France, Alternative Libertaire AL #236 - Read Gustave Lefrancais, "Memories of a revolutionary" (fr, pt)

This is not nostalgia or even a historian should be read memories of Gustave Lefrancais, 
published in 1902, memories that begin with the suppression of the revolution of June 1848 
and ended with the repression of the Commune Paris. No, it is militant, a comrade, his 
crossing from one failure to another Parisian political life is exciting. And first, 
because that is not itself affiliated with any party, it is a tasty and accurate observer. 
It is obviously ruthless for the Republican bourgeois camp who will shoot briskly in 1848 
as in 1871 the workers' revolt. But he keeps a real empathy for others. All others who are 
appointed by the time their job with pride because that is the emancipation of the workers 
themselves it is. Every young teacher in 1848, he worked with the Saint-Simonians and 
Fourierists to an emancipatory curriculum (compulsory education from 3-18 years), which 
provides, in three equal parts, manual education, intellectual and artistic children to 
make citizens made. Admirer of Proudhon for his theories on federalism he considered an 
insurmountable theoretical advance for the worker emancipation, he rejects the defense of 
a world craftsmanship that gives way gradually to the industry. Blanqui admirer of his 
courage, he rejects the authoritarian side of a secretly planned coup.

Communist "independent" he is pleased to learn that the binder Varlin do triumph 
collectivist positions against the mutualist majority in the French section of the AIT, 
but he takes care to join. Briefly Freemason, a candidate in elections which he despises 
the pseudo-democratic, tireless facilitator tolerated and monitored by the police of the 
Empire debates, it is above all a pragmatist. Himself admitting that he does not have a 
clear picture of his "communism." It is also very telling about the reception of Marx in 
France that the author of the Manifesto is not even mentioned once throughout the book.

Outlawed and exiled several times, the reader shares all her sufferings, her depression 
and hopes. Until pages panting on the Paris Commune, where he played a leading role 
(voting with the minority against the committee of public salvation) and shame undisguised 
which is his to spend the last hours, collapsed, exhausted, hunted to hide. Peace to you 
friend.

Jean-Yves Lesage (AL 93)

o Gustave Lefrancais, Memories of a revolutionary , Paris, La Fabrique, 2013, 506 pages, 
27 euros.