Connecticut western news., 1880-02-11
PARIS DURING THE SIEGE,
AND UNDER THE COM MUNE.

AND UNDER THE COMMUNE.
 EEK MINISTER WAsHBURNE'S GRAPHIC RE-
 oITAL OF THE STIRRING INCIDENTS OF
 THAT EXCITING PERloD-THE MURDER
 OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF PARIS.
 Hon. D. B. Washburne, ex-United States Minister to France, in lecture gives his personal "reminiscences of thep siege of Paris and the reign of the Com mune. He says he was at Carlsbad when the news of the war between France and Prussia was received. He hastened to Paris, and, arriving there late in the evening, found the people maddened by false stories, skillfully disseminated, of an alleged insult to the French Ambassador by the Emperor William. Crowds filled the streets shouting, "To Berlin in eight days 1" and singing the Marsellaise." There were then between 3O,OO0 and 4O,O0O Germans residing in Paris. The Ger man Minister having been compelled to leave hurriedly, Prince Bismarck ap- piled to our Government to protect them. The authorities at Washington expressed their consent provided the French Government would permit it. They did so at once, and for eleven months MT. Washburne was practically the German Minister at Paris. For this there was no precedent in diplomacy. The poor Germans were terribly frightened, and many of them were without means of getting away. Prince Bismarck was notified, and within twenty-four hours he had placed 6O,OOO thalers with the Rothschilds to the credit of the American Minister. Many of these Germans were seized and imprisoned on trivial pretexts, and MT. Washburne went to M Gambetta about it. That statesman at once ordered them released en masse, and had them transported to the Bel gian frontier at the expense of the Government. This was the beginning of the lecturers intimacy with the great French statesman. The latter was then young man of thirty, of slender form, though he has since grown stout. MT. Washburne spoke of him as person of keen intelligence, quick perception, and the supremest love of country.
 The German armies were appr oaohipg Paris with sure and resistless tread. Their opponents were being scattered before them like light thistle-down. The people were less in the streets. The theatres and concerts were poorly attended. The Marseillaise was hushed. Then, the people and the National Guard fraternizing, proclaimed the Provisional Republic, and the United States was the first power to ex- tend to it recognition. This prompt action was appreciated. Crowds came every day to pay their respects to the American Minister. The military marched to the Embassy in battalions, carrying American flags, and crying, "Vive PAmerique !" Vive le Min istre des Etats Unisl" Having halted before the door, delegation was sent in, speeches were made, and the cere- monies generally ended by the delegates kissing the American Minister on both cheeks. After while the gates of Paris were closed, and the American Minister was the only person allowed to hold communication with the outside world, though sometimes even he went with out news for as much as three weeks. Thgee members of the French Legisla- ture had been left outside the walls, and they established the seat of the | Government at Tours. It was deemed necessary to reinforce them and M. Gambetta was sent out in balloon. He at once seized the helm of the Gov ernment, and his enemies were right for once when they called him Dictator of France. After the war was over, these enemies.- started an inquisition, in the hope of destroying him in the public estimation but despite all their efforts
 they were unable to find any spot on his garments. With absolute control of untold millions, his hands were found to be clear and upstained of public plunder. He was, said the lecturer, g bright example for public men every. where-one that might be proftably followed in her countries than France.
 MT. Washburne said he had no time to describe the sacrifices of the French people, or the extraordinary events which he witnessed during this trying period. The scarcity of provisions be
 came alarming. All the horses in th' city and all the animals of the Jardi1 des Plantes had been killed for food
 cone Christmas Eve, said the lecturer
 "I stopped in front of little mea
 shop in the Rue Lazare and priced medium sized turkey, thinking to pur chase it for my Christmas dinner. Tn proprietor, with a true Frenchman'
 politeness, answered that seeing it wa
 me could have it for $25. Laughter.
 had no occasion to eat horse-meat dur ing the siege, but | did eat mule-meat
 Laughter, and I must yfor the credi
 of that forbearing and much-abused ani
 nal that found it quite good. Laugh
 ter.] My secretary tasted of all tn wild animals from the Jardin de Plantes, and after fair trial he declare that elephant was the best"
 , Then comes the commune. The mos
 conspicuous figure among the. revolu } tionists was Raoul Rigault, who hel the office of Procureur du Commune , He was journalist, twenty years o
 age, refined and educated, and of pleas
 ing presence, and man who dresse 3 with the most scrupulous neatness. Be l heath it all he had the heart of tiger All his associate assassins bowed befor 3 his despotic will. He held in his han