The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-24
ITO THE BITTER END FRANCES DEFIANCE 44
 YEARS AGO TODAY

F'orty-four years ago today, on Sept 24, 1870, it was announced that the negotiations for peace between Jules Favre, representing Trance and Count sia, had failed. and the provisional government Of national defense at Tours issued a note of defiance ca11-l ing upon the people to rise and fight to the bitter end. = 1t was the brave chaI1enge Of a prostrate and vanquish- ed land which refused to admit de- feat. and it found an echo through out France. Napoleon was a prison- CT. his government had crumbled. Paris was besleged, yet the failure of enthusiasm, and war to the knife and beyies en nasse, were proclaim ed by the prefects.
 Gabriel Claude Jules Favre was well qualified to express tIl 6 sentiments of the democracy of France, which had assumed power on the downfall of the empire. He had been the strenuous opponent of Louis Napoleon and in the legislative body he, distinguished himself by his speeches in favor of complete liberty of the press and freedom of thought, against the law of deportation, and other undemo- cratic acts of the imperial govern ment. He bitterly opposed the war with Austria in 1859. the French par- tfcipation in the scheme to place
 
 and the war with Prussia in 1870.
 When the news of Sedan reached Paris and was announced in the as- senabIy, F'avre declared for the estab- lishment of a republic and the dee fense of France to the last gasp Pre- found silence greeted his uttera.nees, but they had their effect and before the day was over the cry of Fla re- pl1b1ique's resounded throughout Paris. The city, frenzied by the news of Napo1eon's surrender sWast taken over by the mob. On the pillars Of the Palace Bourbon they chalked the names Of those they wished to take part in the government, and, without 1 further election, the government of national defense was formed with Gen. TrocIlu as president. Jules Favre as foreign minister, and Leon Gam betta as minister of the interior.
 Favre's first act was to call upon the United States for moral support, and the French republic was almost l ir1ar1le lately recognized by Uncle Sam and shortly by Spain and Switzerland. eFayre issued a proclamation profes- sing a desire for peace, Blt asserting that We will not cede an inch of our l territories nor a, stone of OUT fort resses." The negotiations with Bis < marck were foredooned to failure; for Bismarck was determined to have part of AIsace and Lorraine and a. large cash indemnity. Favre admitted l that France had been in the wrong, 1 and laid the responsibility at the door I of the emperor. He asked that while France had no claim on Prussia for ! disinterestedness, but urged Bismarck not to continue a war in which over ]! 200, GOO men had already fallen. He l admitted the obligation of France to repair the il it had done, but added that the republic preferred all the disasters of war to dishonor. Bis narck had resolved not to consider any prop positions of peace that did not involve acquisition on principle, and denied the right of the defense gov 1 sernnent to act
 Although the republic carried on the war with wild energy and Paris held out 142 days. and capftulatsd I, not to the Germans, but to famine, the untrained soldiers Of France were
 unequal to the struggle. In the end
 F'avre had to sign the treaty nego- tiated by Thiers with Bismarck by l which France should pay S1 100000 1 within three years. and all AIsace ex- | 'cept Belfort, and one-ffth of Lorraine including Metz, should be annexed to I Germany.