The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-04

4 writer in the i1erIs DIS Dur M0hds5,
who was in Paris during the entire asceu.
drncy OF dhe Commune, has published
sketches Of the scene which was presented
in those days OF humiliation and suffering
lie mentions, as among the conspicuous
characteristics Of the time, the utter in
difference ot the great mass Of the well
TODD citizens To the rise Of the sO-Called
government and its proceedings. They
would resort 10 all sorts Of eNpedients Ia
escape lis burdens and To secure personal
safety Tor themselves but it apparently
did not occur 10 them that they owed any
duty 10 the city or the country. Ihey
witnessed the grUSsest Outrages on the
right OF suffrage, and saw men put them
selves ut the head Of affairs without any
authorization or sanction from the public,
but they made no attic mpt TO GepoSe them
or To resist their authority. They meekly
acuuiesccd in every usurpatiOn, caring
only tor their own personal security. And
this characteristic was most conspicuous
among those who had most at stake in
the community
1t has been suggested, with great pro.
pricty, that such condition Of affairs has
lessons al nu little pcTlinence for the cities
Of the United States. There Is growing
up in the larger municipalities u feeling
OF despair, and Of consequent Indifference
In the character and acts Of those who
have the management of affairs They
are often elected by rings, or by other
combinations equally independent G the
public will, and they conduct the govern.
menls which are entrusted To them with
main reference to their own or To other
private interests. Quiet citizens who are
moi included in the governing class find
themselves pOwrTless and Of no account
The only function that Is ever assigned
To them Is 10 pay the taxes and bear the
the burdens For time they feel a nat
ural Indignation at such condition OF
affairs, but they soon discover how pow
erleSs they are To prevent or change IT.
They are not of the people" they do
not belong To the ruling class they are only
taxpayers, and have no real care for the
public good and for the prosperity OF the
city Their Indignation gradually gives
place To despair and they at length
accept the situation, just as nine.tenths Of
the population Of Paris did under the
Commune, and acquiesce in a govern
ment controlled by all sorts OF rascals.
This has come to be the condition oil
affairs in New York, and there Is a ten.
dency towards the same result wherever
the city government Is 80 organized as to
exclude from It's councils the wisest and
best met in the community. Toamerch.
ant in city governed as New York is,
the temptation is constantly present to
make the best terms he Is able TO secure
his interests, with those in power. lie
cannot change them; he cannot control
them; the only thing he can do Is in one
way or another to bride them. Thus only
can he secure immunity from their grind
ing dcspotism. The bride may not be IL
money; II may be presented in othel
forms which are equally acceptable ant
equally demOralizing. Under all dcspot
D inns the continued danger is that the Gill
zen will sacrifice his manhood and hi!
r honor to secure his interests. Thus i
evidently was in Paris and is in New
York, and may be Observation-Disclosures
,jOHrndl.