The New York herald., 1871-09-16
THE PARIS MASSACRE,
George Wilkes Review of the Stu
alton in France.
The Commune and the Inter-
nationals.
Revolution Of the Princes and
the Priests.
>.o~-~-~~~~~-N~~~~~~~~~
[. HIER IL s. 30 B
A Piquant but Unsound Judgment
of the Case.
PARIS, August 80, 1871.

L Lave not Written Oh late, because was Will
ing TO allow brief lapse Of time TO test the opinions
which have expressed upon the momentous pro-
blems, social and political, which are now working
themselves out IN France. In these opinions, and
especially in my defence OF the Communists, have
for the most part stood aone but already the rapid
progress OF the trutn is vndicaung the accuracy Of
nv views, and bringing many supporters TO my
slde
IN my last / traced the conspiracy which the mon.
archsts OF Europe. under the leadership Of that
crafty aud accomplished Jesuit Monsieur Thers
had concocted to take France captive in the hour of
her agony and her at the feet OF the Bourbons
and the Church. The plot was cunningly conceived,
and the opportunity was such as had not been
offered to ''Infanbiiity" and "Divine Right" since
both had been trodden In the dust by the first
French Revolution.
To ordinary aspirants, plunged as France was
Into misortunes which threaten the loss OF her ex-
istence the key OF this opportunity would not have
been dlscerniole; but that sleepess schemer for
universal power, the Church Of Rome undisturbed
by the emotions which racked and distracted oil
other parties In the country detected in the chaos
which followed the surrender Of sedan the unex-
pected chance for which 1t had SO long and YEARLY
been waiting.
The Second Empir, had never been its favorite.
DIstrusting from the first the adventurer who was
Its founder it had taken a bond against his deser-
tlon by placing him under tho influence Of q Span
ish wife; and even then 1t barely tolerated his
throne because forced to rely solely upon the mea-
gre security of his pillow His rum and the oonse-
quent flight OF the bgoted woman who had long been
the only real support OF inianhility in Western
Europe threatened to abandon the Church TO the
caprice OF new French democracy and also 10 the
mercy OF what had recently become a still more
dreaded apparitlon,
TIE ISTERSATIoNALE.
II was an opportunity which called for bold and
comprehensive action anu which promised to tax 10
the utmost all the genius and Of the most
powerful organization ever known to the world-to
wit, the organized industry OF religion compacted
for sixteen centuries under the subtle institutions OF
the Roman Church IL IS at this point OF the French
problem that we perceive NJ. Theirs emerging from
Its councils and entering upon the scene as a direct
Ing figure.
/ have already related, under the caption Of
"Thiers and his job, the trip last winter OF the
little French philosopher among the crowned heads
Of Europe, to organize IN their interest well
In the interest OF his clerical employers, combined
resistance TO a threatened French republic and the
lnternauonale. His propositions were OF as much
interest TO Prussia TO any other Power So after
he got through his work, saw him permitted 10
re enter Paris through the German lines and avail
himself OF full two months start In secretly manipu
lating france for The general election, which was
the necessary preliminary 10 any treaty OF peace 1t
was, consequently, not unlu all tHlS Sly WORK Hdl
been performed and that every Church candidate
had made himself ready for the canvass that an
election for a National Assembly was proclaimed
The people were, OF course, taken unprepared. But
one consideration animated every honest mind, and
that was
A SETTLEMENT WITH THE INVADER.
Under the pressure Of the public danger the ordi-
nary scrutiny OF mere political opinions was volun
tary suspended and the trusting nation was grati-
erl for ,fS confl
tnat as soon the canvass proclaimed host OF
persons sprang forward as candidates who were
not only Of the highest apparent respectabIy, but
who had latterly been very loud IL the expression
OF most literal opinions. THIS Illusion was dissL
pated, however, as soon as these candidates were
returned. brief examination OF the list exhibited
the fact that nearly all OF them were royaists, reac
toniss and blgots, and 1t at once became manifest,
as II by Hash OF revelation that the old enemy
had stolen march upon the people anu that the re-
public had once more been betrayed The citizens
Of Paris, foremost always in patriotism and In
courage, the iTst to take steps against the OBJ
vous treschery Of the Assembly AS soon as 81 the ne
the members in order that the sense OF the country
might be taken upon the terms OF the capitmation
through tue ordeal OF new election.
Under any form OF constitutional government this
reasonable demand should have been aceeoed 10;
had been the result OF conspiracy, naturally ex-
tended It's existence by an act Of usurpaton Afraid
TO confront the resolute
INDEPENDENTS OF OF THE pARIsIANs,
they ned with the government TO Versailles, and left
no doubt OF their intentions 10 subJugate the
capital, by oppolntng mayor and other elect.
I've onicers TO rule over it in tnelr name. It
was then that Paris, left TO rule itself, and
understanding the matter better than any
portion OF e'world which has been SO ready to
condemn IL, drew the sword in defence OF municipal
liberty and appealed TO the nation 10 unite with 1t
In arresing tue surrender 10 ROYALTY, which was so
plainly meditated. The people OF the provinces re-
eponded TO This appeal, and sent deputattons 10 NJ.
Thiers 10 express their apprebensons that hls nill
might prove fatal to the liberties OF the whole cOun.
try. HIS repy TO these deputatons In every case tas
OF government was possible IN France but that OF
republic and the departments thus deceiiIully
mune to be assassiusted.
No sooner l4Is bloody triumph consummated
than
VERSAILLES THREW orr THE MASK.
Thlers made speech TO the Assembly (Which may
be regarded IN the Ight OF q report TO the crowned
heads and the royalsllc deputies 10 the Chamberl,
In the course OF which nc apoogized FOR the republi
saying IDat his nouons OF republic were const-
tuLional monarchy on the English plan, and not on
course he significantly added that 1.-THE republic was
the fact OF to-day, but monarchy to be the fact
cheers greeted him. not only from iour.lIths OF the
Assembly, bat from every part OF Europe; while the
Inc English mind, re-echoed the oft-repeated
English slander tnat the French people were not
ine Church now seemed TO be at the top Of lts
good fortune. Everything had gone as u had con
ITNcu fIOm Tue cAUtfntbb utpAHS VI IIVHSu
belef--an unbelief which had peen steadily wden'
ing since lIsS-it had apparently recovered ts EN-.
pre- AT single bound. ana stood undispuled master
over prone anu helpless country, which had Oe-
come mere state or shrcds aud patches IL is not
10 De wondered at, therefore, that inflated with the
establishment OF Inlainbly at Rome, and intoxh
Gated with It's recent victory over republican liberty
In SPAN, the Church regarded Its miraculous reas-
tendency IN France as direct manifestation by
Heaven that II should resume its vlcegerelcy
throughout the world over tie affairs OF men. lt
IN this sp1t II entered pars az the head Of the
army OF Versailles, and gave directions for
MASSACRE EN- hAssF,
simply 10 punish 10 for OcDg hereto That was the
terrible logic OF tic ndlsCrninate slaughter OF both
friend aud Goe-of not only women but OF little chill
dren-during the ruthless stretch Of five long days
1hat the reason why during that oTgie OF assas-
kinatlon amnesty was ever offered, no mercy
ever shown, and also the reason why the sanctuary
ftsef was permitted TO be violated by the massacre