The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-28
rho Paris cenmuns and General c'u-

serct.
One OF the peculiarlties Of the riot which
now exercises an evil influence over France is
that in the early days Of the outbreak no actor
appeared on thestage as the leading character
in the great tragedy which is still going
on in the French capital Men such as Flou-
rens, Rochefort, Valiant, Assy, Blanqui,
Duval and others we might name were con-
spicuous Daring in their acts, bold in their
speech and violent in their writings, they COM
manded attention, secured followers and won
disciples to the doctrines which they uttered.
These qualifications, however, were not all
that was necessary to complete an organiza-
ton which had for its object the obliteration OF
any form Of government in Franco which did
not wholly side with their sentiments. The
Communal sentiment, however was not OF
recent growth. The men who espoused 1t had
for years cultivated it with zeal. The oppor-
tunity in the distraction Of France presented
itself to put it into practice, and that oppor-
tunity was not lost. Passing over the first
days of the discussions between Paris and
Bordeaux and Versailles, we find the Central
Committee managing affairs in the capital In
defiance of the government chosen by the
people of the whole country. After a short
reign this Central Committee gave way to the
Commune, the members of which claim they
have been legally elected by the citizens of
Paris, though only a small minority of the
voting population took part in the matter
The utter helplessness Of the citizens it will
be seen against the roughs of Montmartre and
Belleville afforded the leaders an opportunity
to inaugurate tyranny over Paris worse than
ever exercised by the third Napoleon.
Scarce month has elapsed since these sham
elections handed over the city to the tender
mercies of these men, and yet in that short
time we find that many of them who first
figured in the movement are rapidly passing
out of sight. Some have been killed, others
have retired disgusted while a large number
have been thrown into prison or compelled to
acknowledge as a superior man who up to
very recently has, to all appearances, been
but close observer and warm partisan of
the movement of the party of disorder. Recent
events, however, prove that he was something
more than this, and that his aims were more am
bilious than those of mere subordinate for the
cause of the Commune. His observations led
him to regard the Communal government as
Power without head. He measured the abili-
ties of the men he was associated with and re-
solved to seize power. By intrigue he got rid
of some of them, more he forced to resign
in disgust, while others, such as NJ.
Assy and General Bergeret, who were
opposed to him, he had thrown into prison.
His opponents out of the way, he now attempts
to enforce by arbitrary means respect for his
authority. With the army-such as it is-of
Paris at his command he assumes the role of
the dictator. He possesses, too. in no small
degree the faculty of organization, and lacks
none Of the daring necessary to the accom-
plishment Of great undertaking. This is
the aim Of Cuseret and the position of
the Commune Of Paris at this day. Bold,
INSCRIPTIONS, determined and able, Clus-
eret will, we fear, play his part to the
bitter end, even if it draws down upon
the unucky capital of France misery which
has never yet been told of. Master Of the
situation, the game is in his own hands, and
eager for any daring deeds, are at his beck
AID obey his mandates. A reign of terror
exists throughout the capital. Punished by
fire from without and prosecuted by tyranny
within, Paris plunges on to the ruin it is driven
to by the evil-minded leaders of the Commune