Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/493

 other; the sovereignty of the nation had overcome the most terrible of revolts; the civilization and national unity of France were saved.

But alas! at the price of what disasters, of what ruins strewn over Paris, were these results obtained! How many unhappy men, misled certainly by the most detestable passions, but still fellow-citizens, were killed or taken prisoners by thousands! how many gallant soldiers fell pierced by fratricidal balls!

As soon as the combat was terminated, energetic measures were taken for restoring order in Paris: arms were everywhere seized, and in each quarter a rigid investigation was made. During several days, each street, guarded at its two extremities by sentinels, was searched from house to house, from story to story, when every suspected individual was immediately arrested, and all stores of dangerous matters instantly seized.

A large number of insurgents were taken prisoners during these domiciliary visits, many of them important personages, while powder, cartridges, petroleum, and guns were seized in quantities. On every point the barricades were overthrown as quickly as possible, and the streets restored to a condition which rendered circulation comparatively easy.

The public mind, filled with joy at its deliverance, was at the same time troubled by the horrors of the last few days, among which stood pre-eminent the frightful massacre of the hostages. On Sunday morning a letter was written by M. Lamazou, Vicar of the Madeleine, describing the events which occurred at La Roquette during the last days of his imprisonment as hostage:

", May 28th, 1871.

"We left this morning the prison of La Roquette, ten ecclesiastics, forty sergents-de-ville, and eighty-two sol