Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-05-30
Paris Taken by the French.


e
Paris Taken by the French.
The reign of the Commune is over The
forces of the Provisional Government have
been successful at every point No sooner was
the resolution adopted to carry the city by as
sault, than the Commune collapsed like wind
bag. The ruffians who had presented SO bold
'front.' SO long as they held the outlying forts
and could shelter themselves behind the ram
parts, proved themselves miserable towards
when they were challenged to fight at close
quarters. They deserted the barbados when
the Versailles troops entered Paris, and suf.
fered themselves to be driven back like focks
OF sheep through the entire length of the city,
from West to East until they reached the old
revolutionary quarter of the Faubourg St. An
tome, and the congenial suburban district of
Beleville. They were only valiant when firing
from windows, and with an outlet of escape
behind them. They huddled about the Place
de la Concorde, but fed as soon as the troops
took possession Of the Palace of Industry,
which abuts upon it. They swore to make a
determined stand behind the formidable barri-
cades covering the approaches to the Hotel de
Vile. Here, again, they seem to have re-
garded discretion as the better part of valor
The barbados thrown up with so much labor
were abandoned, and they fell back on the
Place Bastie. But they derived no more
courage from their proximity to the Faubourg
ST. Antoine than they showed when they re-
treated, in the first instance, along the Rue de
RivoH. Instead of hating to fight, their only
object seems to have been to seek places of
refuge in their old haunts. where they could
hope to escape the punishment their predatory
habits and their sanguinary excuses had so
justly provoked. A few men, alone, held the
strongly fortified heights of Montmartre. The
struggle even here appears also to have been
of brief duration, for it is announced this
morning that the flag of the Versaillists floats
over the position. The instruction has, there
fore, been finally crushed at the very point at
which it began.
But although the authority of the Versailles
Government is greatly strengthened by the oc-
cupation of Paris and the restoration of law
and order in that much harassed city, the very
struggle which has thus been brought to a
close has seriously damaged the prospects of a
Republic. The Communists were quite right
in declaring that the Versailles Assembly, al
though professedly in favor of Republican
form OF Government was very far from being
Republican In its elements, or from desiring to
establish Republic 1t is now we'll known
that fourffths of its members are Monarch
lists, of whom the friends of the Orleanist
princes constitute majority The Imperial
lists have but small representation. When
the election took place the time was not oppor-
tune for them to put themselves forward as
candidates. But the Empire, with all its
faults, is still cherished in the provinces, where
the Orieanists and Legitimists have but COM
paratively small following
The dictatorial course of Gambetta, the sue
cessive defeats encountered by the armies
which were improvised by him, and the terri
BILE loss of life and devastation of property
that were caused by this prolonged and, as it
turns out, most useless resistance, have sof-
tened the memory of the disaster of Sedan
and given the Napoleonsts the opportunity to
compare the condition Of France under Repub-
lican and quasi-Replican rule, with what it was
under the Empire
The Theirs Government is, at best, Provis-
lonai. 1t was organized under circumstances
that were unfavorable to fair expression of
the popular will. Ii has yet to go before the
country to defend the provisions of the treaty
it has made with Prussia, and especially that
part of it which relates TO the cesson Of AL
SAGE and Lorraine. 1t is by no means certain
that its justification will be satisfactory to the
Provincial mind, prejudiced as it already is
against Republic, aud holding. as it does, in
the bitterest detestation the dwelling, agrees
slve, and atheistic principles Of those worst ex-
poneuts of Republican doctrines, the Comrnu-
nists Of the large cities It is the knowledge
of these antagonisms that is anlmating the Ma
poIeonists to those strenuous endeavors they
are now making to bring about restoration Of
the Empire. -BGh Gazette.
Later intelligence from Paris states that a
small portion Of the city is still held by the in
surgents in which they are vigorously lombard
ed A number of the leaders have been shot :;
Dombrowski and Pigault among others. A
remnant Of the Communists sought to cut
their way towards Pantin, but were pursued
by the troops and slaughtered without mercy
number Of women were caught pouring pc
troeum into cellars and firing it, and were shot
by the Government soldiers without hesita-
ton.
All the art treasures of the Louvre and Pa
lais Royale were saved intact, except the library
many valuable books of which were DESTROYED
The hostages held by the insurgents in the Ma
zas-which has been captured-had been trans
terred to the prison Of Roquette. 1t is rumor-
ed that they are safe, at least there is no con-
frmation OF their slaughter, as reported
Terrible fires still rage in Paris
A last summons has been sent by General
MacMahon to the insurgents to surrender
He has told them that all hereafter captured
with arms In their hands will be shot
The difficulty between Prince Bismarck and
the Reichstag, upon the Alsace question, has
been compromised. The former has agreed
that the conquered territory shall be under
dictatorship until lS73 all loans to be sanction
ed by the Reichstag.