The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-06

The Electoral struggle and General Political
Standardization and Tactics of the
''Reds''-PubIic Opinion Against Radical
Dem0cracy-Lnw and Order-Solid Interests
and imperialism.
PARIS, Nov. 90 1882
II would be very difficult task to describe the
political events Of the last week in detail without ia
tiguing and bewildering your readers SO rapid have
been the changes and so complicated the man9uvres
that every morning the observer has been obliged 10
set his political watch anew, If he wanted to keep
time with the current movements OF the day. Only
o week ago the ''redsn were apparently In the
ascendant in Paris. They thought themselves quite
sure OF victory over the government in the elections
which will begin tomorrow They boldly declared
their programme to De the overthrow OF the
Empire and social revolution" They selected
% their candidates notorious revolutionsts, who
refused to take the oath to the actual constitution
and were, therefore, ineligible but whose election
would therefore, be the triumph OF their pro-
Rran,me Rochefort, Ledru Rollin, Felix Pyat and
Barbes-these were the candidates who boas,ed OF
being non-jurors and whom the 'reds" at all their
public meetings and In all their journals proclaimed
their firm intention to elect at the November cleo.
tons, and they never doubted their success for
moment This was only week ago. Since then
change OF base has occurred OF SO sweeping cha
racter that IT can only be described revolution;
but very different revolution from what was
threatened and from what was anticipated by those
ignorant Of the situation, and OF the true sentiments
and views OF the people Of Paris and of France.
The "redsn themselves have been revolution
ized, their programme OF violence over
thrown and their most Conspicuous leaders
put to night. Yes Ledru Rollin, who has published
two maniiestoes that he thought would throw
France into frenzy Of admiration, has Withdrawn
hts name IRON the electoral lists only yesterday
Pyat Barbes, Louis Blanc, all have done the
same. The only revolutionst that Will run to.
morrow IL Rochefort, and he has become so
utterly ridiculous, even In the eyes or his own
clique, for 1t cannot be called party that his election
will only bring universal suffrage into contempt.
The journals OF the "reds" are wonderfully chap
fallen and these historical cotes are utterly
discounted. Now what has brought about this
striking phenomenon In the limited space OF time
mentioned ia the natural inquiry OF my readers. II
would really puzzle nine out OF ten In Paris ut this
moment how to answer that question. There has
been no disturbance OF any KIND to accom-
psh 1t. The government has done nothing 10
bring IL about The Emperor has been hunting,
reviewing aud dancing at Compiegne, which IL only
two hours by rail from Paris, aud has not SPOKEN
written word tending to preciptate the catasroph
aude TO- Neither the upper, middle nor the work e.
Ing classes OF PARIS, nor OF the departments, hav
made move or gwen sign that mas caused IN 0
'cloud capped towersu OF the "red party' to col.
lapse and melt into the air. Yet results so inpor
tant must have cause, ana a powerful one too all
] can do towards the solution OF this mysterious
problem Is to fall back on conjecture can give
my theory Tor as state, there facts by when
10 explain this mystilcaton, or TO prove that one
cause ~ more true than another.
IN. my .ssoluuon OF the pcrpexing theory Is simply
.s. lne LeVoutonist party has discovered that the
,,s % silent but onnipoent power, known az
guV V opmon, = against them. Calmly and sterniy
" mas contemplated with its omnscient eve their
misefaote antics and their petty pretences Like wild
Deas's nasr ,he resolute gaze or their keeper they
Anse sni ahh pack ana one after another crouched
~ ms leeI Inc working class OF Paris upop whose
ooperatlon ia tue streets the reyolutionsss solely
Jeileu 70 ebect Violent overthrow Of the govern.
ment laughed soornfully In tue faces of tlle tueu
who proposed mat they should give up their abnn.
dant woyk aud high wages and sacrifice their ltves
simply to establish anarchy, with broken down mil
ticians at tie head OF 1t. The middle classes of
Paris who endorsed the revolutions OF 1880 ana
1s4s have exhhted on the present occasion such an
ardent resolution not 10 say such bitter hate TO
these fomenters or disorder, so injurious to the
trade and commerce they represent, that the revo.
lut4onlsts began to sec that their hopes OF Success
mi insurrection we're utterly chimeical and their