New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-23
THE BURIAL OF BLANQUI.

FORTS RENEWED acknowledgements IN
FORTUNATE IN HIS FRIENDS
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT oY THE TRIBUNE
PARIS, Jan. THE great event of the week has
been the funeral of Blanqu which I believe Will
influence the municipal elections The Red mani
festation of which the carrying Of the old revou-
ZIONIST to his final home was the occasion, marked
an era in French politics. 1t was the first time
popular Government ever allowed pacific manifes-
tants opposed to them to hoist any and every
banner that they pleased. The red flag waved in
front OF Blanqui's hearse, and the multitude who
went behind looked, with scarlet pennons, like
field overrun with peoples. No great political fu-
neral ever, believe, went of moro quietly Not only
were Socialists allowed to hoist their standards.
but they covered them with inscriptions which
would year ago have occasoDed the repressive
interference of the police Socialists also let OIL
any sentiments they were pleased to utter by the
grave of Blanqui, whose existence one OF them lie
scribcd as long martyrdom. The Citoyen Susihl'
Marseillas, said: Oh, Venerated Father, oh. per-
severng and heroic martyr. May thy name serve
as rallying point to the promoters OF the SOCIALIST
Revolution which is destined to sweep OIL the
organized iniquities against which thou madest war
by thy voluntary mmolation during thirty. seven
years" Louise Michel in the way of an orator
was the great attraction. She was in the
tered Paris from New Caledonia. and had wrapped
around her shoulders tho faded Paisley shawl with
red ground. at which the reporters of the Censor
vative press made merry. | am convinced there is
"a bec in her bonnet" Nevertheless she is a
woman of native greatness She has power and
soul that is full of sympathy with those who
suffer. cast down and oppressed. The EubbuD
terrific when she MAS being pulled through the
crowd. But when she stood on the mound of loose
earth beside the grave there was an universal
" llushw She said:
To those who give their lives for the people.
whether by allowing the earth to drink their blood
or by suffering in prison. the people are ready TO
give majestic glOriiicatiOn. The more the martyr
Is hidden out of sight, the more his principle VIII
dominate in the heart OF the human family. Every
time that l5anqui cast into Jail he felt the
work of emancipation to which he devoted fortune,
domestic bliss. and his life, had taken step for
ward. The torch which he lighted famed the
higher when he was cast into dungeon of Mont st.
Michel, and now its light pcnetrates to every coun-
try in the world. Let French youth be guided by
Blanqu has left them Let their hearts be warmed
as his was by sublime pity for crushcd-down hi-
man brothers and sisters. and by an ardent, pas;
si0nate, an irresistible love OF duty Blanqui drilled
his body to subsection to his grand conscience and
his noble passions. and broke IN youth with all that
il sybaritIsh IN modern civilization. Let the yonth
of France also he inspired by the example OF Rus
sian youth. which is III advance OF it in self sacr-
ficine power and iirmness Of will. Without the
power to sacrifice self great ideas will never bear
fruit. Wien this power is acquired the approba-
ton of the conscience is swectcr than any reward
prosperity can afford. The supreme reward is to
be gorihed after death BY loving and grateful
people. Let us swear, here in Percla Chaisc, where
many victims fell at the close of the murdcrous
week OF May, let us swear before tho shades OF
Ferre and the other martyrs of the Commune, to
clear France OF Opportunisn. which would stie the
Socialist revolution and which wars against IL Wy
corruption!
A formidable brav0m was raised as Louise re-
til ed to MAKE way for Paulc Minckc, q yixensh sort
of woman with gift of gab,' and no warming
eloquence. The shrcwish character of Paulc's
oratory is expressed in her face. which is most I'M
womanly face, and yet not at all masculine. But
as Madame Mncke. who represented many South OF
France trades-unions. was unable to advance
through the dense mob. Louise, who is her fast
friend. lifted up her voice in her name and threw
some red immortelles and handful OF earth
her behalf into the vault. which yawDed to receive
the coffin The oratrcss was listened to with trans
port. She had great difficulty in making her way
to the gate OF the cemetery. There she got into q
hackney carriage Her admirers perceiving her,
precipitated themselves toward her. They wanted
to carry her in triumph upon their shot lders.
Louise Directing to this said d" But my good
fricnls, l q no babe, you see. 1t would not he
seemly for q woman Of my years to be thus borne
along" There was then cry TO unharncss the
horses and for citizens to take their place. "When
| am dead" she said L will let you draw my
hearse, il you have q mind. But i'll our Socialist
Republic abn.gatOn must not take the form OF
II must never be brought against
/ ouise Michel tina. she allowed her fellowctizcns
TO take the place OF beasts OF burden" This dcca
ration produced its effect. Bu. rs newcomers who
had not heard 1t were swarmng toward her she
would have probably been "ovated" in non-Re-
m hau
come to her relief. He was powerfully but man,
and opened q lane for her AIadcmoisellc' he
said, sallow me to be your escort
When she had got some distance from the space
in front OF the cemetery gate he hailed cab into
which Louise nimbly stepped. Before it drove oil
she held out her ungloved hand and said to HIM
" NJ. Poiicier de Paix. allow ne to thank you.
Really YOU arc very polite" (vraimcnt vous etcs
ties gent;.
1t would be hard to say whether Rochcfort or
Louise Michel was the mos1 lionized Owing to
the Rocncfort- Reinach controversy and tho late
attack on tho gas company in PIntrdnsiGranf the
Lanternier has rcgained the popularity which he
appeared to have lost forever. Rcinach made war
on him in Gambetta's name in q contemplate man
ner. All ROcheforts weaknesses were attacked
and his claims on popular gratitude overlooked. 1t
did not matter that IN defending himself against
Reinach lie lea. mo popular ieeliilg was that hc
had done works OF suDcrcrOgatlon in attacking the
Empire and knocking it down, which should be set
oil against the falsehOods into which his nerves
precipitatad him during the controversy. Roche
tort showed an essentially Partisan temperament.
He was not estimable but he sympdthiqnc and
lcinach, who reared in very low stratum Of
Frankfort Judaism. was neither one nor the other.
IOchcfort is to the people OF Paris what John
wilkes n hundred years ago WAS to the London
mob. The idolatry of which he was the object at
BlanQus funeral. bodies i'll for those municipal
councillors who were on the side Of the gas COM
pany in proposing TO secure it monopoly which
would only expire ifty-ive years hence. They
will the general feeling now is, be badly bcaten at