The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-13
Liberal Viewpoint
Bv DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

~ JEWS dispatches, even though censored, IN
IN formed us that the trouble in Paris was
the worst since the bloody Commune movement
If 1871 Ones mind actually goes back TO the
past with the query as to whether Parls Will
ever again lead France into a reVoIuIIol'
Paris has been the center OF the four greaC
French uprisings in the last century and a nan.
In the great revolution following 1888 the really
radical Developments began after the ParlSlan
mob brought the king and the natlonal aSSenn-
blv to Paris on Oct. 6, 1889. The July reVolu-
ton of 1880 was engineered and carried througn
in Paris. The revolution OF lo4o was pre-
Inflated by riots in Paris on the night OF Fep'
80 and the second French republic was pro-
claimed a few days later.
More interesting, in the light of recent de-
velopments in Paris, was the great ComInunaru
uprising in the winter and spring OF 1911. Due
to the fact that this revolt was paseo on an
effort to increase the power of the Paris Com
mime it is often referred to as a Communist
revolution. but, it was not such at all IN our
sense of this term. While there were many
radicals who supported the there
were ONLY a handful of what would be known
today as Communists. 1t was not an attempt
to overthrow the capitalist system, but an effort
to assure republicanism and decentralization in
the French political system.
Wv That the leaders of the Communard move
w ment in 1871 wished was to increase the
mower of the local CommuneS throughout France
and to make France a federation OF these COM
munes instead of an extremely centralized form
of government. For numerous reasons, the
paris Commune took the lead in this movement.
After the defeat of France by Prussia in 1871
there was a question as to whether a monarchy,
a republic or a Socialistic commonwealth Woulo
be established. A vast amount OF dlSconCenC
among French liberals and workers had piled
I'D in the tWenty-one years which mad elapsed
since the second French republic had been sup
pressed. The policies of the provisional govern
ment which had been set up late in 1870 were
so unwise as vertically to invite revolt. Greater
follv could scarcely be imagined. The capital
was changed to Versailles, identified in the pub
lie mind with the absolutism of the Bourbons.
This seemed to threaten any hope OF a per-
manent French republic. Moreover, Paris de-
pended in part for its prestige and prosperity
upon the fact that it was the capital of France.
This alienated even many French business men.
n = r
TINE moratorium on debts which had existed
4 in Paris during the siege by the Prussians
was suspended. Debtors were threatened with
foreclosure and eviction at a time when tney
had no money to meet their responsibilities. IN
dustry had been suspended in Paris ana the
workers depended for their scant livelihood upon
the 80 cents a day which they received as mem
bers of the national guard. The provisional
government abolished the national guard, thus
pauperizing the masses in Paris. But the dis
banded guard members still kept their guns.
All his incensed the disgruntled Parlsians.
Led by the veteran revolutionist, Louis AuguSte
Blanqui, the Paris commune defed the pro-
visional government in February, 1871. The lat
ter tried to seize the cannon in Paris, but were
turned back by the -Communards in confusion,
in March Is, 1871.
Thereupon followed a second siege OF Paris,
lasting from April 2 to May q, and lar more
horrible and devastating than the previous
siege by the PruSSians. In fact, Paris had never
been thoroughly laid waste since the raids by
the Mortimer in the early middle ages.
First came a fierce bombardment. Then the
government forces broke into the city and des-
perate street fighting followed for days. Can
non fire wrecked buildings. The Communards
sensing defeat, burned many of the main public
buildings and shot prominent Parisians whom
they had seized as hostages.
The provisional government took a savage
revenge. Al least 1900 Communards were sum-
marty shot and heaped into nameless graves.
Ten thousand more were punished by imprison-
ment or deportation. Not until 1879 was an
amnesty declared for the remaining prisoners
and it took all Of Cambetta's eloquence to bring
this about. French radicaliSm vas diScredited
for a generation