The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-18
French Sensitiveness

Inc 0ellcate COn'ltlOn OF affairs IN rance
is very aptly illustrated by the account of
the Dion statue scandal as related below
by the Paris correspondent of the New
York Times 1t must be promised that the
municipal authorities of Dion, like those
of majority of French towns, are ex-
ceedingly radical in their political senti-
ments:
Last year the municipality of Dion pro-
posed to raise a statue in honor of the
heroic defense of that city during the war.
Drawings were submitted by several sculp-
tors. and ore by Jouffroy was taken to the
project for his approval. He said that it
met his approval fully, but he would send
it on to Paris, SO that there could be no
question of blame in the future, and the
plan of the proposed statue was submitted
10 the minister of the interior. 1t came
back in few days bearing NJ. Bullets sig
nature; and Jouffroy began to prepare his
means for putting 1t into marble. Some
months ago there were rumors in Dion
that the municipal council was not satisfied
with the work of Jouffroy, and had intrusted
M. CADET with the work of making more
appropriate statue. Meanwhile the draw
ings for the base, with its bas-relefs, had
DcCu buUlllttlcu W tue pei lCCL duu dDDIONcu,
and this part of the statue was in position
in October. Suddenly there arrived yelled
statue, which was placed upon the base by
orders of the municipal council, and notice
was given that it would be uncovered ON
certain date with appropriate public cere-
monies. The town of Dion was invited to
take part IN the fete.
Meanwhile the sculptor Jouffroy heard
of the affair, and came on to see about it.
His statue was then nearly completed. On
examining the yelled statue, the perfect
found the work of NJ. CADET, drawing of
which had never been approved. This
work represented the town of Dion as a
woman properly draped, IN menacing,
defiant attitude, holding broken sword in
one hand and pressing the French flag up
on her bosom with the other. Her flying
hair is bound in front by the crown of the
city, from which rose the Phrygian cap,
the cherished symbol of the Red Republic
The project Immediately gave orders to
have the statue removed. M. Cahet, the
sculptor, who had made to order work
of real merit, went to plead for the statue,
and said that he conld easily cut off the
symbol; but orders were sent down from
Paris to have the statue removed at once.
The project issued another order upon this.
which the municipal council refused to
obey. Finding that the statue had to
come down, the sculptor tried to get men
to help him take it away, for fear of acct
deut, but the attitude of the council had
become known, and no men could be found
for any offers of money to aid him In tax
ing the statue down. Those who showed
disposition to do 30 were menaced by
others who were under control of the radi-
Gals. Once more the perfect called upon
the council to remove the statue and, as it
again refused, Gen. De Gallifet was called
upon to execute the order of the govern
ment. He sent body of troops there to
pull the statue down, and although bed
of manure was laid for it to fall upon, the
unskillful workmen did not pull it straight
upon the bed, and the head of the statue
was broken off by the fall. 1t was other
wise seriously damaged. The city council
then issued proclamation to the people,
calling upon them to remain calm under
this unheard of and unjustifiabe piece of
violence, and not to disturb the public peace
by making demonstrations that would only
be natural in presence of the profound sor-
row every inhabitant of Dion must feel
Although their feelings may have been
deeply outraged, the mayor entreated them
not to disturb the peace. AS no one had
thought of disturbing the peace this sounded
like the college boys cry when his com
rades were hazing proctor. "For Gods
sake, don't put him under the pump - AS
no one had thought of the thing before.
the proctor was promptly pumped" of
course, and the same result might have fol-
lowed in Dion it Gen. De Gallifet had not
counteracted the effect of this order by
another. The military commander of the
city stated that the civil authorities of the
nfru ha1 cnt NJ 1nHn m tla
military forces had been called on to up
hold their power. lie, De Galifet, had
ordered the removal of this statue, and if
it was broken the fault was solely due to
those who had set 1t up without authority
and then refused to take II down. So far
az the mayors proclamation was concerned,
there need be no fears, for he would see
that public order was not disturbed Ia Dion
or within his military district. After the
conduct of De Gallifet during the commune,
Che put the insurgents to the sword without
pity when caught with arms in hands, and
opposed the subsequent and tardy execu.
tions at Sartory,) every one knows that he
means what he says, and that he is not a
man to be trihed with. If any demonstra-
ton had taken place at the statue, in ODE
dence to the supposed meaning of the
mayor, Dc Gallifet would have dispersed il
with his, cavalry without hesitation and
without tenderness. After all is said and
done, such men as that are more merciful
than the weak and vacillating officers who
are too tender-hearted to act until the
trouble Is at its worst. AS can be readily
fancied, Dion has remained perfectly
colin, and the radicals have had to swallow
their defeat. The journals began to discuss
the matter, the radical organs attacking the
government of course, but an order from
the governor of Paris put an end to the de-
bate, or reduced it within certain limits
Cuts OF the statue had been prepared tor
the illustrated journal of Saturday, but
they were suppressed by the authorities.