Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-04-12
THE PROSPECTS OF THE THEIRS GOVERN
MENT. 81

/ The very vigorous measures pursued by
the Versailles Government within thepast
week rescues il from the greatest danger
that has beset it since it came into power.
The insurgents were formidable enough
to inspire terror, and if not promptly dis
persed would have effected the overthrow
of the Theirs Government, even though
they were doomed to speedily FOLLOW. But
by the successful and active offensive meas
uleslof the past few days they have assured
their own stability and pricked the bubble
of the Communists. Napoleon, eagerly
watching the contest from his retreat in
England can find but little comfort in the
rapidly successive bulletins of victories
Published by Chief Executive Theirs. His
hopes of a restoration lie, of course, in the
inability of the Versailles Government to
restore peace and prosperity to distracted
France, or in its being so dilatary in doing
il as to forfeit the confidence of the people.
For time his hopes promised realization,
but unless furcher complications spring up
he will not find much more present en-
couragement. a.. ff.f q
Our dispatches this morning show the
Communists in a desperate condition.
Their principal force is now surrounded
within the military defences of Paris. They
have no reason to hope for cooperation
without. i8G va FlNO uoIN 9fisHblf.
There never was any general sympathy
with the Instruction in the provinces, and
there is not likely to be more now, when
misfortune attends the effort. tfhe city
cannot be provisioned for protracted de-
Tense. There was no organization or sys-
tematlc preparation preceding the actual
opening of the rebellion; so the supply of
means of any kind to carry on hostilities
must be very limited. We do not, there
fore, look for any formidable or protracted
resistance. Thus far the Communists have
not put forth aleader of any force or genius.
The whole project, from inception to exc
cution, has been huge farce. t ta
The danger to Paris is greatest now,
when the cause grows more desperate.
The mob may grow so furious at their de-
feat and uncertain fate, that their VEN
geance may be wreaked on unoffending
citizens, or the city itself To be in Paris
now would be as near Pandemonium as
one could get on earth. Had the Com
munists a Mirabeau or Robespierre to or
ganiZe their force and employ it to its best
use, there might be grounds to fear the
worst was not yet oyer; but in their pres
ent helpless, aimless condition, there seems
nothing but utter overthrow in store for
them.
SENATOR FRANK BLAIR made long
speech a few days since on Southern af-
fairs, which was intended as an "extin-
guisher." His satellites all over the coun-
try have alluded to it in the most compli-
mentary terms, and in point of logic,
strength and general perfection they think
his effort unanswerable and unsurpassed
The burden of his argument was to the
effect that Southern State governments
have been controlled by such incompetent
men, that the Kuklux Klans are justifiable
in resisting their authority. Such virtu-
Gus, intelligent, heightened, chivalrous
gentlemen as compose these refined organ
nations that are regulating affairs in GER
tain localities, ought not to be expected to
bow submissively to what 'carpet-bag-
gers" and "scallawags" may enact as the,
law of the land. u
Let us bring this question of incompe-
tency home to our own State. Our Legis-
lature has just adjourned. Out of one
hundred and thirteen members in the two
houses, there were only twelve Republic
cans. This General Assembly was one of
the most intensely Democratic bodies that
has ever assembled in any State. Eight
ninths of the members were elected by
Democrats, and never entertained any
proposition in the shape of legislation that
did not look to the interests of the party.
How about their competency? Where
could we go to find more striking speci-
men of incompetency than was exhibited
at Nashville! We challenge Mr.. Blair to
find one hundred men in q body, any
where, more incompetent for the duties
they were expected TO discharge, than were
to be found in the thirty-sixth General
Assembly of Tennessee. There have been
few legislative assemblies, in any of the
States, so utterly incompetent as the last
Democratic Legislature of our State. The
same might be said of Kentucky. In
point of capacity, the Republican State
governments at the South will compare
very favorably with those controlled in
the interest of Democracy.