New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-18

PARIS, May %, 1874.
10 The Editor If the Ns,O National Era:
1t has been so long since | have had the
pleasure Of writing anything for Your paper,
that hardly know how to commence. orup-
on what topic to write; under the crcum-
stances can think of no better ssbiect than
the one concerning our old friend
| MELvIL ELONCOURT,
Deputy from Gaudaloupe to the National As
| sembly.
You are, no doubt, aware that some months
ago General PAdmlrault, Governor of Paris,
laid before the Assembly at Versailles, a
paper bearing charges against Deputy Blon-
court for participation in the Communist in
surrecton in 1872, and at the same time de-
handing authorization for his arrest and
trial by court martial. After considerable
debate and some feeble opposition, the ma
jority of the Assembly voted in favor of
arrest, and the proposition was granted.
In order that you may understand the
matter clearly, it will be necessary to enter
into some details.
| Since the proclamation of the Requisite,
there has been considerable man,euyrinr on
the part of different factions in the Assembly
eithcr TO consolidate the actual state of
things on one hand, or to overthrow or Gre
ate disorder on the other, in order to cstab-
lsli monarchy. The Bonapartist too weak
yet to take any decided action, but with Just
influence enough to check either party in con-
solldatlng or deciding upon any form of gov
eminent nj 90 Ini, H.,
the meantime, the Republicans are increas-
ING III strength at every partial election,
having succeeded in electing their candidates
in almost every instance; of course it be-
came necessary to dam up this stream which
was constantly flowing into the almost-full
lake of Rcpublicanism, else the Assembly
would soon have been dissolved and true
and permanent Republic established; conse-
quenty the monarchists determined upon
using every means in their power to thwurt
this object of the people, first, by prevent
ing Rane - Deputy from Lyons, of decided
proclivities - from taking his seat and,
secondly, 10y purging the Assembly of all
members of the radical class who had been
either directly or indirectly connected with
the late instruction, commencing with Dep
uty Bloncourt. Had the tide of Republicans
ism been flowing instead of cbbing, it is not
at all probable that Nj. Bloncourt would
have been disturbed, as he was exceedingly
prudent avoiding all discussions and taking
no active part in the proceedings, excepting
only such as concerned the colonies which
he representa-,
[ To 4, idice the members of (ihe Assem-
biy anLthe people agalTx.. .asts.. fncourt, the
Governor of Paris stated in his demand for
authority of arrest and Investigation, that he
was in possession of documents and papers,
received from the Minister of War, implical-
ing, to the utmost extent, one OF the men,
bers of the Assembly, in the Communist in
surrectiOn.
Blancourt remained in Paris up 10 the time
of the granting of the authorization for his
arrest, when he was induced to seek refuge
in Switzerland where he has since remained;
and nothing more was done in the matter.
General rAdmrault has done much to in
iure, not only the Bloncourt family, but us
all. Melville Bloncourt is the most coura-
geous defender Of the rights of the colored
race in all chimes, anywhere to be found, and
although his complexion is such as to justify
him in claiming descent from many other
than the African race, yet, like all mulatto
Frenchmen, he will not allow the race with
which he is proud to claim connection, to be
vililied in his presence, as is too often, the
case with our countrymen, both at home and
abroad, who are fair enough to mingle in the
Anglo-SaXon stream without detection.
Yours, very respectfully,
ID. II. +. =.