The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-14

between the government forces who receive
orders from Versailles, and who represent
France, and the forces of the ''reds," who
occupy aud control. but do not represent
Paris, continues Both parties claim
success in the struggle, which, how
ever 1t may end, deeply concerns the
future welfare of France. President Theirs,
in g circular dated tho 18th, says:--
'sThe government will act at the proper
time. The Commune accounts Of victory at
Paris are as false as they are unprincipled
Our victory will be bloodess. We have re-
ceived the Paris delegates not because they
are Communists, but because they are repuh-
licans My answer to them war, No one
menaces the republic but assassins. The
lives of the insurgents will be spared, but the
workmen who are now paid to be rebels
must return to their lawful occupations
and secession here, as in America, must
and will be suppressed. The venerable
statesman and historian Gulzot has just pub
lished letter, in which he exhorts the Yer
sailles government to be firm, approves the
conduct Of tho Assembly and expresses his
aud decisve. 1t is gratifying TO know that
Marshal MacMahon is at the head Of the army
which represents order and that NJ Theirs,
| yielding no doubt to the advice of experienced
military men, is no longer disposed to con-
ciliatc.
The one grand fact which stands out before
| us in regard to the internal condition of
France is, that Paris is standing out against
the whole country. So far as we know the
truth the trouble in the other large cities, such
as Lyons and Marseiles, has been easily
! quieted, and the rural population waits to
know who is master. If tho peasantry have
any preference it certainly is not in favor of
! the "reds." To them the sreds" are enemies
| who have no more interest in their welfare
!! than to rob them of their farms and to drive
them from their homes. AS the large cities
have failed to respond to the call of the Paris
insurgents and as the peasantry most un-
| questionably lean to the side which repre-
seats order, it is not unreasonable to
conclude that the Versailles government will
win. All this we say on the assumption that
the German forces, who occupy large por-
ton of French territory, and who are, besides,
masters Of Paris if they only choose to make
use of their guns, will not take any part in the
strife. But is it for moment to be imagined
that if the government and Assembly at Ver-
sailles see themselves and their cause in
danger they will not call the Germans to their
aidP We cannot imagine it. Let it not be
forgotten that Bismarck foresaw all this
trouble; that he wisely and sufficiently pro-
| vided against 1t that he hates Communism
that he made peace with the government
which NJ. Theirs aud the National Assembly at
Versailles represent, and that, although he
has said he will not interfere 30 long as the
| terms of the peace treaty are not violated, he
is ready to obey the first summons Of the Yer
sailles government. While we do not forget
that the "reds" have formally declared them
selves willing to abide by the terms of the
treaty of peace, we must still say that Bis
| marck is on the side of order, and that, as the
| Versailles government represents order, the
whole Strength Of Germany may be relied upon
to put down the Paris insurgents. Looking at the
struggle from this point of view, we cannot
but say that Paris cannot win. Without the
support of the other large cities, without the
support of the peasant classes, and with the
forces of Germany ready to act against it,
Paris must once more succumb.
All this having been said, we will not deny
that if the populous centres had more heartily
responded to the Communist call Of Paris-if
all the large cities Of France had proved them
4Lo a.
| nifty, the Versailles government might have
| had no choice but to resign and retire, and
| Germany might have found it convenient to
deal with Communist representative in the
| fulfilment of the conditions of the treaty Of
peace. The occasion, however, is no more !;
the opportunity has been lost. Communism
| has killed itself, and we are not permitted for
one moment to think that the men Of the gar
| ret aud the gutter, and the women of the
sIumsthe liberty, equality, fraternity and
anarchy class-have any chance of final sue
| cess.
As we have no longer any doubt that order
| must soon emerge out of all this chaos it is
more important to ask, How is order
to be established, and what is to be the
resulting form Of government? The
| first question is not difficult to answer.
Order may be established by the resignation
! of M. Theirs. NJ. Theirs is not necessarily the
head of the present National Assembly. He
| is the elect of the Assembly, not Of the
French people. 1t is possible that the resg-
nation of President Theirs might disarm the
insurgents and give the Assembly and the
party Of order an easy victory. 1t is more
than possible that the resignation Of M. Theirs
is the one thing which in the circumstances of
the case is needed. Az he is suspected, by
some to be an Orleanist, by others to be a
Bonapartist, his resignation might save him.