The Warwickshire Herald. — 1885-09-03 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE OLIVIER PAIN AGITATION.  The meeting convened by M. Rochefort at the Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, on Saturday night, to condemn the so-called murder of Olivier Pain, was stated to be attended by about 1000 persons. This (the Times' correspondent says) is an exaggeration. The building was certainly full. It contains 3,200 numbered places, and the space not seated might receive 1,(00 persons. So the number present would be about 4,200. M. Rochefort, when he appeared on the platform, was enthusiastically received. In the course of his speech, he said : The murder of his and their unfortunate friend reised two questions—the infenry of the English ana the cowardice of the French Governments. Both had combined their lies, the one to escape chastisement for its crime, the other to avoid the necessity pf claiming satisfaction. Their rulers said, " Selikevitch asserts, the English Era!nosy denies; let them come to an understanding. We have no interest in the dispute." Ind for a long time everybody in Egypt,and especially the French consuls must have known the fate reserved for Olivier Pain. He had a proof of the fact in u hat betel his own son, who accompanied Pain into the desert with the intention of joining the Mandi. His son had to return to France to serve his time in the army. Pain continued his journey in the company of three Arabs. One of thqse men turned upon him and attempted to assassinate him, but he defended lain-elf courageously with a gun his former companion had given him, and the would-be assassins had to leave him. Three days later he was worn out with fatigue and thirst when he met a poor fellah. The Arab took pity upon him placed him upon his back, and carried him to the nearest English encampment. What did the English do? They put him in prison. For three days they subjected him to the most barbarous treatment. It was not till the whole French coleny in Egypt had uttered indignant protests that he was restored to liberty. The attitude of the French Government in this case shelved that Frenchmt n had no longer protection abroad. They were at the mercy of the bandits of all countries. The cowardly act of the French Government in this matter was an encouragement to the assassination of French subjects. During his speech and at its termination M. Rochefort v;as loudly applauded. Several speakers followed, including M. Vaillant, M. ChauviNre, and M. Endes, who spoke in violent terms, and charged the French Government with submissirn to England. Before resolutions wr re put to the vote a number of telegrams and letters of sympathy and adhesion were read. Among them was a letter from a group of Irish Invincibles in Paris. Citiz-n Tortelier,one of the leaders of the Anarchists, who (the Standard's correspondent says) must have blackened his face and hands for the purpose of making more effect, then climbed out of the arena on the p'atform, and insisted on being allowed to speak. The meeting was about equally divided in favour of and against him, and the consequence was a most terrible uproar, amidst which several people were badly used and blows were free). exchanged. At length, when the tumult bad lasted about a quarter of an hour, M. Tortelier was prevailed upon to get off the platform, and M. Rochefort read the following resolutirn "The 10,000 citizens assembled at the Winter Circus, affirming the solidarity of the French people and of the English people against the Governments that dishonour and oppress them, and convinced that Olivier Pain was assassinated by Wolseley,Kitchener, and the agents of the English Government condemn and reprobate those assassins and their , accomplices of the French Government, and declare that, resolved to avenge the victim, and to make the French nation, which has been wounded in its how cur and dignity, respected, they will persevere till they have brought the guilty to chastisement." The resolution having been voted unanimously, M. Rochefort declared the proceedings closed, and descending into the arena was literally carried off his feet and borne to the opposite door by the enthusiastic multitude who intermingled with their vociferous cheers aid cries of " Vive Rochefort ! "Viva la Commune !" such more menacing cries as "A has Britoon ! A bas l'Ambassado Anglaise !" The crowd followed M. Rochefort, crying " Vive Rochefort!" and " Vivra la Commune!" as far as the Place de la Republique. After M. Rochefort left, the crowd dispersed without causing any disturbance of public order.