New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-09
THE BARRICADES.

Paris has again, after nineteen years pause,
rushed to the barbados Yesterday, upon the
arrest of NJ. ROchefOrt multitude of his friends
raised the cry of revolt on signal from M.
Gustave FlOurens, who declared that lnsurrec-
ton had begun. Forthwith, Paris with its old
fury began to tear up its streets and turn over
its omnibuses, and to make at least several
quarters of the city scene of war. Belleville
and La Vilette, and the neighbOrhOod of the
Montmartre, were chosen for its demonstration.
Upon this part of the city the lavish genius of
Baron Haussmann for spending the money of
Frenchmen in order to make it greater archi-
tectural possibility to shoot them down, has
not been fully exercised.
The world is not surprised to hear that the
Parisians have attempted insurrection, nor will
it be astonished to hear that the attempt has
been suppressed. The one hundred thousand
soldiers which Napoleon knows how to turn in
upon Paris at moments notice ought to be
competent to make him master of the situation
Curiously their number is Just the same as that
wherewith o usurper one bloody December
overthrow the liberties of France. 1t is the
fatal number of the coup d'6tat. Looking back
upon the day when fraud reared its throne
upon massacre, no man can predict that Napo-
leon will be more merciful now than then, if
only his bayonets are firm and his we'll trained
soldiers are provoked. 1t is impossible to forget
at this time that Napoleon perpetrated one Of
the cruelest, most sweeping saughters of a
people and its Liberties on record. He did it,
it is true, in the name of the people, as Dan
ton, Robespierre, and other less sagacious stu
dents of French nature had done before him. All
that we need remember just now is that he
did dishonest act in q murderOus spirit 1t
was not his fate to be upright, to love life
more than its sacrifice, and his country more
than himself, but to serve the baser part of the
country which he debased. Like all men Of
exceeding ambition, his selfish genius helped to
create the necessity which he made his excuse
for perjury and slaughter. How much he has
expiated the crime of December by holding
France, with the permission of Providence,
under his able sway, it is for Frenchmen to
Judge.
There will be variety of contemptuOus
comments on the latest phase of opposition to
Bonapartism; yet We imagine that Rochefort
and his partisans have advanced a step in the
respect Of those who are disposed to esteem q
tbsnsand sans caiofts with arms in their
hands more than a lonely man eating prison
fare or the bread of exile. The Mamelukes
of the French press, and the funkeys of the
English and American press, had a chance TO
show their instincts when a citizen of Paris
was murdered by Prince for challenging a
Bonaparte. Now Paris in desperation challenges
another Bonaparte. viii he, too murder his fell
low citizens if they excite him land then, what
will the fiunlSeys sayi This latest demonstra-
ton is likely enough to be Quoted
till tie next day OF crisis, till
the next day of weakening and dsintegration.
For the present il will serve to bring back TO
the mind of France bloodier event than this
can possibly be-7tlie terrible deed Of Dccem
Der, 1851. On that occasion one regiment alone