The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-26
BERGERET'S BOSH.
S>~~~~~~o~~~>~~~>
A Commune Commanders Communica-
tiOnS to Herald Commissioner.
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He Gives Opinions as Are
Opinions.
0>>>~~-~~~->~~~~>>~~~oo~-s
NO GOD BUT UNIVERSAL HARMONY.
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he Would Fight God as a Tyrant, Just as he
Would Fight the Empire.
Free Post Prandial Discussion of
Church and State Matters.
Unmerciful Criticism of Cluseret, Roche
fort, Gambetta ct al
NO GOD BUT UNIVERSAL HARMONY.
Unmerciful Criticism of Cluseret, Roche
fort, Gambetta ct al
PARIS, May 7, 1871.

PARIS, May 7. 1871.
went to see General Bergeret to-day. Since his
release from Imprisonment he has been appointed
commander OF the reserve forces OF the Commune,
and has his headquarters at the Old Paiais Bourbon,
where Rouher's Corps Legislatif used to sit. The
palace is now principally devote to great work
shop where sand bags and other things OF the sort
are manufactured for the use Of the Commune,
which just now Is employing great quantity OF
them.
SCENE IN THE ANTEcHAMBER.
l was shown to sort OF antechamber on the
ground door 10 await the General who, was In
formed was dressing to 60 out There was a poor
woman awaiting an audience here who told me
that she was the wife OF one Of the huissters and
that they were going to drive her out now because
her husband had gone to Versailles. testified
tome sympathy for her, and this, think, caused
ne to be looked upon with suspicion by the guard
aoing duty, hutsster, for he looked III
me hard and a few minutes afterwards when
commenced speaking English with friend
who accompanied me, he ordered us in
q very surly tone TO speak French,
adding that people were not allowed to speak pntOfs
there submitted that we not speaking IA DIS
but English. He insisted that it pdois ana for
bid our speaking IL in his presence. i informed him
then that we should speak whatever language
suited our convenience, and continued the CONVEX
nation. He flew into a violent passion at iasL anu
calling in a soldier put US under arrest, giving
orders TO have us watched closely while he went to
LOOK for somebody or something. THIS did not stop
our tongues, however and we continued 60 pour out
an uninterrupted stream OF English, until
THE ARRIVAL OF TIE GENERAL,
Who without perceving our unpleasant preIica-
ment, released from it unconsciously, By ad-
vancing and cordially shaking our hands. The
soldier detailed TO guard US saw US depart with
open mouth and eyes. seemingly not quite certain
that he ought not to arrest all, the General in
cluded.
NO CONTRACTORS NEED APPLY.
We were going TO breakfast together but on the
way out the General conducted us through
three or four rooms now used as work.
shops, where few women were at work
making sand-bags. "Boa jour, cioyeanes.n
said the General lifting his hat politely and we all
lifted our hats anu said "3oa jour. citoysaneS.n He
then asked them IL they were pleased with their
Work and their pay 10 whicn they answered that
they were very well pleased indeed since the new
arrangement had gone into elect. Upon inquirng
what the Dew arrangement was General Bergeret
informed me that he had adopted the plan OF paving
the workwomen directly for the work done instead OF
giving IL on. In contracts and thus letting 1t pass
Ehrough three or four different hands. BY this means
The women not only received q fair recompense
COR their work, but the Commune actually
eealized profit by the adoption OF the
system, and the swarm OF government contractors
that grow rich, as well by stealing the hard. earned
money OF the people as by depressing poor sewing
girls, are thus deprived OF the means OF carrying
on their parasltica business. In reply 10 MS aues
ton as to why there were SO few women present
they said that 1t was Sunday aud most or them had
gone 10 church. He afterwards conducted us
through the hall OF the old Corps Legslatif which,
deserted ana gloomy and silent as 1t now is, con-
rasts strangely with the scene OF confusion and
disorder winch took place there on the Attn OF last
September 4e
AT BREAKFAST.
We went 10 breakfast afterwards. and e. :! sseral
not being very busy we fingered long ~ the
Tonsage and the poire. and had very interesting
conversation with him a variety OF subjects, in
GLIDING the present situation OF Paris, religion and
general politics. AS his views on many OF these
questions nearly Identical with those OF the
greater number or Frenchmen who sustain the
Commune, and as they are, to say the least OF II,
very peculiar will try to give, as nearly as posi-
,sic, OF his ideas which appeared to me TO be
the most striking.
With regard TO the present situation OF Paris he
said that they thought they were IN condition to
resist Theirs indefinite length OF time no matter
what may be the forces brought against them.
They have enough men 70 defend Paris even against
the Prussans, and they are not AFRAID OF the gen.
darn es OF Versailles.
CORRESPONDENT But win they not surround and
starye you out, as did the PrussiansY
BERGERET-No, for two reasons; first, the Yer
sailles government has too many friends here, who
would have TO suffer and
DIE or STARVATION
II 1t should come TO that at last This Is a
contend with. They had no friends IN Paris.
ond II was matter OF Indifference 10 them II the
whole population starved to death win Thiers IL
Is different. II he cuts OF our supplies we, oil
course must take care OF our own friends first and
she troops OF the Commune who are lighting the
battles, and their families, must be fed as long as
chere is anything to eat. In the meantime the reac-
Iionists the enemies OF the Commune Will have TO
suffer, If suffering there be; and we think that the
Idea OF starving ms friends TO death In order TO
reach his enemies must strike even The obtuse intel
lect OF THEIRS something absurd to be under
taken In the nineteenth century
COUNTING on THE PRUsSIANs
The second reason is:-We have positive informa-
ton that the Prus ans do not intend TO retire IRON
tue neghbornood OF Paris until the difficulty is set
tied Now as long as they are here they Will sell us
provisions u we y y for them, for tue simple reason
that 1t is their Interest TO do 20. they are good
business men. and that IL point which above all
others they understand perfectly. II Theirs THINKS
that the Prnssans win 90 against their own private
interest 10 insure the success OF either one OF the
c0ntending parties he Is greatly mistaken. Jules
Favre 10 the contrary Notwithstanding.
RESOURCES LEFT
CORREsPoSDBNT-but Paris Is not rich enough to
keep up this thing forever. Where will you get
your money from
DEMONSTRATORS can sustain the struggle as long
as Versailles. AS for money we Will ind IL.
THE TREASURES OF NoTBE DAME ALONE
Will pay the troops OF the Commune for months.
The Church treasures Of Paris that are lying Idle,
that have been Withdrawn from the world for ages
will I've brought back to the light, ana Will furnish
the slnews OF war 10 the Commune. curious
fact. The Church has accumulated mass OIL use
less treasure that Will probably be used to destroy
It's power and influence.
BgRsRRRT on RELIGION.
CoRREsPosDENT-Yc have no religion, oil
course. DO you however, believe In tue iminor-
tality OF the sUuf
BERGEREr--I believe In the immortality or the
human mind; but not OF tue individual SOU. we
1--we; we grow up; we fall and die as tue leaf, ana
return 10 the dust, from whence we came; ana we
are only Immortal IN our children.
NO con.
CORRESPONDENT DO you believe IN Godf
BERGERRr-NO.
CORBEsf0NDRNT-Why'
Observation-Disclosures IL is not republican. Be-
cause, n there
COD HE would BE A TyRAST
Tight God IN the universe ala the empire In
France. II Is the oneman power, the pouoou.