Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-06-28
The american Commune. I"
VICTOR HUGO TELLS now To DEAL WITH THE
AGITAToRS.

VICTOR nrGo TELLS HOW To DEAL WITH THE
AGITAToRs.
Paris Letter 10 the New Iork World.
A day or two ago, | found an opportunity
of taking Victor Hugo's opinion upon the
question The substance of his counsel to
the United States, delivered with much
earnestness, was '.Don't lose your heads"
"Be moderate" he said, "in dealing with
the authors of this national scare. Suppose
you have communistie agitato.s among you
well, lit is a misfortune it is an evil, but
do not give them the triumph and your
brother republicans OF Europe the shame ct
seeing you forget your self-pOssession. The
world expects this example from you. You
are bound to dl it by your own past. by the
noble principle of mercy and forbearance in
dealing with misguided men on which you
acted at the close of memorable struggle.
You must sho W them that real democracy
can be as generous as it is brave. You have
shown it in a great civil war you must
take care not to fail to show it in what at
the worst is but political conspiracy. |
am sorry to hear OF the alarm Of the public
and the general ontcry in the journals.
people in that frame of mind are apt to
think that it may well he cruel Just for
once for the sake of the example. Any
despot can perSccute, fine and Imprison IN
the name of order; only great and wise
government, strong in the support OF the
people, can temper its force OF repression
with pity and tOleratiOn. You have a
grand opportunity and responsibilities to
match you are called on to deal, for the first
time in your history, with the social danger
you must most strenuoLsiy take care for
all our sakes that you do nothing unworthy
of Yourselves. Europe has often looked to
YOU for something new give it an American
novelty in this highest department of invel-
tion-the art OF governing thruug h the SELL
troll of the Governors.
Are all the working men in America"
| he continued, under the leadership of the
| elite Of the nation? ! express no opinion
ask the question. There is no danger in
| a Democracy 81 Ofheered. bur there is every
| danger when the best men in the country do
| not strive to take their proper place in the
| direction of affairs. The strength of the
| present Republic in France lis in the fact
| that all .he most considerable persons in our
Il
society are Republicans. do not mean the
mere men of rank or money. | mean the
best blood of France in the hest sense say.
if YOU like, the best brain. That is the true
guarantee for moderation, the only one AT
the iuneraI of Thiers | saw how this admir-
abie population of Paris, so much maligned,
NAV be quietcd by sign. Theirs was not
altogether a fivoriie of the masses. Ii was
their faith in others alone that gave them
faith in HIM They had something to plr-
don to his memory, and there were cries
| here and there that were not exactly cries OF
affection as the hearse neared the cemetery
gates. A single gesture of one in whom the
people had confidence sutfced to hush them
We have no fears of popular trouble in
France, and | repeat that 1t is because the
French Democracy is under the guidance OF
| Tho e,ite of the nation"