Diary of the Besieged Resident in ParisLabouchere, Henry Du Pré
History
Diary of the Besieged Resident in Paris
Labouchere, Henry Du Pré
Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871; Paris (France) -- History -- Siege, 1870-1871 -- Personal narratives
voice: "It was the man who eats pheasants." Indignation.) In any case,
Trochu is responsible, even if he was not the traitor himself. ("Yes,
yes; it was Trochu!") Another citizen, not personally known to the
audience, but who announces that he lives in the Rue Chasson, says that
he has received by accident a confidential communication which, perhaps,
may throw some light on the affair. This citizen has some friends who
are the friends of Ledru Rollin and of the citizen Tibaldi; and one of
these friends heard a friend say that either Ledru Rollin or Tibaldi had
heard Trochu say that it was impossible to save Paris; but that he would
have 30,000 men killed, and then capitulate. (Murmurs of indignation.)
The citizen of the Rue Chasson has received a second confidential
communication, which corroborates the first. He has been told by one of
his neighbours that everything is ready for a capitulation, and he
thinks that he will soon be enabled to communicate something still more
important on this subject; but in the meanwhile he entreats the
energetic citizens of Belleville--(indignation "This is not
Belleville")--pardon, of La Villette and of the other Republican
faubourgs, to keep their eyes on the Government. They must have no
confidence in the _quartiers_ inside the town. The Rue Chasson, in which
he lives, is utterly demoralised. La Villette, with Belleville and
Montmartre, must save Paris. (Applause.) Another citizen says that he
has of late frequently heard the odious word capitulation. How can it be
otherwise? Everything is being done to make it necessary. We, the
National Guard, who receive 1fr. 50c. a-day, are called the indigent.
What do the robbers and the beggars who thus insult us do? They indulge
in orgies in the fashionable restaurants. The Zoological Gardens have
been shut. Why? Because the elephants, the tigers, and other rare
animals have been sold in order to enable wretches who laugh at the
public misery to gorge themselves. What can we, the indigent, as they
call us, do with 30 sous, when a few potatoes cost 30fr., and a piece of
celery 2fr. And they talk now of capitulating, because they have grown
rich on the war. Every one knows that it was made in order that
speculators should make fortunes. As long as they had goods to sell at
ten times their value they were for resistance to the death. Now that
they have nothing more to sell, they talk of capitulating. Ah! when one
thinks of these scandals one is almost inclined to blow one's brains
out. (Laughter and applause.) A fourth citizen takes up the same theme
with the same energy and conviction. He knows, he says, a restaurant
which is frequented by bank clerks, and where last week there were eaten
two cows and a calf, whilst the ambulance opposite was without fresh
meat. (Violent murmurs.) This is a part of the system, of Trochu and his
colleagues. They starve us and they betray us. Trochu, it is true, has
said that he would not capitulate, but we know what that means. When we
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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