St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-08-23
AFFAIRS IN FRANCE.

Paris, Aug. 22-It appears that a Sc
ries of anarchist demonstrations was
oecided upon at meeting held Saturday
night. The Journal Du Peuple, edited
by sebastian Faure, published a mani
iesto denouncing the military party, the
anti-Semltes, the Monarchists and the
priests, and urged It's supporters to meet
force with force. Should Dreyfus he
convicted" said the manifesto. ut will
be the triumph Of bandits. Should he
De acquitted the military section will be
In open rebellion"
The paper called on all anarchists IN
demonstrate the priests and the iesuits.
copies of the manifesto were scattered
oroaocast, and the result was that the
anarchists Hooked into the streets, sing
ing the 'Carmagnole," and crying "A
pas Roche1rt," "a bas Drumont" and
a bas Guerin."
SEBASTIAN Faure and Faberot. we'll
known revolutionary anarchists were
the rlngleaders. Faure, standing on
the pedestal Of the statue, which rises
al the centre of the Place de la Repub-
hque, addressed the crowd. Among
other things he said that the anarchists
should be masters of the streets.
The police then interfered and dis
iodged faure and Faberot, making
three arrests. The crowd at this point
dispersed, but column of demon
strators, headed by Faure and Henri
q Horr, made for the Place de la Ma
ton.
Inc police bfoke through the column
and struggle for the mastery followed.
ehots were fired, and M. Coulter. COM
Hiissary OF police, was stabbed with
knlte' This threw the police into mo-
mentary confusion. The mob re-as-
sembled and ran toward the Place do
ID Nation. The police, reinforced by
a squad that had been held In reserve.
MADE another attempt to stem the cur
rent and fresh, fierce fighting occurred.
three constables being wounded.
In the meantime the anarchist mob re-
Traced It's course to the Place de la Re-
puphque, smashing the windows of re-
hgious edifices on the way. Suddenly
the column made loop and curved to-
ward the Church of st. Ambrose, where
the rioters smashed the windows.
Proceeding thence to the Faubourg du
temple they formed up into a compact
pody. Hatchets were suddenly pro-
ouced, with long knives, stolen from the
counters OF shops, and concerted rush
was made upon the Church Of st. Jo-
seph. The aged sacristan. seeing the
mob, hastily closed the outer gate. hut
this was soon forced with hatchets and
bars of iron. The massive oaken doors
were then attacked.
According to the first account the
wild horde burst into the church which
instantly became scene of pillage and
sacrllege. Affairs, fonts and statues
were hurled to the floor and smashed
pictures We're rent, candlesticks orna-
ments and hosts from high affairs were
thrown down and trampled under foot
Inc cruclnX above was made the target
lor missiles, and the figure Of the Saviour
was fractured in several places.
Then, while rancous voices sang the
"Carmagnole," the chairs were carried
outside, piled up and set on fire in the
centre of the square, fronting the
church.
When this stage was reached, the
orucifiX as pulled down and thrown into
the flames. Suddenly cry was raised
that the statue Of the Virgin had been
forgotten, and the crowd returned and
tore this down also.
Meanwhile the sacristan, who had
been captured by the anarchists es-
capped, and called for the police and Re-
publican guarh who promptly arrived |
with many constables. They were COM
PEELED to fall back, in order to form I'm
into line of defense, as the anarchists
them fearfully with knives.
AT length. the officers began to gain
the mastery. score of anarchists
took refuge in an adjacent house.
others entrenched themselves in the
oelfry, and fiercely defended themselves
by throwing missiles on the Republican
Guards, but finally these were dislodged
twenty anarchists were arrested. taken
% the police station, searched and found
% be carrying revolvers, loaded sticks
Ind knives
When the police entered the church.
hey had just set fire to the pulpit. The
Interior of the edifice was a complete
wreck. Seven valuable old pictures.
nat can never be replaced, We're ruined
After the mob had been driven away.
Abbe Lacour the incumbent collected
he fragments of the sacrament and re-
'laced them in the ciberium. The peo-
lie living in the houses near by extin-
,uished the bonfire.
Besides st. Joseph's church two cafes
we're wrecked.
lamentable feature of the affair is
hat it will be regarded as pro- Dreyfus
and react greatly to the
etriment of the chances of acquittal.
1t is much to be feared that yester-
avs scenes were due to the weakness
he government has displayed over the
'uerin affair. The governments tolera-
ion and desire to avoid bloodshed has
cen misinterpreted with the worst re-
ults.
c.L