Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-12-14


late representative Of our government q,
the Preach Capita, has been lecturing Il
Cincinnati on the subject Of the French
Communc. Wegipe below q synopsis
OF his remarks: Il -
| Il was on the 18th Of March that the
insurreesion broke out which resulted
in driving all the government fron Paris
and leaving the city in the hands OF the
mob.
Mr.. Washburne remained in Paris
during the entire Commune, and was
the only representative Of q foreign
Power who renamed there. He was
charged with the protection of no less
than fourteen different nationalIties.-
! The Sss. act q sde insurrectionists wa.
to seize Clement. Thomas and Leconte
who were brought TO a mock court mar
tial, condemned to death and imme-
diately shot. There were Is, 900 Of the
National Guard in Paris at that time,
and they tkvrw or the government au-
thority and entered into the insurrec.
ton. The regular Government having
left Paris for Versailles, the insurrec-
tionary government saw at their feet
one Of the largest, richest. most beauti.
full and attractive cities in the world,
with its wealth, splendor, refinement,
intelligence and with all the depart
ments oil the Government fallen into
their hards. They trampled under foot
all law and authority, and held the city
for ten weeks simply by force and ter
ror. 1t was fight On the part Of a
great majority of the Communists for
power and plumber. and to force them
selves from the restraint OF law. The
reign OF the Commune was the absolute
force Of desperate and wicked men, IN
limited, unchecked, unrestrained by any
human power.
The great leader Of the Cummune,
Raoul Regault, was one of the most des-
perate and bloody nen who ever ex-
isted. Bloody, energetic and desper-
ate, he was consumed by the most dead
ly hatred to society and the most in
tense thirst for blood. Mr.. Washburne
then gave an account Of the assassina-
ton by Regauli OF Candery, a distin-
guished Republican, and Of Bonjean,
the Chief Justice of France, and after
ward of the venerable Archbishop OF
Paris. 1t was through Raoul Regault
that Mr.. Washburne was enabled 10
get access to the Archbishop during his
time Of imprisonment at the prison OF
Mazas. There he visited the Archbish-
op frequently, and interviewed, but with
out success, TO have him released. He
then described the several interviews
he had with him, the condition of the
prison and the work Of the assassination
OF that great prelate who was SO beloved
by all Paris. The situation OF Paris
during the Commune was further des-
crlbed. Fortune, business, public and
private credit, industry. labor, financial
enterprise were all buried in one COM
mon grave. There was everywhere
devastation, desola,ion and ruin. All the
gold and silver found in the churches,
and all the plate belonging to the Gov
eminent found in the different monaste-
ricS, was seized by the Commune and
converted into coin. The Catholic Cer-
" Were hunted down and the priests
were openly Placarded as thieves. No
less than twenty-,hree priests were sho.
BY order Of Raoul Regault the day be-
fore the entry Of the Government troops
into Paris.
Mr.. Washburne then described the
press of the Commune as il existed du-
ring the sway OF the mob, which de-
seconded to deep depravity, vulgarity
biasphcmy and obscenty never before
known or heard of. The names of some
of the Commune journals indicated their
character-"The Action" The Red
Bonnet" The Good Sense, The Cain
and Able, u" The Cha>ti>ement," The
Pirate, The Greek Fire" The Ven
scance. The Revolution, The Cor
>air," The Rcd Flag" The Pillory,' >
The Red" The authority Of the mob
was a body called the Commune O!
Paris, which held its power by q
mock election in the different dis
tricts of the city. aud the sanguinary
DEGREES oi that body were enforced by
the National Guard, which was ever
ready TO carry out its internal behests,
restrained by no fear Of the laws of God
or man, and with appetites whetted for
plumber and blood. The DEGREES of the
Commune for tearing down the Column
Nendome were then read, as also the
decree, which was. carried out to the
letter, ordering The demolition Of the
house OF VI. Theirs.
The entrance Of the Government
troops into Paris after a siege Of ten
weeks was then described. Paris W as
battlefield for eight days, and every.
where the roar Of the cannon and the
rattle Of the chasscpot was heard, and
then came fires and burnings and con-
| tlagrations, murders and assassinations
and every horror. But at last the in.
surrcctionary force was overcome, and
then began the arrest OF the criminal.
to the number Of nearly fifty thousand
Most OF these were transported to New
Caledonia, but many of them were shot
and others sentenced to Imprisonment,
for life. The Government had made
every effort for the defence Of Paris
Everywhere was displayed the red flag
that hated ensign of anarchy and blood
but II was not Its own strength as much
that kept out the enemy as it was the
weakness and supposed disloyal:y Of the
Government troops. As time wore on
matters became more desperate and
dangerous. Fear, madness, fury. hate
took possession ofthe Com nunarts, and
desperation seized upon all their souls
| -
ACCIDENT TO BisHoP PIyKNEY.-