badness Of the climate: their sufferings are
principally mental. Those OF the prisoners oil the
Commune, which the chances Of the courts-martial
sent 10 forced labor as being convicted OF crimes
stroke Of the SOURCE to physical torsnres, which
often made US shudder down there. The Isle Nus
ua to a
bv our phlanthropsts as succession OF terrestraI
paradses The galley slaves 1t was saia
ton and opproorium. where the eye, eyes of Of
and cultivate the fields IN a sort OF half liberty.
The contemplation Of nature, the absence Of
formed. After short time. they would have tho
privilege OF getting married, ana to get as wed.
%ne s ali and those o.
their families. These men were to cease to be
In 20 Since 70
flourish. and we have received letters from PENN
sula Ducos which have edited US regarding the
position OF the cOnvicts OF the Isle Nau. young
doctor OF the navy. serving some time at the hos
pstal Of the penitentary. repeated 10 me this fune
raj cry, made use of by an old dying galley slave
.Oh. Doctor, why have been sent here? I was
so happy at Touion; Toulon, indeed, for It's CON-
vets was a humiliation, but 1t was at the same
time control. Sentenced by the law, they SUI.
fered in accordance with the paw under the eye Of
the whole of great town, where the severity Of
! the regulations could not degenerate at caprice.
Who TODAY would take the part OF convict diving
under the lasn G,5oo leagues from France what
A Minister. questioned on this beet not long
part OF the assembly, that corporal pnnshmens
Rn for on at ana e Fra
ne o ss S ssabsa psd We cou the isle
often the end. However guilty man may be, il
has a right TO Kill him. Wen. this right the Gov
ernor of New Caledonia invests himself with. All
bility is 70 delegate to be present ut the punish
ment doctor, who follows with his eyes
IL" the nossns when he Seeves the 9' lie soP 70
be endangered. The man is then carried
again they give him receipt in iull. with the rest
OF the blows which hls condition had prevented
N n sne fy se tSs
fact transpired--threw himself into the sea one
dark night and managed to cross BY swimming
M from the mainland. Retaken alter two
DAYS OF enforced tasting, he was taken back TO
the Bagne and sentenced for the attempt at escape
to fifty blows OF the stick. But the doctor no
doubt, had something else to think Of during the
operation, for the convict Caignol died the spot
at the forty fifth stroke. What have Just related
is frghtul, nu! has nothing incredible about 1t.
We several times met on the mainland con-
vcts detached, either TO excavate wells to
aa iss sne s %narns
on their hands. Three among them, like the three
Calendars OF the Thousand and One Nights" who
were each blnd Of the right eye, were questioned
about THIS extraordinary appearance. and this Is
what one OF the wretches said in reply:-mThere is
!
administration suspects any project Of evasion or
4 any conspiracy against itself q certain number OF
/ men are called into the torture room on
! whom gardan places the thumb screws, which
they squeeze until the accused avows. Often the
men refuse TO avow or know nothing. Then they
are squeezed so tight to get something from them
that the bones are crushed and the fingers fall
Z orr He showed them his lett hand, to which was
wanting the first finger and the thumb, and his
right foot, from which the toe had been ampn-
lated. This is how corporal punishment Is abol-
ished in the State Prison. This is how they
seek to renabilitate the criminal by contemplation
OF nature. and tins is how exaggerated the
stories o! the Saeaonlan he,s. Az nrst sight such
crimes. are great enough to make the mos. ener-
getlc despair OF the future OF the country where
they can be committed with lmpunity Let us not.
however be discouraged. These atrocities are the
swans song OF the reaction.
MARCH or THE REPUBLIC.
The monarchists evidently play their last card,
and throw their last sticks in the wheels OF tne