FRENCH MINISTER OF WAR.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3785, 6 July 1899, Page 7

FRENCH MINISTER OF WAR.

ANSWER TO “HISTORICUS

: (By Rev L, C. Servajsan, S.M.) ~ 1 Allow me, in the name of justice and true history, ..to contradict the extraordinary statements made by a certain “Historicus” in . the. columns oV yocs paper of the 3rd inst. According to tjiis apologist of “La Commune,” one of the most criminal insurrections of our times, General Galiffet, the p esent Minister for War of France, has been “the most savage opponent of the emancipation of the toiling mi'd-ms of. France.” Who were these toiling millions? The scum of Paris, a cosmopolitan rabble, men like Simon Mayer, Gaston Pacosta, Raoul Rigault, Felix Pyat, etc., etc!, whoso needs or horrible atrocity revolted the whole civilised world ; men who murdered Archbishop Parbois, President Bonjean, Generals Le Comte and' Thomas, Saturated with kerosene French officers and set them on fire; who murdered in coid blood hundreds of peaceful citizens whose only crime was to refuse (o share in a mad revolt against a lawfully-es-tablished Government. To write, as “Historicus” did. 'Hurt order reigned in Paris, is simply »o falsify history. In thoso'dnys anarchy was such that Bismarck himself urged the Government of Versailles to put down the insurrection., otherwise he Would have to re-enter Paris to undertake the task, with the German army. What’right had a handful of lawless anarchists to impose their wishes upon the whole of Prance? Justice alone,, says “Historicus,” was to sway .men’s minds in the future. Yes, as it did in the past with Marat, Pariton, Robespierre and all the heroes'.'of the groat French Revolution. Passing over the noval, idea, about Napoleon’s flight, I will say ilhat ~ .if Galiffet was then a young man ho was at least a brave officer, "who shared' with General Marguerite the honour of leading that famous charge of cavalry, under the walls of Sedan,, which made King William, an eye-witness of that hopeless act of heroism, exclaim, “What liravo fellows!” MacMahon was in eominand of the army that put down “la Commune.’' Galiffet simply executed received ordws. : Pray, who was that deSpot! I,‘kely to •ascend! then the. throne’; *of , Jfranee? Poor Napoleon was a prisoner, and the Count of CHamhor was little, dreamt of in those days.' Indeed, “Historicus’.’ tries to impute good motives .-to'..his friends, but all his ingenuity cannot disguise their crime, ;; Fortvby fort were the Communists driven hack, says “Historicus.” By fort, “Historicus” doubtless means barricades, since all the forts were in the hands of. the Germans. •-Indeed, it was a horrible struggle. The insurgents, men, women and children, fought like demons, and as they were driven back made a. heap of ruins of Paris. Soon all the public monuments, les Tuileries, I’Hoteh rile Ville, etc., were in a blaze.

‘ And to think that such villains are called by the beautiful name of patriots! Indeed, they had not the nobility of character of that Arab, Mokiani, who, before kindling the fire of insurrection in ■ Algeria, waited, unwilling to tike advantage of the misfortunes of France, till the last German soldier had left the French territory. Then lie sent back to General Augereau the cross of the Legion of Honour he had won in fighting for France, and placed himself at the head of the insurrection caused by the insane policy of the Jew, Cromieux. ■ If “Historieus” wishes to know the glorious deeds of his friends, let him read the historical work of Maximo du Camp, “The Convulsions of Paris.” Then ho will know all the atrocities perpetrated by his “proteges.” The repression of the insurrection was indeed a terrible one. Many honest fellows who had been forced to join the rebels fell victims of that evil hour; but let the responsibility of their death, and. of the death of so many brave soldiers who, after having escaped the German bullets, perished in their attempt to drive back anarchy,, .remain with" the lawless villains who thought the hour of humiliation for France a" favourable time to start the most criminal insurrection of modern times,