The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-04
EX-MiniSter WaShburne'S Story Of His
Life in the French Capital.
HORRORS OF THE COMMUNE.
A Tribute Of Respect 10 The Memory Of
ThierS-Gambetta the Great Leader.
INCIDENTS OF THE SIEGE

Ex-Nntster Washburne, late representative OF our
government at the French capital delivered lecture
here this evening before very large, intelligent and
fashionable audience. Alter being introduced by Mr.
Haistead, ME- Washburno said IL was entirely
appropriate that Mr. Haistoad should Introduce
him. as he (Mr. Halsteadl had introduced the siege
to him IN Paris, giving him the notification
that the Germans were marching the
city. In commencing his lecture Mr.. Washburne
spoke OF Paris he found il when he presented his
letters Of credcncc TO the Emperor Napoleon III as
the Minister oil the United States tho Empire Of
France The Emperor. residing ut the Tuileries was
In the midst Of a brilliant Court and royalty
by beauty and splendor People from every
part Of the world aocked TO Paris, and tho milncrs
and shopkospers rsapcd rich harvess OF tho gold
which poured into tho laps OF tho great city, and
In return, she sent TO every land and every elmo all
that ingenuity and skill could invent 10 crafty the
taste aud tempt the appetite There was an appear
ance OF happiness and prosperity to the superficial
observer, but II was all deceptive, Tor, with
the rea people, tnore was uncasiness and discomfort
The alleged Causes Of the war between Franco and
Germany was but mere precxt Alter eighteen years
Of peace the courticrs who surrounded the Emperor
seemed TO think " about time 10 have u war TO
awaken tho martial spirit OF tho French people, to
1aunt the French eagles the capital OF foreign
on the throne tho son Of Napoleon ILL., and restore
to the imperial crown the iusre It had lost The dec.
laration OF war sudden. Mr. Washburne de-
scribed state Of things thoy existed In Paris I'M
mediately after tins declaration was made.
The streets, bouicvards and avenues werc
filled with people In the greatest state OF
enthusiasm ana cxcitation and tho was filed with
cries OF ~ Berlin en- hut joursp' The peoples
hearts were nre by the terrible refrain Of the
Marseiiaise, that hymn OF free Francc:-
Gallons entans de la patrie,
lie Jour de 0i0ire est arrive"
The number OF Germans In Paris at the tmo Of
the breaking out OF the was estimated At from
thirty thousand 10 forty thousand and their condition
at once became embarrassing and critical. The Ger
man Ambassador and his legation bong obliged TO
leave Paris Immediately II became necessary that
the German population there should have some pro.
lection, and then II was that upon the application Of
Prince de Bismarck the Minister OIL the United States
with tho assent Of his government and the concur.
romeo OF France, became tho protector OF tho Ger.
mans In France. The French government had issued
. sweeping order expelling every German from
France, but. at the 'sSme tme had required
that should leave without apassport from the
American Minister, and he gave passports to over
thirty thousand besides furnishing means to smaller
number TO ala them IN leaving the city. The condi-
tion.of the German population, from the time OF the
was described out that there were some three
or four thousand Germans LETT IN Paris when the sego
as Of the
GAMBETTA's GREATNESS
Mr.. Washburne spoke OF the relations he held with
n. Gambetta when nc was Minister Of tho Interior
pndcr the Government Of National Defence. and who,
the last hour rendered hts assistance getting the
Germans out Of Paris, He said 1t was there
NJ. Gambetta, whicna acquaintance. aiterward
ripsnsd into nrm friendship. Hc
rnk hW tha m nf anfin d o
ordinary executive ability his promptncss decision
energy, patriotism and supreme love OF country. In
hbted grand qualities OF courage aud devotion, for
which the pen Of history would one day do him full
justice.
As the German armies approached Paris, with their
sure and resstless tread The population OF the city
was q prey 10 very natural emotion and the city
put serious air. rho effect produced by the news
Of the crash OF Sedan was described, IS we'll US tho
revolution OF the 4lh OF September, when tho
National Guard and the citizens OF Paris expelled the
Deputies from the Paais Bourbon, and when CO. 600
Of the population went TO the Hotel dc Vile. and the
from the windows on little slips of paper, which
government was accepted by all France. Mr..
during the siege, and OF the dreadful sui
ferings OF the people and their patience
scribed the revolution or the 3lst OF october, when
some insurrecnouary regiments OF the National
Guard surrounded the Hotel do Vile and held
NIL the members oil the government prisoners Tor
some twelve or 1fteen hours, and demanding
their abdicaion with threats Of violence and assas-
sination. There connection with the outside
worlo that city OF nearly Two million people, except
what held by balloon and by carrier pigeons THIS
a,d not apply to The Un,ea states Minister,
ment, sent out and received despatch pouch under
nag Of truce, and he wns the only man OF the whole
population who held Tree intercourse with the
side world during the entire siege.
STARVING PoPuLAcR.
Mr.. Washburne described the Incident OF u, Gnm.
beta going out by balloon himself 10 make repre-.
sentatons TO the governments Of tho National Defence
At Tours. and no paid high compliment to
until toward the middle Of December that
food was becoming exhausted; vegetables
were scarcely to be had and there was no
meat except horse mule meat. The government
seized every horse Il could lay hands for food
about Christmas time and an ordinary turkey sold for
SIS. All the stories about tho consumption OF horse
and muo meat and the flesh Of various animals were
true Dogs, cats rats and nice were eaten by u
large number OF people. The treaty having been
agreed upon the entry Of the German troops INTO
March that the insurreeon broke out whch resulted
In driving all the government from Paris and leaving
the city IN the hands q the mob.
HORRORS COMMUNE.
Mr.. Washburne remained In PARIS turing the en- tire
Commune, and was the only representative OF q for
eign Power who remained there Ho was charged
with The protection OF less than fourteen nerens
nationaiiies. Tho scenes which passed during tho
Commune were described considerable length. Tho
rst ACT OF the inrurrectonists was TO srize Clement
Thomas and Leconte, who were brought TO q mock
court martial, condemned to death and immediately
Paris at that time, and they threw OIL tho government
authority and entered into the insurrection. The
regular government having lott PARIS Tor Versailles,
the insurrectionary government saw At their ieot
of the largest Fchest most beautiful and attract
I've cities In the world, with Its wealth, spisndor, re-
lnement, intelligence and with all the de-
partmsnis OF the government fallen into
their hands They tramplcd under foot all
law and authority and held the city for |
ten weeks simply by force and terror IL was light
on the part OF q great majority OF the Communists
for power and plumber, and TO force themselves from
the restraint OF law. Tho reign Of tho Commune was
tue absolute force Of desperate ana wicked mon un-
limited, unchecked, unrcstrained by any human |
power. 80
RHaAuLr, THE KAN or BLOOD
The great leader OF the Commune, Raoul ReRault, |
was described Of the most desperate ana bloody
men who ever existed. Boody energetic and desper-
ate, he was consumed by the most deadly haired |
10 society and the most intense thirst Tor blood.
Mr.. Washburne then gave an account tho assassna-
ton by Regault OF Chandery, distinguished repubii-
can, and oil Bonjean, tho Chief Justice Of |
France, and aitcrward OF tho venerable Arch
bishop OF Paris IL through Raou Re- |
gauil that Mr.. Washburne was enabled get access
10 the Archbishop during his time Of imprisonment
nj the prison OF Mazas There he visited the Arch
bishop frequently, and interviewed but without suc-