The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-18
BcMAEAzTzsu Ell zREGUls
Another Outrage ON an AHneri-
can Citizen.
TnIEGS ON R0UEER AND BONAPAITIsM.

PARIS April q 1871.
Nothing less than collapse threatens the CON-
mune at the present moment, and In every mod
crate element the revolution Is complete failure
On the side Of decency and order among the people
OF Faris-on the side OF the ooM'0eofste-it has no
friends. The bolTgeolSie shuts up Its shop win
dows puts Its cash carefully Of sight and looks
on with apathetic indifference and this attitude,
this inertia OF whole people, the Commune cannot
deal with. People who simply leave you alone can
not be proceeded against; and that is all the people
OF Paris do TO the Commune and that Is enough
when the said Commune is in such position that
only the most earnest support OF the whole people
could keep 1t alive; and on the oher side tina that
OF decency what has has itS There is
PLENTY OF FORCE
there on that side It may succeed, but II ia force
and success that the men in the Hotel de Vile
fear. II is force that they know could only come
into action to sweep them from the scene. Already
they complain that the Jacobin element threatens
to overwhem them They are simple, ignorant vain,
pifn sort OF people, the men in the Hotel de Vile.
There is not among them man OF positive force
even In vlliany--and when they began the afar
they had no conception what would lead to. They
are
FRIGHTENED DY THEIR SUCCESS
and BY the abyss to the edge OF which il has sud-
uShy oiOuent tuclu, Oul vi Ill pTepretl anu
the use OF their reason by suddenly discover
Ing themselves to be a supreme power in
this great CITY, 1t is certain that
nobody in France Is half So much aston
lshed as themselves at the turn affairs
have taken for it SIMPLY nconceivable that the
Ore Of one platoon osinfantry should put Paris CON-
petely into the hands OF twenty professional agl-
tators and timid utnahs. 1t was not to be counted
upon that the government OF great nation should
be so utterly without resources OF courage or capa-
city as TO abandon stapital under so slight pres
Sure as the defiant attitude OF few thousand
wretches, whoJ Within two or three months, had
over aud over again proved themselves arrant cow
ards 1t has been considered in most times that
startling act OF terror puts down oppostion-as the
Airing On the people did In December, 1851,
ano as the recent firing In the Place Ven
dome has really done; but the government
Of the Instruction is not entitled to the
reputation OF even such villanous piece OF saga
CITY, 1t did not contemplate that act, aud It's officers
In the Place yendome did what they could to pre-.
vent 1t. 1t was the spontaneous act of their armed
despcradoes, provoked by the attitude OF the crowd.
1t was another piece OF the same swaggery that
killed the two generals on Montmartre.
BARREN POWER.
There Ia no DOUBT but the surprise with which the
men OF the insurrecton find themselves triumphant
Is very great but this does not make any the less
dinlcult the dilemma with which their triumph
brings them face TO face. Their triumph has de-
finite limit. They hold the capital aud barren
power. They may sit In the Hotel de Vile for ages
and make laws; but their laws are unheeded oy the
people. For instance. they have just decreed that
nobody need pay his rent This Is law that night be
supposed TO be well aimed for tae affections OF the
masses; but my barber, who is rent payer, assured
me this morning that the law was 'unjust' and
that everybody thought So" some men, however,
are disposed TO profit by the decree, and they are
moving at once, determined to get out OF the
premises in which they owe rent, before the rule OF
the committee comes to an end TINS extravagant
piece OF agraranisin falis dead IN the lace or the
natural judgment OF a whole people, AMI the only
other relation that the committee seems abe 10 es-
tabsh with the people Is one hat BODIES IL no good;
FOR 1t simply leads to the connscauon OF all property
and not only properly but the conlscalion also
may be In the labor OF the numblest individual.
Pfoprietors, therefore, are Its enemies; for IL con-
1scates their rent and seizes BY
SIMPLE ROBBERY
whatever Taluables It's agents require; workmen are
daily becoming its enemies, for capital Is driven
away, and all ab0rers lose the only honest means OF
supporting their families. Indeed, the robbery OF
the Commune, though 1t does not hesitate to make
visits a grand scale to the offlces or bankers,
does not disdain either the piTilu plumber OF the
small dealers in little grocery shops; ana The other
day there was disturbance caused by Nationai
Guard buying i've cents worth Of cheese OF an old
woman and paying her with an order on the repub-
lic He gave her the alternative or taking that or
the contents OF his revolver. Indeed. this practical
application OF the doctrines OF Communism Is quite
In vogue with these armed piunderers. Visits to
butcher shops are common and there begin TO be
perceptbly FEWER butcher shops open than formerly.
One branch oil
PARIS TRADE
seems to be killed entirely. This is the trade In
Charcuteric. The shops OF these dealers in cooked
provisions were at all times quite feature the
streets, but their glory Is In eclipse. They exactly
met the necessities OF the hungry National Guard
which wanted something 10 eat at once, without
the trouble Of cooking H. and also without the de-
layso they have exhausted The stocks Of the great
number Of these dealers, paying In ''bons,n ana
the charcutier did not feel encouraged by this sort
OF custom they have neglected TO renew their sup
plies and instead have put up tier shutters.
THE MOVEMENT or THE REBELS.
But ff the Commune can make no bid that VIII
give the voices OF the fairminded people, at least
ii can have DANGEROUSLY II likes Tie voice Oh
the cui0es. shall IL call up that poweIf IL
does not It's movement ~ an absolute fahure, II IL
does u may be a success, but at best success OF
other men than those thai now control-a success,
IA short. OF the guiil0tine, with the men now III the
Hotel &c VILE for Us early ylctimS-iOr there Is no
man ~ their number with the force 10 contro q
movement o. the cutthroat population oil Paris Con-
scquenty they Tear the possible uprising OF that mass
more Than theS fear the return OF the regular gov
eminent. Events are hourly pushing the Com
mune 70 tie scum OF The population as It's only re-
source. IL Is cOntemptuUusy ret ctcd 10y the whole
Iaass OF the people above the gutter, and the more
violent organs begin TO assa the people with the
bitterness OF banned rage for this disappointment OF
their hopes Without a party behind II
THR CONFUSE MUST DIE.
Raised 70 power by the murders or the despera-
does Il has hoped 10 separate itself from them and
make itself the government Of party OF the people
n PARIS: but THIS people has only a0norrence OF the