The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-25

OftSin vi tuc NOnim"ho IA ss"~'
To explain the origin of the COM
mune in France and the causes that
led up TO it would require O page or
two OF space, except the question be
answered in the briefest manner.
The commune formation of sentiment
in France began in the eleventh CEN
tury, ran strong till the fourteenth
century, then died out to a great ex-
tent, continuing under the lines OF
hereditary influences and accumulat-
ing causes till the last republic OF
France was formed. The original COM
mune was a peace organization. Men
organized and swore themselves to-
gether into very compact mass to ex-
tricate themselves from conditions OF
misery and outrageous oppres sion INTO
which they had been plunged.
BY treaties they obtained peace char
ters-the right of cities to what was
home rule. Kings and their underlings
claimed the right to land, life, service,
property whatever they wanted, from
vIctuals to virtue, they helped them
selves to. The people had no rights
that their rulers respected.
Toward the end OF the tenth century,
uulltI IL. Iiuht VI ANOl
the rural population, equivalent to
graz gers, held conventions and resolved
to live according to their inclinations,
in forest or by the side of a stream, in
such abodes as they could pattern and
build. They claimed the right to pro
tect their wives and daughters from the
violence of those in authority, etc.
As reward, their foremost directors
to continuation of privileges granted
by the King to whoever had money to
pay for such license to riot and out
rage had their hands and feet cut off;
were so mutilated as to prevent posi-
bility of increase, and thus taught that
the power of the King was hard TO
buck against. Efforts to rise, and pun
ishments inflicted on those who at
tempted, marked the years as they
came and went. till long lines of out
RACES made the toilers bold in their
own defense. The people formed
themselves into communitas-equlva
lent to our communities. Thus the
French word, Commune.
They demanded the removal of
wicked local rulers, tax gatherers,
and outragers, and their demands were
granted. They demanded the right to
elect persons to do the bidding of
kings. The right to trial at home, in
the city or district where so-called
ofienses were committed, that the saw
ings of months or lifetime might not
be dispelled in the expense of trip to
some court in the most distant corner
of the kingdom, attended by officers
who thus made fees. Between the
IA mn ole Of al,
powers scraped the people to the bone,
there were steady conflicts as TO which
should skin while the others held: the
communities, or commune, slowly rising
in formation to the condition of
wealth producers. In 1851 the Bishop
of Orleans sided with the communities,
and posed as the defender of the city.
\ charter was secured from Henry /.
securing to the people of Orleans free
dom of labor for the King while going
to and returning 1. ON the vintages.
They were exempted from attending
law courts farther away than Etampes.
City after city obtained con- essions in
the form of charters, granting favors to
communities or commUnes. Soon the
different communes banded together
for resistalce on the occasions of fail
ure on the part of the King to observe
his promises. If member of one COM
munity were outraged, all were sworn
to defend and avenge. No person
could be admitted as citizen without
vote in his favor. The commune is a
French fabric, the outgrowth of the
violence, oppression and disregard
of human rights that so long have
marked that land, and signifies COM
munity rule.
In this country, where $4,000, 1000
people form a community pledged to
the protection Of each others interests,
there is no need to go back to France
for any ideas that were good when
necessary, but long since outgrown.-
Brick Pomeroy'S Democrat