Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-11-03
PARIS AND THE CONN UNE.

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A large gcaudienCe listened to the Hon.
| e. .Washburno, OK. Ministerto France,
who delivered lecture in Brooklyn,
recently, before the Long Island His.
torical Society. The speaker was in
troduced by the Rev. Dir Richard S.
Storrs. The subject of the greater
part of the address was the "Siege and
the Uprising of the Commune of Paris, -
and tho terrible scenes of II were de-
scrbed in picturesque language. That
portion of Mr. Washhurne's remarks
was particularly interesting where he
refers to his acquaintance with Gam
BETA, Theirs and other wclI.known
Frenchmcn.
Mr. PRESIDENT Tho paper 1 pro-
pose to read tonight is in relation to
Paris aud Franco during the Franco.
German war. and particularly the
siege and the uprising of the Com.
muno of Paris, which are among the
most extraordinary and interesting
events set down in the annals of his,
tory There WAS an avalanche of
passion, crime, violence, enthusiasm
and cowardico. There was suffering,
devotion, turbulence excitement, mad
ness, cruelty, distress, shame and
abasement and the savage despousm
Of the whole populace. Never before
was witnessed the spectacle Of two
millions Of people in the heart Of q
great nation, long distance from the
enemys border surrounded, besieged
and shut up for five months. Never
in ancient or modern times has such a
city fallen into the hands of a lawless
mob, to be ruled and controlled during
all Of that time by force and terror.
No one in reasonable space OF time
can do justice TO these subjects. But
what have to say will be as brief as
II must be unsatisfactory.
The Franco Prussian war broke out
on the 18th of July, 1870, to be follow
ed ny the awiui crash oi Sedan, bgEy I
ing in its ruins an army of an empire.
There is not recorded in all history a
more tremendous downfall of gov.
ernment. The people alarmed, dis.
eouraged, maddened by the disasters
which had fallen upon them, prepared |
for great events. The news OF the dis.
aster was made known in Paris on the
evening OF the Sd of September, 1870.
On that day the people Of that city |
were awaiting the result of the great
operations on the frontier; but it was
the fearful calm before the storm that
was soon TO burst upon Paris and
France. There was that indescribable
something in the whole atmosphere
that portended startling events. There
was the silent current which electri.
fed every heart. There was among
the masses Of the people but one
thought, one purpose and one determi.
natlon, ana That was to tear down the
Dynasty which had so long oppressed
and corrupted the people and now be-
trayed ana dlshonored France. AT
Two o'clock IN the afternoon of that
DAY, the National Guard and the peo-
pie iraternlzed, and having overcome
all opposition, invaded the ChaHberof
deputies, thrust out the members and
TOOK possession OF the hall and from
there they went TO the Hotel de Vile,
where so many governments of France
had already been proclaimed they
now proclaimed another Republic Of
France. 1t was Gambetta who ap.
peared at one of the windows Of this
grand old palace and threw out to the
$4,000 people gathered on the Place
DO Grace list OF ofpersons who were to
form the Provisional Government to be
called the Government of the National
Defence. The list was composed OF
The Republican members of tho Cham.
Der of Deputies from the City Of Paris.
THE LAST DAYS OF THE EMPIRE.
And now n word as 10 Paris and
France before the breaking out of the
Franco. German war The Empcror {
resided at the Tuileries in the midst of {
. brilliant court. and ROYALTY was sur.
rounded with glitterinp splendor To 4,
, casual observer who visited Paris in 4
he last DAYS of the Empire there /
we're certain appearances of prosperity
,appiness and content bnt thew wcye /
ike tho fruit of the Dead Sea. in the ,
asst degree deceptive. Beneath all this I
outside show there was to be heard /
he deep rumbling of popular discon /
ent. The real people were dissatilied q
estless and uneasy. Their rights and i
iberties bad been trampled under the q
ron heel of power, and their disoon. I
ent was often made manifest in Paris c
" their turbulent gatherings ON the i
which had often 10 be dis. q
,ersed by the police and souadrons of a
ayalrv. whose elashiup sabres and h
oundinp buples. were hoard in tbe O
treets The orv ol q Vius p Emncy q
Mr. p uttered bv tho courtiers and n
arasi,cs was responded 10 bv n eiddv a
mass in Paris which Aattoret bY the /,