Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-05-04
r.r INsunarNrs OF PARIS

THE INSURGENTS OF PARIS.
The world awaits with interest the
result of the bloody strife now raging
In Paris. We feel reluctant to doubt
the ultimate success of the Versailles
Government; but 1t Is fearfully slow
and hating all the time. 1t is now
evident that Thiers made a mistake
in insisting on the choice Of Versailles
instead Of Fontainebleau for the seat OF
government. The very proximity Of
the former to Paris ought to have been
sufficient to have decided the voting
against it. The reason why the Legis-
lature thought it unwise to sit in Paris
itself was that it would be in constant
danger from the mob but this reason
Is almost equally strong as regards
Versailles, for that city Is within three
hours march of the Capital, and within
half an hours ride by two lines OF
rail; and it Is only six miles from
Fort d'IsSy, which Is now in the hands
OF the insurgents. Fontainebleau Is
thirty-eight miles from Paris, suifi-
GENTLY near to the Capital to admit Of
easy communication with 1t, but yet
far enough from it to make 1t difficult
for a Paris mob to reach 1t. 1t seems
odd that NJ. Theirs should not have
been more strongly impressed with the
dangerous position of Versailles, when
he has himself given to tho world n
very graphic description Of the dread
full scenes which took place there on
the 9th Of October, 1879. On that day
n Paris mob, headed by tho turbulent
womcn from Versailles, attacked the
palace, massacred tho guards, and
brought the King and the royal family
family back to the Tuilleries. Had it
not been for the fidelity Of the garri-
son of Mont Valerien, 1t Is not improb-
able that the 4th of April, 1871, would
have witnessed similar scenes at Yer
sailles to those of the 9Th Of October,
1879. History, it is said, repeats itself,
with variations as to the minor details,
and the Assembly might have taken
the place of Louis XVI. However,
"all is we'll that ends wcll," and 1t Is
fair to give NJ. Theirs credit for reasons
in selecting Versailles which are not
apparent to outsiders. His Govern
ment maintains q confident tone not
fully warranted by recent events with
regard to the suppression Of the dis
~turbances, and he himself, from the
first, said "he had a policy" 1t may
DO that he has correctly estimated the
strength of the insurgents, and deemed
it wiser to allow the instruction to
run its act now than to repreSs 1t by
pitched battle among the Frenchmen.
and have it smouldering to break out
at some future time. At all events,
some of the most turbulent OF the
leaders We're disposed Of recently by
the shot Of Mont Valerien, and If the
remainder of the men whose communist
teachings have brought about the pres
ent disastrous State of things a be got
rid Of in the same way, there will be
better ground for hope for the restorl-
ton of prosperity to France. Other
parties, however, are apparently at
work to keep the country in a ferment,
hoping thereby In timc to upset the
present Government and bring back
the Empire or the Monarchy. The
Paris forts are playing a curious part
in history in these days. NJ. Theirs,
when he built them, laughed in his
sleeve at the idea Of their being really
wanted against a foreign enemy. The
true object for which they were de-
signed has now been excmplifled by
Mont Yalerien, viz: to keep the Paris
Inns themselves in check and had forts
st. Dennis, Aubervilliers, Romainville,
Noisy and Rosny, held by tho Ger
mans, been in the hands of the Yer
sailles Government, the insurgents Of
Montmartre and Belleville could easily
have been shelled out by those forts,
without the loss Of n man to the she'll
ing party. A glance at the map of
Paris demonstrates the remarkable fact
that the forts r so placed as to be
most numerous where the population
Is most turbulent. There Is not one
between Mont Valerien and st. Denis;
but then the intermediate portion of
the eaceiente is opposite the fashionable
quarter of Paris, where NJ. Theirs re-
sides.