French Martyrs.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 166, 24 January 1888, Page 3

French Martyrs.

1 taring the rise of the French ComM ins, in IH7I. the people wore in- . pile I with a spirit of violence second only to that which marked the tirst revolution. Two executions which took place hv order of the Communards illustrate the uncompromising brutality of the time. Among the men who returned to France after the fall of the Empire was Clement Thomas, who, after eighteen years of exile, had come back to offer his sword to his country. He bad been sent out of France after the triumph of the Bonapartists in IHSI by one of thu “ mixed commissions" then esiablislicd. which, without evidence. often on vague and arbitrary mispietiou, decreed the removal of such j versons as were considered dangerous. Thousands of good men were thus torn from their homes ami sent into exile. On (ienerul Thomas' return to Paris 1 wi ■ placed in command of the National Guard. hut when its duties had cea-ed lie retired to private life. After t o br> aking out of a new insurrection in was one day met. iu citizen's clothes, by a lurinliif of the National Guard. •* Are you not General Thomas ?" asked I ! r. •• Whatever lie my name, 1 have alway done my duty," answered the < ienerul. •• You are a wretch and a traitor !" cried the soldier, and the General was arrested. General I aconite, who had previously lieeu made prisoner by this I'isurri Honary National (iuard. whose \uins he had sent to t ike away, wns trieil with Thomas at a burlesque court martial. This mock tribunal decided, without form or ceremony, that the two Generals should lie tinmediately executed. A 'sails n of the National Guard was .Alta tin' two men wire taken into a General Thomas was told fci takfliis place against the wall. Ihe or|ir\as given, the reports of muskets rent ib air. niui General TliOtnas fell with \\ face to the earth.

•• It is your turn now,” said one of t ie u.'-'is-im to General Lecomte. Tbe Genet al advanced and stepping over, the body of Tho.ua-- took Ins place, with his hack to tbe wall. The orler was given and the blameless man fell dead. It is well to remember that when this time of madness had passed the National Assembly decreed that pensions should lie awarded to the widows of the two Generals and that a monument should be erected to them at the expense of the Slate.