The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-15
Tho Wretchea Condition Of Frnnce- Oar
Special Correspondence.

AuO Wrctcned Condition Of Frnnce- Oar
Special Correspondence.
The letters from the HERALD correspondents
In Paris and Versailles which we publish In
our issue this morning, will enable our readers
to form an accurate idea of the state Of France
ten days ago. Since then the situation has
become. according to our special kilograms,
worse. How completely the capital Of France
is in the hands Of the mob, the wretched am
bition which animates the leaders of the rioters
to acts Of bloodshed, of robbery and Of sacri-
lege, the deeds perpetrated In the name OF
republicanism, and the character Of those who
drive Paris to It's ruin-all these are sketched
by the pens Of the HERALD specials for the
benefit of It's readers. Notwithstanding the
extraordinary energy Of the Commu-
mist leaders in Partisan energy,
too, which has been rewarded with
large measure of success-stiIl the
appeals of the bad men who call aloud to the
large cities and towns to stand by them are
unheeded. Paris of to-day is not France. It
is simply Paris, and nothing more. Aid from
the provinces it cannot have. The capital
itself is not nearly unanimous in its endorse
mont Of the Commune. Look at the election
returns fraudulent, illegal, deceptive, and
In some instances stained by violence" to use
the language of one Of the HERALD's Paris
correspondents, s'they only represent the
victory of an active, energetic minority" But
sad to record, the mischief and disaster which
are everywhere conspicuous are sinking the
country deeper and deeper into misery.
While 1t is true that the French nation has
not given in its adherance to the party who
control affairs in the capital it is plain that the
working of the Paris rule though it does not
prevail to any serious extent outside Of
Paris, has a most demoralizing effect
on the provinces. The work of reorganization
under the republic is delayed, the farms
remain untitled, the finances of the country
are dsordered, the credit Of the nation sink
ing, the industry of France paralyzed, and
wretchedness prevails almost universally
throughout unhappy France. Men, too, have.
become distrustful Of one another. Theirs
declaration before God and man that he would
remain true to the republic is dscredited by
men who doubt the Executive, but for what
reason they cannot say. Even at Versailles
the counsels of the government are tainted
with distrust. No confidence is reposed in
any one; unity of action, of sentiment and of
determination to resuscitate France, to stay
her downward course or to arrest the civil
strife which is consuming her, all are wanting.
a. Tod nd
the rights of religion denied to the dying,
are acts 80 common In Paris to-day that
they cease to attract attention. On such .
foundation Of bloodshed, persecution and
sacrilege the Communal leaders expect to
rear government which they affect they be-
slider can only hurry the nation still faster to
its doom.
The reign of terror which now racks Paris
has driven two hundred thousand of its citi-
zens to seek an asylum in the provinces or
to earn livelihood in foreign land. The
visitors who in other and in happier days
thronged the capital now shun it as they would
plague. Capital has fed, and the machinery
of industry and enterprise is at standstill.
The gates of the jails have been thrown open
and criminals Of every grade have been libe-
rated to prey upon the country. The chief Of
the London detectives, who is, 1t is said, in
Paris at the present time, estimates the num-
Der of English thieves in the city at fur thou
sand. What they are there for it Is needless
to say. The result which must follow from
such state of affairs is not difficult to con-
lecture. Hoping for the best, however, we
fear the very worst to accrue from the
Vaccinations of those who have substituted
the blood-dyed flag of the Commune for
the tri-color of the republic. Though the
dreadful machinery Of the guillotine has not
yet been set in motion, there is no telling how
soon it may be prepared for its bloody work Of
execution. The cold-blooded and brutal MUIR
ders Of Generals Lecomte and Clement
Thomas prepare us for almost any heilish act
of the mob, when fairly aroused. Stimulated
and urged on by the fierce utterances of a de-
moralized press. which regards assassination
as a sacred duty, there are no acts too base,
brutal or bloody for the party of disorder in
Paris; no instruments too cruel to be used In
the accomplishment of its ends, and no course
too reckless which it will not attempt to en-
force. Society has but one dnty," says the
Journal Oficiel, towards princes-desth.
1t is bound but to one formality-proof Of
identity" There Is no reason to doubt that
these sentiments find warm response in the
minds of the leaders of Paris. Thank God they
prevail not to any serious extent throughout
the provinces! But their effect is felt, never
theless. The country bleeds from every pore,
and the wretched condition of the nation
claims our sympathy, coupled with the hope
that the day Of suffering is nearly past and a
happy future is in store for the now unhappy
France.