Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-11-03
NEW SERIES--V0L. 81, NO. 43.

deadly hatred of society aud the mos
intense thirst for blood. All his asso
ciate assassins bowed before his dcspoti
, will None opposed him, for bis gcst
ure was the signal of death. lie bel,
in his hand the life Of every man it
Paris, and he wrought his vcngeauc,
} on every man 10 whom he tool, u dis
} like. He organized murder, and regu
lated robbery and ncendiarism. 1t wa,
he who imprisoned the Archbishop o
Paris, and Able Degueriy, and the
Chief Justice, BoDjeau, and the last
moment, before the city was recaptured
from the mob ordered their assassina
tion.
1t was Rigault also who sought out
Chsudey and murdered him under cir.
cumstances, the narration of which
chills the blood. Chaudey was dis.
tinguished lawyer OF wealth and posi-.
tion, well-known Republican, con.
nected with one OF the most influen-
tial Republican journals of Paris. One
of the last letters he ever wrote was
addressed TO me, seeking my interven.
tion TO save his life. But, alas, it was
too late, and Rigault had him shot
down like dog. He went at the dead
of the night to Chaudey's cell, and said
to him "Chaudey, your hour has now
come" Chaudey responded: "Would
you execute me without judgment 2
You have known me, Rigault for a
long time. You know | have always
done my duty as Republican, good
citizen, and as an honest man. / have
wife and child Here is voice was
drowned by the blasphemies of Rigault.
The assassin guard was called, and
Chandey was dragged TO the prison
yard. A dim lantern was hung upon
the wall. The unfortunate man was
ordered to stand up by it. The guard,
with loaded pieces, stood in front OF
him. Recovering all self.possession in
that supreme moment, with firm
voice he cried "ViUe Ia Repubhque.
Fire !" Chaudey fell, bathod in bis
own blood
In the same way, Rigault went TO
the prison Of the Chief Justice, Bon.
jeau, whom be found sleeping on his
prison pallet Of straw. "Get up, old
man." cried out Rigault, ierociously,
"for tomorrow we will cut your
throat" young man." answered the
venerable Chiei Justice, mildly, ait is
wrong that you should come and insult
me thus, | am your prisoner You
see that am an old man. Leave me"
The next night the venerable man fell
in the prison yard of La Rouquette,
pierced by the bullets Of murderers.
Time would fail to recount all the
dreadful and monstrous horrors of this
time, increasing in madness aud fury
as the government troops were coming
nearer and nearer upon the heels OF
Rigault, he giving his most ferocious
orders amid the sound OF approaching
cannon, and the lurid flames were lick
ing up the great monuments of Paris.
But his days were numbered. He was
shot himself, like q wild beast, in the
street--a fitting end of one of the great.
est leadess of the Paris Commune, the
architect Of murder, incendiarism and !
pillage-not linking even one virtue TO
a thousand crimes, but "leaving name
at which the world grows pale, to point
q moral and adoTn tale"
The most infamous and bloody de-
crees were issued by the Commune.
Fortune, business, public and private,
every industry, labor, financial enter.
prise, were all buried in one common
grave, and there was everywhere dc.
vastation, desolation and ruin. There
was the commission of every outrage,
plunder, Imprisonment, robbery and
every species of persecution. Every
German that was found in Paris was
Immediately seized and thrown into
prison, only to be released on my per.
Dmptory demand. Never was there
any demand by the American minister,
who acted as the protector of the Ger.
mans in France, which was not in.
stantly granted, except the release OF
the Archbishop of Paris. Applause. !
And it must ever be a proud recollec.
tion for Americans that during oil OF
tins reign of crime and blood, the
starry ensign of our own Republic was
everywhere the egis of protection and
safety. [Applause.]
The governing power during this
period was body calling itself the
Commune of Paris, and the members
wei Q the most desperate and debauched
in all the purlieus OF the
,ity, but many Of them highly educa.
ed and cultivated men. They were
ar more infamous than the same class
II men in the worst days OF the Roman
Empire, whose names have been con.
iigned to eternal infamy by the pen OF
naoitus. The orders of this body were
instantly and summarly executed by
he National Guard, fed, pampered and
corrupted, ever ready to carry out its
niernal bohosts, restrained by no fear
# the laws Of God or man, and with
Ippetitcs whettod for plunder and blood,
murder, burning, imprisonment and
orture. They burned down the Tuil.
rios and the house of Theirs thew /
,nrned the Hotel de Vilo and the
buildings of the Ministry of Finance |
md Police and the Legion of Honor I
be great nalace of the Court of Casa l
ion and overturned thc Colnmn Won. |
Iome and a, last ondeayored 10 bnrn 4
he whole citv I
And what was the asnoct of tho .
itv during the davs of tho Commnne ? {
[ was ALWAYS the same Paris All tho (
title shops were omen and the wares {
.isplayed were of tbai exouisito toste !
gbicb oantivatos tho forcigner Tbe q
,rcets and boulevards were flled with /