The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-26
A HOWLING MOB.
Paris INDUCED in One of Its
Characteristic
Demonstrations When the Res
ignatiOn Was Known
OF BRISSON CABINET.
Police Were POwerIass to En-
force Their Orders.
A COmmissary Beaten For Max
ing an Arrest.

>
day after vote of lack of confidence,
say:
First of all the socialists arranged to
hold a demonstration on the Place de la
Concorde. Paul de RouIede who has a
monopoly of patriotism in France, took
this as a challenge. He accordingly
gave his particular believers a rendez-
VOus at the same place and the same
hour. Seeing a fight was inevitable if
the two parties met, the prefect of po-
lice made his plans to disperse both
groups. At every point were strong
detachments of police and municipal
guards, and before the Automobile club,
the ministry of marine and the big gate
of the Tuilleries were stationed COM
panies of foot republican guards. Large
reserve forces were posted in several
parts in addition to bodies of cuiras-
siers and mounted municipal guards
who patroIled the square in every direc-
ton.
AS o'clock drew near groups of peo-
pie began to gather. The first manifes-
tatiOn was provoked by the arrival of
Paul De ROulede in a carriage. When
the vehicle reached the middle of the
Place de la ConcOrde, it was surrounded
by shrieking, gesticulating crowd, and
cries of ''ViVe PArmee." NJ. De ROulede
made a sort of triumphal procession,
standing up in the carriage and waving
his long arms and screaming hysterical-
ly "Vive PArmee." The police were
powerless to keep back the crowd
When the entrance to the POnt de Ia
Concorde was reached, however, the
cavalry succeeded in turning the crowd
and driving it back. At this moment
M. Lucien MilleVOye, editor of the Pa
trie, and one of the loudest patriots in
France, came up on foot with ladies and
another deputy, a pronounced anti-se-
mite. M. NIillevoye was wearing his
deputy's scarf, not as a mark of osten-
tation, or to attract attention, but simp-
ly in order to pass unnoticed.
Police OverpOwered.
He was disappointed. No sooner
was his tall figure seen draped with
the red, white and blue sash than a
howl went up. ''ViVe PArmee," 'fVive
la France ''Vive la republique," vol
leyed out along his path.
Again the police were overpowered
and out-maneuvered
The prefect had issued a proclamation
threatening with instant arrest any one
who cried, down with any institution.
No provision had been made for those
who might shout long live" a particu-
lar thing they fancied; so the agents
were rather non-plussed.
Then a diversion was effected by the
approach of EdOuard Drumont, editor
of La Libre Parole and probably the
worst sufferer from Semitophobia in the
world.
Nearer and nearer swept the roar "a
Bas Les Juifs," swelling in volume as it
rolled along.
1t was a proud moment for NJ. Dru-
mont. He could not contain his emo
tfon while seated. In his passion for
law and order he forgot that the cry "a
bas" anything was forbidden. Standing
up in his carriage he yelled himself
hoarse with "a Bas Les Juifs, Vive
PArmee."
Again and again the Place de Ia Con-
corde was swept clear by mounted
troops. They harassed and broke up
the scattered crowd and naturally
enough more and more people were
driven into the Rue Roya1e.
The steps in front of the Madeline
were black with people and sightseers
covered every inch of the terrace sur
rounding the church: Every window
along both sides of the streets was fill
ed with heads.
Thicker and more compact grew the
crowd and certain symptoms of irrita-
ton began to show themselves.
Its good humor was evidently evapOr-
ating.
the idea to cry ''Vive BrissOn." Imme-
diateIy his vehicle was stormed and
himself handled roughly Jules Guerin,
of the Iibre Parole and NJ. Marrat, an
other anti-semite got up a sort of side
manifestation around one of the foun-
tains in the Place de la Concorde.
A Policeman MObbed.
Cries of "vive rArmee,' "a Bas
Juifs," rang out. NJ. LIE Proust, police
comnissary strode forward to arrest
one of the crowd who yelled Mort aux
Juifs'' The anti-semites at once fell
upon the poor cOmmissary and rained a
shower of blows upon him with their
sticks They even threw him down and
kicked him in the face. A gentleman in
an open carriage threading its way
across the square jumped down and got
the bleeding man into his conveyance.
The wounded man was assisted to an
inprovised hospital in the Truilleries
gardens where the blood was washed
off his face. It was found that his in
juries were not serious. He insisted
upon returning to his post. Shortly af-
saflants in a group of shouting manifes-
tors and had them arrested at once.
Jules Guerin and twelve or so others
were also arrested, as they insisted up
on doing their utmost to excite the
crowd with their infiammatory cries.
Orders had been given to keep the
Place de Ia Concorde permanently clear
and all avenues and streets leading in
to it barred by lines of police.
Then some humorist in the Rue Roy
ale began to make a funeral pyre of a
bundle of obnoxious papers, that is to
saw of Les DrOitS De PHomme. The
idea took immensely. At a dozen points
papers were bundled from the windows
of the kiosks and set ablaze while
youths and excited patriots danced
around them, whooping "A Bas Les
Traitres,'' ''Vive PArmee." Others
thrust single copies of the paper into
the flames. When it was aIighted they
ran along with it until the impromptu
torch had burned itself out. A COM
pany of cuirassiers were sent along the
Rue Royale to drive back the people out