Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-11-08


With thee-the very peace of Heaven seems
nearest
Parted-in weary exile pne'h io, and me!
Milton. VT. sept. 9TH, lS,>.
The Paris Commune.
MINISTER wAsHBUENEs DESCRIPTION or THE
SIEGE AND ITS HORRORS.
The Hon. Elihu 3. washburne, ex-ininis-
ter to France, lectured in Philadelphia Mon
day night upon Paris. during the German
siege in 1870. We quote from the report in
the Tines:
The gates of Paris We're practically closed
September IS. The great feature of the city
was tue immense military force of nearly
10000 men. Provisions tor a reasonable
time had been laid in, but no man was mad
enough to predict that the gates would not
be opened again before the last day of Feb
ruary, ISL four and half long dreary and
mortal months. The recollection OF the
dreadful events of that siege will never de-
part from the memory OF those who passed
through them. No city was ever more COM
iletly or vigorously besieEcd than Paris
WIS. Ine first great event after the gates
wera closed was the departure from the city
of Gaube!ta by balloon. lie had been sent
by the new government TO Tours Il its dele
gate outside the walls Of Paris. Ii was
most desperate and hazardous adventure
but it was 4 success. Arriving 4; Tours amd
clothed with the fullest powers Gambetta at
once se;ztd the helm and he became
what his enemies designated him, ''the dic:a-
tor of France" That dictatorship Is one of
the most interesting episodes of French his
tory, which will one day pronounce upon the
inestimaLle services that he rendered his
country under the most trying circumstances
in which a great nation was ever found.
THE HORRORS or THE SIEGE.
The sufarings of all classes during the
siege We're intense, but were endured with
Il tortitude and patience that challenged the
admiration ofthe world. The French people
seemed willing To suffer any aflliction
10 sacrifice their lives in order to preserve
their beloved city from the invader and only
at the last moment, when everything edible
had been eaten and the people were starving
did the city surrender. As instances 10 show
what "a scarcity OF food existed, Mr.. Wash
burne mentioned that at Christmas time,
when his thoughts were wandering to the
bountitul tables Of his friends in America, it
occurred to him that It might not be lmpOs-
sible Tor him TO enjoy nice meal himself
that day. He went to a slopkeeper and ask
cd the price of q turkey OF ordinary size.
''WelL said the dealer, "seeing it, you, I'll
let il 60 for S25." The reports that went
abroad concerning the irightful state of
things were not exaggerated. All the wild
anlusls Ol tlle ZpolDElctll Htiruel were kllltu
and eaten. Col. Hoffman, Mr.. Washburnes
secretary, having tried little OF each beast,
reported that, IN his opinion, elephant meat
was the best While Mr.. Washburne could
not speak from experience Of the merits of
horsesteaii, he had triei mule roast and
could recommend it.
After the siege the commune. L. the last
half of this boastcd nineteenth century the
world stood aghast at that terrible spectacle
of aud
crime. In the very sunlight OF what WAS
claimed to be the prondest civilization of
modern times, the populace of city of two
millions OF people organized itself into
mob, drove out the government Of one of the
grandcst Of nations, seized all the archives,
took possession of the capital, appropriated
its wealth, Tor 10 weeks held to its lawless
course by terror aud by force, and went down
at last amid blood and flame, like thunder
bolt gueuchIng itself in the sea
ALL PARIS i BATTLEFIELD.
On tie 18th of March, 1871, the insurrec-
tionary force drove ont the regular govern
ment, and impToyising an authority called
the central committee OF the national guard
seized ali the departments of the admins
tration. They had a military force of lj0.-
600 men, fully armed and equipped, and
drawing regular pay and rltions After de-
scribing the terrible struggle of 10 weeks re-
the ex-minister spoke of the vast and un-
heard OF destruction Of life and property dur
ing that reign Of terror. The Tulleries and
many Of the most important public buildings !
were burned down. The reign Of the com |
mune was an ordeal of blood and fire. The |
controlling men. who We're from among the |
most depraved in that great city beheld at |
their feet one OF the largest, richest and most |
attractive cities Of the world. Trampling |
under foot all law, human and divine, they |
found themselves in such position of pow |
er as had never before been held by wicked |
and desperate men.
MIR. Washburne paid an eloquent tribute |
10 NJ. Theirs, who at that time of trial was |
the central figure Of France and OF Europe, |
and who rendered to his country such exccp- |
tional and inestimable service as, in the |
words ofPnnce Bismarck to Mr.. Washburne, |
''wou.l enttle him to the proudest monu-
ment ever erected by a grateful people. |
The name OF 1hiers would 20 down to the |
end of all ages as the liberator o: the terri |
tory Of France
ARCHBISHOP DAEBOY.
Daring the commune the ex.minister held |
intimate relations with Archbishop Darboy, !
and made every possible effort TO save his !
life The speaker tribute to the archbish- |
ops GttaInments and character was glow |
ing one, and his description OF the heroic |
prelate death was affecting, as WAS also his |
reference to the many other priests who were |
inhumauly assassinated just before the city
fell into the hands OF the government troops. |
As characteristic Of the commune, .he |
speaker read 4 translation Of the permit |
which he received to'yislt the archbishop IN |
prison whenever he desired 10 do So In |
this paper the United States minister was |
called merely "tltiZen Nashburue,' while |
the title given to the archbishop, who had |
spent his whole life In doing good for the |
people of Paris, was "tne prisoner, Dar- |
boy
Sketching the appearance OF Paris during |
the commune, Mr.. Washburne said that for
tune, business, public and private credit and |
industry all found one common grave. Desc
latlon and ruin were everywhere. All the |
gold and silver of the churches and all the |
plate OF tie gov, rnment found in the difi.r-
ent ministries were seized and converted |
into com. The Catholic clergy were hunted |
down and placarded as thieves. The suprem-
acy Of the commune was the continuation of |
every Outrage, murder and robbery and |
every species of persecution. And Yet !
Paris all the while was the same Paris. All |
the little shops were open, and their contents
displayed with all that exquisite taste that so
captIvates the foreigner. The streets and |
boulevaTds were full of CAV people, who |
seemed to have no thought Of the morrow.
The theatres were crowded and the artists
never more superb
RECKLESS PARIsIANs
The military operations of the commune
we're complete but unin,entional burlesque
and IN no sklrmlsh or engagement did they
achieve success. The time was one of ever
recurring sensations. The bouleyards flash
at midnight, and elegant and fast-liying Paris
sips eaa De yie and cgfc on the sidewalks.
Blnse dandies, with high-crowned hats and
wide shirt collars dash rapidly along and
faded beauties, with light hair and still
lighter regulations, are not far away And
all this with the constant sound of lombard
meEt, the cry Of victory, the howl of despair
and the yell Of defeat. The efforts of the
commune to hold the city were almost super
human. Everywhere was displayed the red
nag-that hated ensign Of anarchy and blood.
rear madness fury, hate took possession Of
the communards, and desperation seized
upon all the defenders Of law and order The
insuuectlonary forces improvised barricadcs
everywhere and to all attacks opposed q fury
and desperation Gnheard Of All Paris was
battlefield. While the city was IN flames
the continual roar 0f cannon, the qnick rat
tlng of the mItralleuse and the shnrp crack
of musketry were everywhere heard. At
night the lurid flames, rising from burning
Paris, lighted up half Of the heavens. and
the whole scene was awfully grand. The
commune did all in its power to destroy the
city, and if the entry Of the troops had been
delayed much longer they would have sue
ceeded
TIE last DEsPFRATE PLAN
The commune had already made reqnisi-
tons for all the petroleum in the city. They
had prepared petroleum boxes and other
means Of firing the city, and bands Of men,
women and children had been organized to
execute the diabolical purpose Every inch
-. Ia