The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-04-04
A eLooo-sTAINED PAGE.

Today the Paris Commune Of 1871
appears more significant perhaps than
ever, in spite OF the thirty-ninc years
that has been paced OUT by time II ia
a picture at once beautiful and hide
GUS. beautiful in the ennobllng ideals
OF the working class, hideous in the
old-blooded atrocities OF the capital
ist class IL Is an incident in work
inE-class history that affords a mag
nificcnt object lesson OF the superior
nature and courage OF the French pro-
IetaTint Of that day as compared with
the trc1chery. the cowardlce. and the
brutality OF the bourgeois
When one reviews the various
events preceding the Commune. moth
Ing but admiration can be felt for
Partisan working class War had been
declared against France by Germany,
which broke ont In 1870. and Paris
wa ln state Of siege The Emp!rs
had collapsed before the middle class
revolution of September I, and the Re.
public vas proclaimed.
Working Men Members Of National
Guard.
Tho armies oil tho Empire were 9th
or shut up at Motz or prisoners In
Germany MI Pnrisian citizens cap
able OF hearing arms were enrolled
In the National Qua rds. of which Tho
workers formed the great majority.
and thus Paris wos defended by It's
workers who throughout tho siege had
demanded the energetic continuance
OF the struggle The Republican gov
ernmont consisted of the deputies OF
the former government, but being
composed almost exclusively of the
capitalist class. the antagonism be-
tween tho government and tho arm
ed proletariat broke out On the 3lst
OF October tho working-class battal-
ions stormcd the city hall. and took
several members of the goycmmout
prisoners. but these were afterwards
freed. and in order 10 avoid a civil
war inside. the government was per
mitted to remain In once.
CapItulation.
Then csmc the capItulation. On the
2Sth January. 1871. after a l91-days'
siege. Paris. starved out, capitulated
While the worts were surrendered.
the Qualifications disarmed. the weap-
ons Of the line taken by the Germans.
and the soldiers, themselves regarded
as prisoners. the National Guard (thc
worBers) retained its weapons and
cannon.
Peace having bccn declared after
tho capitulauon, Theirs. the new head
OF ths government. saw in an armed
proletsriat a menace to the rulc OF
tho properued Glaze. and took stops 20
disarm tho workers. Then came the
hour OF the Commune,
The Hour Of tho Commune.
Theirs issued ordors to tho troops
OF tho hne to stenl the artillery of
the National Guard. which had been
manufactured and paid for by public
subscription during the Siege of Paris
Early on the morning Of the 18th of
March. while Paris was still 10 alum-
Der. General Susbiclli. with 5000 sol.
dlers. pneparod the assault. and
marched on Montmartre: Lecomte's
brigade attacked the Rue des Ros-
iers, killed a sentinel. and threw the
guard into the Tower of Solferino.
BY six o'clock the surprise was com.
plete; but the general In his ankle
ty had forgotten TO bring horses TO
remove the heavy cannon and was
kept waiting two hours for their ar
Tival Montmartro awoke; the news
spread like wildfire: the National
Guards beat the alarm. and were
Joined by soldiers OF the S6th rcgi-
ment. These marched on TO Butte
Montmartre. followed by an unarmed
crowd OF men. women. and children
On the way they mot Lecomte's
troops-the soldiers shouted greetings
TO their comrades OF the Ssth. where
upon Lecomtc ordered the arrest Of
those most conspicuous in this dem.
oDstration of comradcship. The or
der passed unheeded. Onward press.
cd the National Guard-Lecomte com.
manded his troops 10 fire. but not a
musket was raised. not a shot rang
out
Soldiers Refuse to Shoot Their Com.
radeS.
Three times the command was CIV
en-. three times the soldiers refused
TO stain their honor by shooting their
comrades. or besmlrch their manhood
by numbering In cold blood helpless
men, women and children. Tho tables
were turned: Lecomte was arrested