Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-01-03

and assassination. There was no
connection with the outside world
10 that city of nearly two millions Of
people, except W hat was held by
balloon and by carrier pigeons. This
did not apply to the United States
Minister, who, as the representative
OF The German government, sent out
and received dispatch pouch under
Q flag of truce, and he was the only
man in the whole population who
held free intercourse with the out
side world during the entire siege.
Mr.. Washbnrne described the IN
cident of NJ. Gambetta going out by
balloon himself to make representa-,
tons to the government of the ma.
tional defense at Tours, and be paid
q high compliment to the energy
which he displayed ed. Il was not un-
TIL the middle OF December that food
was becoming exhausted. Vegetables
we're scarcely to be had, and nG
meat. except horse or mule meat
The government seized every horse
it could Law it's hands on for food. "A
little poultry at fabulous prices was
to be had about Christmas time, and
an ordinary turkey sold for twenty
five dollars. All the stories about
the consumption of horse and mule
meat, and the flesh of various ami.
mails were true. Dogs, cats, rate,
and mice were eaten by large mum
Der Of people. The treaty having
been agreed upon, the entry of the
German troops into Paris was then
described. 1t was on the 18th OF
March that the instruction broke
out which resulted 10 driving ell
government officials from Paris, and
leaving the city in the hands of the
mob. Mr.. Washburne remained in
Paris during the entire commune !,
was the only representative of for.
eign power who remained there. He
was charged with the protection of
no less than fourteen different ma.
tionalities. S. 99
The scenes which passed during
the commune were described at con-
siderable length The first act of
the insurrectionists was to seize
Clement Thomas and Leconte, who
were brought to mock court-mar-
tial, condemned to death and imme ed.
lately shot, There were $50, 900 of
the national guard 10 the city of
Paris at that time, and they threw
off the government authority and
entered into the instruction. The
regular government having left Paris
for Versailles, the insurrectionary
government saw at their feet one Of
the largest, richest, most beautiful
and attractive cities in the world,
with its wealth, splendor, refinement,
Intelligence, and with ell the depart.
ments of the government fallen into
their hands. They trampled under
foot all law and authority, and held
the city for ten weeks simply by
force and terror. 1t was a fight on
the part of a great majority Of the
communists for power and plumber
and to free themselves from the re-
straint of law. The reign Of the
commune was the absolute force of
desperate and wicked men, unlimit>
ed, unchecked, unrestrained by any
human power. The great leader Of
the commune, Paul Rsgault, was de-
scribed as one Of the most desperate
and bloody men who ever existed.
Bloody, energetic, desperate, he was
consumed by the most deadly hatred
to society, and the most intense
thirst for blood .eag
Mr.. Washburne then gave an ac-
count of the assassination by Re-
gault OF Chandery, a distinguished
Republican. and of RoDjeau, the
Chief Justice of France, and after.
wards of the venerable archbishop
of Paris. 1t was through Paul Re.
gault that MI. Washburne was able
to get access to the archbishop dur.
ing his time of Imprisonment at the
Majas. There be visited the arch
bishop frequently, and interviewed,
but without success, to have him re-
leased. He then described the sew
eral interviews he had with him, the
condition of the prison, and the work
OF the assassination of that great
prelate, who WAS beloved by all
Paris.
The situation of Paris during the
commune was further described. For
tune, business, public and private
credit, industry, labor, financial en-
terprise were all buried IN one COM
mon grave. There were every where
devastation, desolation and ruin. All
the gold and silver found IN the
churches, and all the plate belonging
to the government found in the diff
erent ministries, were seized by the
commune anc melted into coin. The
Catholic Clergy were hunted down,
and the priests were openly placard-
ed as thieves. No less than twenty.
three priests we're shot by the order
of Raoul Regault the day before the
entry of the government troops in
Paris. II
Mr.. Washburne then described
the press of the commune as it ex-
listed during the sway of the mob
which descended to deep depravity,
vulgarity, bic sphemy and obscenity
never before known or heard of. The
names of some of the commune Jour
nails indicated their character: The
Action, the Red Bonnet, The Good
sense, The Cain and Abel, The Chas-
tisement, The Pirate, Tho Greek Fire
The Vengeance, The Revolution,
The Corsaiar, The Red Flag, The
Pillory, The Red.
The authority of the mob was
body called the Commune of Paris.
which held its power by e mock cleo
ton by the different districts in the
city and the ssnguinary orders of
that body We're enforced by the ma
tional guard, which was ever ready
to carry out its internal behests, re-
strained by no fear of the laws OF
God or man, and with appetites whet-
ted fer plumber and blood. The de-
crees of the commune for tearing
down the column Vepdome were