EUROPEAN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 435, 2 June 1871, Page 2

EUROPEAN NEWS.

THE INSURGENT PROGRAMME.

The following is the full text of the manifesto of the Republican League of the Union :— "Dear Fellow Citizens,—The siege of Pin-is has recommenced. A French -Government! dares to continue the work of Prussians,, and to bombard our city. We protest on behalf of the whole of Paris, shuddering with indignation. It is time to put;: a stop to this fratricidal struggle, which i 3 only prolonged through horrible misunderstanding. It will, and must cease. The day wliea wo shall' prove fco France that Paris* far from desirins:' to impose on France her will, only demands for herself to be independent, and wishes to support and defend not such or such personalities but the great principle of her Communa^ liberty. What is that Communal liberty ? Upon what points do the Bourgeoise and thd probitary population of Paris a<n-ee ? We have indicated them already—let us bl precise. Paris' elects a Municipal Council' charged to regulate alone the budget of th^ city. The police, the assistance publique, the instruction and the guarantee of liberty of freedom are dependent from that Council. There is no other army in. Paris but'the National G-uarda, composed of all'able-bodied electors,- it elects its own offieei-3 and staff,' according to theregulations laid down,by the Municipal Council, in such a manner that the army is always subordinate to the civil, authorities. Paris contributes her own share in. the general defences of France, and in tho Contingent, in case of a national iwaiy, no army-is allowed to enter Paris, and certain limits are fixed to the troops, which they cannot overstep, as is, the case in London, and as it was even the case in Paria under the Constitution of Article 3. Paris elects its functionaries and magistrates. . The legitimate complaints are present to tho mind of all; but by this does Paris separato itself from France? No. Paris does not want to destroy the work of the great French Ecvoliition—she wishes to continue it; but Paris during tho last 20 jeaca has been more .oppressed than the rest of the country; she wishes now to reconquer her privileges, and

to, aSrm her rights. The recent movement is not insurrection, but a revolution. It is necessary that the Government should bind itself to abandon all investigations into the facts which have been accomplished since the 18th of March last. It is .necessary, on the .other. hand, in order to assure the free exr£efcsion of universal suffrage, to proceed with the general elections of the O6mmime of Paris We require a _ great and powerful expression of public opinion to put an entf-'to the struggle. Let the whole of ParifVoW witiS us to-day a8 she did during the seige ; for the salvation' of the Republic and of Wance w at state. Should the Government; of Versailles remain d^b to those legitimate vindications, I; let'.it be w|ll aware that Paris sball ris.3 as one.man; to defend them."