The National tribune., 1904-03-10

In France which exists to this day. This
Government made peace with the Germans
In January, 1871, and the Germans re-
tired from Paris. Then a great number Of
the PEOPLE of Paris, generally of the lower
and most disorderly element, went into
violent opposition to the new Govern
ment, and especially to the influence that
the Departments outside of Paris had in
the Government. They claimed that the
Government had grossly mismanaged the
settlement with Germany, and had done
number of other things which justified re-
sistance to it, and they revived the old
Commune de Paris" which had played
such an important part in the first French
Revolution. A large part of the National
Guards refused to give up the arms which
had been intrusted TO them for the defense
of the country, and went into open rebel
lion, being joined by the rOwdy and crimi-
nal elements in the city. They instituted
a regular Government under the name of
the Commune de Paris" While the Re-
publican Government with Theirs at the
head was located at Versailles. the Com
munists took possession Of the city, col
-lected money. compelled the young men
TO enlist in their regiments, and fercely
opposed the entrance Of the Governments
troops. They committed the most horrible
outrages, among these being the shooting
Of the venerable Archbishop of Paris. and
a humber of priests and prelates Osten-
sibly in retaliation for executions by the
Governments troops. The Red Insur-
rection" began March Is, 1871, and the
Government troops began a regular siege
of the city, which lasted until May 70. the
REDS" being driven from one point TO
another until, finally, the whole city was
In the hands Of the Government. 1t is
estimated that $500 of the Communists
were killed, including those shot immedi-
ately upon capture, and 3S,57S were taken
prisoners. OF these several thousands
were exiled to the penal colonies at Cay
enne and elsewhere.
During all this time our Minister to
France, Hon. Elihu B. Washburne, the
friend of Gen. Grant, remained at his
post with the greatest heroism, as he had
done while the Germans besieged Paris,
do SO. BY SO doing he accomplished a
great deal of good in protecting not only
our own citizens, but those of other cOun-
tries. The following interesting data are
excerpts from letters written home at the
dates given by Minister Washburn's
nephew, DIR. Harry A. Robbins, now
member Of Kit Carson Post, of Washing
ton, ID. c., and Past Medical Director of
the Department Of the Potomac, G. A. R.:
65 Avenue de la Impeatrue,
Paris. March 10, 1871.
At 8 O'clock on Friday evening, / left
: the Charing Cross Railroad Station in Lon
don and arrived in Dover at IL o'clock.
The Channel was smooth---no one sick;
at 1915 we arrived in Calais, where we
had to show our passports. The cars
were filed to oyerfowing. Fortunately
succeeded in getting good position in a
frst-class railway coupe. The journey
was quite uninteresting until we arrived at
Amiens, where We found the place guarded
by Prussian troops, and they were superb
looking soldiers. We constantly saw
them until we passed Saint Denis. / ar
rived in Paris at o O'Clock the next morn
Ing called a yoiture, and was driven TO
the residence of His Excellehcy, Mr..
w ashburne, where / was cordially greeted
. by him and all the family. The fact is, l
am one Of them. Ali the children call me
Cousin Harry. After dejeuner Gratiot
and | walked down the Champs Elysees
and through the Place de Ia Concorde to
the Place Vendome. We saw an immense
number Of disbanded troops walking
around, but as far as we could see, every
thing was quiet. The day was cold and
bleak, like November day in our coun-
try. Mr.. Washburne passed the evening
with US, and we all retired early This
morning we took walk, through the Bots
de BOulogne, which is short distance
from the residence Of the Washburne
family. l could not recognize the Bots as
being the same place that was so attrac.
tive last Summer. A great many of the
trees had been cut down, and tops Of 9th
ers are all clipped of. The Avenue de In
lmperatrice was used as a camping ground
during the war. We met a DIR. Riggs,
and Gratiot introduced him as being
brother OF George Riggs, Of Washington
We came home to dejeuner. In the after
noon DR.. Peet called on me, and we took
long walk together. The Champs
Elysees and BouIeyards were crowded
with PEOPLE, all cheerful and happy.
You must have seen through the papers
that the Government CThiers) has been
driven out Of Paris, and at present is in
Versailles. We passed through the Place
Vendome, and saw the superb Column
which il the most beautiful of it's kind
In the world. The Place is now guarded
by renegade National Guardsmen and
Regular troops, who have turned over 10
the 7Belleviiie and Montmartre insurgents
What the reyolters want is mystery to
me. Paris looks different only in the fact
OF its not being kept as clean as it was
before the war. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan
with two of his staff, are in the city. anf
We are going to give them a dinner to
morrow evening. To-day is Sunday. DIR
Peet told me that he read the services n
the American Episcopal Chapel this morn
. Ing. Rev. DIR. Lamson, the rector, is tenn
porarily absent.
!. March u, 1871.-I have been to the
:. Legation TO write, but it il very crowded
there. / have, however, made an arrange
ment with Antoine to have half of his
desk. Antoine is a very important person.
I do not know exactly how to place him.
You might call him steward, or an old
time majordomo: that is. he does every
thing for everybody. He is not an attache.
Perhaps he is better described as being a
generalutiiity man.
In the evening I went to our dinner
given to General Sheridan and his mill.
tary companions. Dr. Peet and I took a
yoiture, and drove down Rue Chaillot to
the Champs Elysees, through the Place
de Ia Concorde fThe statues there are all
vailed, 50 that the Prussians could not
see them as they marched through the
euua rel We then drove fh rou0h fho D..