The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-03
rHB AMERICAN EXODUS FROM PARIS
Hostile Demonstrations or the
I" -~ French Fleet. =
General Grants Opinion Of Ba-
1aine's Surrender.
THE SITUATION IN PARIS.


MlEsAx 70 the NEW yaax HERALD.
Ctsy-Press Prssecnlis.s-M. Portable Of
Ibsoss Panishmcns and DEMONSTRATION Of
Chesalier wiks9 In Behalf Of Free
Press-Its SUCCESSFUL ssr1ie-Ceuncn Of War.
LONDON, Nov. 2-P. M.
Paris letters dated in the French capital on the
IA ulttmo, have reached this city.
These communications possess very little interest
with regard to the situation Of affairs inside the
Iortidcaeons beyond the evidence which they arord
Of the gradual ana still more certain hopeessness Of
the French securing delverance from the siege.
The writers mention that Edouard PORTALS,
sditor Of La Yertte, was arrested for pub
nsning news Of the proclamation Of the
"Red" republic at Lyons. After the accused had
had magisterlal examination, the following letter
appeared In La Ver-te as having been addressed to
me edltors:-
Gn,TLEMEN-Havlng learned In the course OF the
preliminary inserrogasory to which NJ. Portals was
subjected, according to custom yesterday in the
PRISON OF the C0ncorgere, that ne positively refused
TO make known the source from which he had drawn
portion OF The information published by him on
saturday last. and the publication Of which, to the
surprise Of everybody, caused his arrest suddenly
consequently consider 1t my duty to make known
20 the Judge d'InstruCtion that l gave to Porta-
Ii the news OF the ReDubsQue Rouge
having been proclaimed In Lyons. / also
informed him Of the existence Of similar, anala-
gOus movement IN the west OF France, ana declared
10 him that had received the Intelligence OF both
matters nom member Of the diplomatic body
who had himself READ it in . late NUMBER OF Lon
aonnewspaper.
From this point the letter Of explanation goes on
70 state and explain how N. Portals frst took the
precautioa to speak to General Trecnu on the sub
iect and even then afterwards only published the
matter the form OF an editorial interrogatory ad-
dressed to tine government. The writer declares
that the Portals arrest had surprised the American
world IN Paris profoundly, and then goes
ON In conclusion thus:--I admit that the
ax1sting situauen is an exceptional one.
fhe government acting In the interest OF oil, ct-
Gems and strangers, Is obliged TO exercise more
vig1lsnt watchfnness than In ordinary times, but
cannot admit that the population or Paris, which
exhibits ct the present moment degree OF calm,
resolute courage approaching nearly to the sublime,
In the presence Of the most formidable army In
europa can be frightened by reading articles In =
newspaper, oven when these articles are printed In
yps Of extraordinary size and contain certain dsa-
Rvceable nswe. In presence Of the accusation OF
which nm the innocent cause consider myself
bound In honor 70 come forward and claim my
share Of Tho responsibility in my own name;
In the name Of the services OF Portans services,
which are rendered sacred 10 the cause OF narona,
defence; and In the Of the liberty Of the press
which has been frequently defended and eloquently
INDICATED by the men, one OF them In particular
Jules Favre), who now sit In power In tho Hotel de
vnle. Allow me, therefore, TO ask his lberauon.
Respectfully,
HENRI WIKOFF, OF New YORK.
This letter rsu IKE bombsnel in the government
camp. ut is evidently a prussian device" cries
xAvre; - second Bismarck come to Judgment p'
Rochefcrt rushed Our for the bsrricades and Trochu
stood on his guard against sudden surprise.
The ordcrhes and aides on duty near the execn-
tive clattered cot ON tho pavement immediately dy
ing on with dispatches in all directions from the
HeSel de vnle
The unfortunate Journalist FOrrans was instantly
erdered ont, but In secret, as no person was per-
united to see him without having first obtained o
special permit for that purpose from the officials
Eventually Mr. Wikon summoned the Judge o
b,ear tho case. and N. Portals was liberated.
The acceptance OF this molehll for q mountain
proves very clearly that the present government Of
franco us following closely on the heels OF the
umpire In Its treatment Of the public press and Jour
paiistic writer's.
sORTIE AND MISTAKE.
NJhe Parls ietters supply the following account OF
the French sortie which was made from the city on
the Dist utImo. The writer says:--rwice during
the engagspent tne soldiers Of the Garde Mobile