Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-16
TWO FRENCH CHARACTERS.
Count d e Brazzu and Louise aIichet-Tbe
Man Civiiizing Africs-The Woman
who Led the Commune.

PARIS, Jan. 9O.-IO-d8y NJ. de BraZzi
will be made a member Of the Geographi
cal Society OF France, and from presen
indications the Cirque dHiyer is mol
Sarge enough TO contain all those whit
wish to hear his "reminiscences Of African
explorations,
Last August the cross Of the Legion Of
Honor was gwen to Count savorgnan de
lBrazza. This decoration was noticed
as an ordinary occurrence, Whlle IA
reality NJ. de Brazza has Just opened
world and given 70 France new en-
Plre. ,..,,
The explorer has always shown himself
a benefactor and apostle Of the black race
His enterprise was marvellous, perhaps
the most marvellous Of this century, De-
cause his only weapon was the frehch
fricOlar. He sought not fortune but the
glory Of his country and humanity braz-
"a himself says:
.sTbe oolors of France are forever plant
ed in the centre of Africa as symbol OF
the grand and generous IDEAS that france
more than any other nation has cOntribu-
ted 10 tae world. 10 sustain the honor Of
fag which snatches the prey from the
hands Of slave dealers is not easy when
she does not wish to use violence. At the
beginning, ] bought the slaves with
money. When they were mine, said:
"'W1l you remain with me or return
TO your own couEryY
''Then ] made them touch the French
nag, at the same time saying:
a" 'G2T6Ow, you are Free"
F0se VINO returned 10 their homes /
afterNard found, and they became my
guideN aud took me TO the centre, where
could MIGRATE slaves at the rate of two
cent necklace apiece. Everywhere 1t
was known that slave who touched the
French flag was Free"
Stanley, who with several hundred men
undermined rocks and made road on the
left bank of the Congo, was called THE
Great StOnebreaker' by the inhabitants;
but Brazza, who brought peace and liber-
Ly. received tine name OF FEATHER OF the
Slaves"
A very warlike tribe, the Oubandjes,
which had been attacked many times by
Stanley, wished to prevent the passage Of
Brazza. Forty chiefs came In their boats
and the leader exclaimed;
Here the blood OF our people was shed
by a white. What do you wIsh?"
Brazza spoke of the protection France
would give them. and as pledge offered
the flag. Immediately each chief de-
handed one to rub against BrAzZa's and
peace was sealed. The little feet which
mad come with warlike intentions retired
decorated with the French coIors.
Once Stanley wished TO found a city on
the spot chosen by BrazZa for his capital,
but was obliged TO beat retreat before
sbarricade OF trunks OF trees covered with
French flags, which had been improvised
@Ay0 the negroes. The Vanqulshed were
very gO06tnacured and, Notwithstanding
rumOr, friendship exists between the two
explorers.
Probably your readers are familiar with
SANKEY'S account of his first meeting with
gBrazza. The Fren3hman lOokedNl like "A
beggar, his clothes were in tRtterss and
his feet bare. All his baggage consulted
of a box of flags, and that is the wayne
was prepared to discover territories and
conquer men.
The poor young ensign was left to his
ewn resources; his private means bought
the slaves. AT one time he said to me:
was happy en0agh 90 Poesess small
fortune; | intended TO use il for France"
AT last the government gave him $4,000,
and now the faith and genius of one man
France in possession of a country OF
which 1t is written: "The culture OF cOf-
fee, OF sugar cane, OF almonds, of ebony
and other precious woods is disclaimed,
Tor the ivory and caoutchOuo yield 1000
per cent"
VIII France offer Brazza proof Of ad-
miratiOn and gratitude? 1t is to be hoped
something more than decoration, which
is now the reward Of every paltry pOllti-
clan.
LOUISE MICHEL.
Jan. IA saw the gates Of st. Lazare
l6Tison open to give freedom to Louise Mi
ichel and ten Of her companions. The
stpetrOleuse" was hot willing to accept
her liberty until she was assured that her
friends were freed also. To understand
the position Of Louise Michel to-day We
must 60 back to last May. Then the he
Eroine heard there was possibility ofpar-
don and restoration TO liberty. Without
waiting until freedom was offered her she
wrote letter, addressed to the Minister
of the Interior, which stifed and benevo-
lent feelings entertained by him. The
vagabonds imprisoned with her were her
victims, for it was she who melted them
20 attack the bakeries in 1883, and 1t was
she who destroyed hope for a cOmmuta-
ton OF their sentence at that time, Louise
Michel calls herself a TeUOluttORndire, but
thaVword has lost its original meaning.
BarDes, who was imprisoned by the Em-
perOr at Belle Isle IN 1855, was a genuine
ifeuOlutiOpndiTe. From the newspapers
he learned of the victories gained by the
French ia the Crimea, and wrote letter
TO his sister, in which he lauded the hero
ism Of the French troops, and exulted IN
their success. The jailer, who examined
all correspondence, read this letter, and,
DESTROYS of pleasing she Emperor, sent IL
20 the Minister OF the Interior. Toe an
swer was pardon and release for Barbes,
but he refused TO leave the prison. DE
persisted in saying that the Emperor had
80 right TO dispose OF his person, and al
last the order came to remove him by
force. Last spring, Louise Michel affirm
ed that il she had followed in the footsteps
OF Barbes, and been driven from prison.
she would have gone TO Russia, where
lthey xiii reC0lUttORRGireS, and do not in.
tsult them.
Thursday the heroine absolutely re-
fused 70 leave the prison until she was as
sured that NJ. GreVy had pardOned all who
were with her. But, when liberated
hearing that CyVOet had not been pardon.
ed, she shrieked; "GreVy has played me
a trick; thought we all were free. l dc
not accept pardon"
Two letters, full Of abuse, were sent tC
the President OF the Republic, letter,
which, because Of their contents, caunO
be published. Louise Michel is in spen
did health, but more insane than ever
Whom asked 70 dine on the eveRttul day
she said:
eAre you laughing at me? DO yQJ
wish me 20 eat OF tue unfoPtusate AMI
NAL which has been KILLED. j need potn
ing.n
Naturally, an interview With this IN
nous woman was temptRtion. He
home Is No. SO Rue Victor Hulgo ana n
Il 49,