The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-16
Tho situation I'm rnris-Our Latest special
Ccspntcies.

materially alter the situati0n. circular
from tho g0yorlmont announces that tbs
fgh.ing Of the last two days was OF an unimpor-
tant character that the troops occupied good
positions, and that sortio on the part of the
Rods had been rcpulsed. Shells are falling
within the city, reaching points tina. have here
tofore remained untouched, and citizens have
been wounded il localities considered out of
reach of tho enemy's projec.iles. There Is
under fire, and crowds of the inhabitants Of
Paris are demanding passports to leave the
city, now that the price has been reduced
10 half franc; hundreds ore, however,
turned away disappointed. The delegates
have returned from Versailles and the papers
are violent .. the conditions demanded by
THEIRS. Rochefort insists that Vinoy, CALI
pei Favre, Picard and MacMahon shall be
brought, chained In couples, to the rOndc
point Of the Champs Elysees, when the rela-
tives of tho National Guards who have been
killed viii be allowed to do what they please
10 them.
With the above picture before us, showing
determination on the part of ths government
to force the insurgents to terms and equal
discrimination on tho part Of the latter to
resist to the last, what hope Is there that Paris
will be spared other and more terrible scenes
of bloodshed ana desolation? II Is evident
that NJ. Theirs will not yield in any manner
to those who have brought so much
Eror Gil xvor wi (rrr-
many was ended, who have added so largely
to the misery aad suffering entailed upon the
French people, and in this determination we
think he is pursuing the proper course. He
has the strength to carry out his plans and is
daily becoming stronger, while his opponents,
with an energy worthy of q better cause, are
daily becoming weaker, without q chance even
of strengthening their condition. The only hope
OF France now is in Theirs and his government.
He and it must be maintai ned, no matter what
the cost. The insurrection must be put down,
even if Paris has to be destroyed to accom-
psh it, There is no other met od that can
be used, the day for Cancellation having
passed. There must bs no sign of weak
ness, no wish to compromise; unconditional
surrender must be the only terms given to
those who now hold Paris. There is no other
way in which France can be saved, for o
patched-up peace would only result in another
revolution that would complete the ruin now
80 far advanced.
Marshal MacMahon is evidently delaying the
final movement against the insurgents in order
to have his command so numerically strong as
to render its advance irresistible. He is able
to hold all the positions now occupied by his
troops aud to advance slowly. AT the same
time it is plain that he does not wish to
destroy more property than the necessity of
the day requires. His army is now being
rapidly recruited by the returning veterans
from Germany, and in few days at the
utmost ii will be in condition to strike
blow that, although costing the lives
Of tens Of thousands, will restore order and
tranquillityH.o Paris and give prospect of
better times for France. The advent of this
period is now hoped for by every one, as it is,
beyond all ques ion, the only method of end
Ing the present terrible condition of affairs in
the great city. The necessity is distressing
one and the result of it horrible to think Of;
but desperate diseases require desperate RENE
dies, and there Is no other method of reliev-
ing France from her destroying malady than
by adopting and carrying out the pan of Presi-
dent Theirs and Marshal MacMahon. That the
slaughter will be terrible il Paris has to 10
carried by storm is certain; that m immense
amount of property will b. destroyed within
the city if the bombardment continues much
longer ws all know but what of it9 Why, it
will be nothing in comparison to the good
to be gain d by establishing the legitimate
government firmly in power and restoring
peace to the distracted, torn and bleeding
country.
But there is another point TO be considered,
and the most important one. What punish
ment is to be melted out to those who are re-
sponsble for this terrible civil WARP The tur-
bulent spirits who are always ready to apply
the torch Of discord, to fun tho name Of revolu-
ton and plunge their country into state Of
anarchy must not be lightly dealt with they
must b. made an example of There would be
no policy in being merciful to such wrctshes
nothing could be gained by passing over their
offence IN lenient manner. No, on the con-
trary, when Paris il once more in the bands Of
those who have rgbtfal authority, lesson
will have TO be taught that will serve
to keep the CITY qniet for some time to come
No punishment can DO too great for those who
have willingly aud designedly caused tho
present civil war in Franco, who have
planned and carried out the events that have
occurred since the city Of Paris was evacuated
by foreign foe, and who have caused their
country TO be plunged into the depths of dis
grace. We trust that their crime will be
looked upon as objectionable, as without pal
liation, and that their fate will be OF charac-