The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-04
SPIRIT or TIE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THB LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPISs-eoMPILRD RVERY
DAY FOR THR EvENINa TELEGRAPH.
THE DEoHEANCE OF PARIS.

FROM Jhe W. Il. ITl0Ufe
If there be any flowers to pluck from the
nettle of the Communist insurrectou, it is
found in the hope that heuceforward Paris
ceases to be France, and assumes her proper
position subordinate to the nation. For the
last eighty years, as q result of the system of
Capitalization which followed the great revo-
luton, the fortunes Of parties and of dynas-
ties have beon absolutely dependent upon the
possession of the capital by mob. This
has been fatal fault of former revolutionary
movements. When everything is left to the
unroason and caprice of the gentlemen of
leisure who live in the cutters, it is highly
improbable that any practicable or wise direc-
tion can be given to a popular demonstrs-
tion. Any unforeseen street accident may
change the face of affairs, and the political
complexion of movement, in moment
A remarkable exhibition Of this kind
was seen in 1S4S, where a
Misunderstanding about attacking
a station-house led to a collision which de-
stroyed the throne. The crowd was carried
on by the impetus of successful riot until the
emeute became a revolution. The men who
at sunrise shouted Viue le ROH from the
height of their barricades, and Loyalty de.
manded redress of grievances, at noon
trampled under foot the abdication of the
King, and stumbled into q republic which no
one had dreamed of in the morning. Yet so
capital that the provinces gave in their adhe-
sion promptly and without exception to
the new order of things they had done
nothing to establish. Later, when the work
mems insurrection in June impsrilled the
commonwealth, France waited alphabetically
to see what Paris would do with it; and when
Cavaignsc had crushed it with the aid of the
army the provinces quietly scsuiesced 1t was
the same when Louis Bonaparts seized the
md fka
tives of the nation. He had only to stun aud
stupefy Paris by prompt slaus hter, and the
country, seeing the city reduced to order,
made no effectual resistance to the usurpa-
ton, and when the plebisctum came to give
its sham sanction to the theft and perjury
the peasantry vsted as solidly as hired gang
Of our own repeaters.
1t is an encouraging symptom of the
gradual progress of the democratic principls
in France under the workings of universal
suffrage, that the capital appears to have lost
this absolute power over the provinces. 1t
was rude surprise to those idolators of Paris
who regarded her as sacred and unquestion-
able to find, when the mad emsute of Mont
martre had dsluged the city and drowned out
all semblsnee of government, taat the work
of revolution was not completed They evi-
IDENTIFY thought that with the proclamation of
the Commune, that vague and undehaed
apotheosis of the city, the political problem
was solved. They expected that all the
secondary towns of the country would follow
the example of their imperial sister, aud
that the rural masses would, as usual
accept the fact accomplished. Bat the
Republican administration, who had
learned in the experiences of former revola.
tions the true Significance of Pelitical system;
formulated by the crack Drained ooryphsos OF
the mob, resolved to try conclusions with the
spirit of anarchy before tamsly surrsndering
1t is probable that M. Tniers aOd mis- asso-
ciates were not much less surprised ut the
loyal adhesion of the country at large thar
were the Montmartrists at the resistance o.
the Government and tho detection of the
great cities. After Insignificant deaonstra
tions in few places, the whole of France
rallied to the support of the regular authori
ties, and the unprecedented spectacle wa
presented of an insurrsotion triumphant ant
isolated in Paris.
As soon as this almost incredible fact wa
realized in the capital, the tone of defiant OK
ultation and contempt of the Governnen
changed into one Of desperation and rage
Tie statesmen who had bson denounced a
imbeciles were now exscratsd as murderer
and traitors. The mob had succeeded s.
easily and so promptly at Montmartre, tn
National Guards had shown SO little rsgar
for their military honor, the municipality ha
rioters, that they imagined there was som
magic power about the voice of the gsmins O
Paris that would surpass the ram horns O
Jericho in the work of demolition. 1t was fo
this reason that there seemed to them some
thing inexpressibly cruel and monstrous in tn
action of the Mont Valerien batteries, the da
those helpless herds of folly and presumptio
marched out on the Nsuilly road to captur
the Government at Versailles. The madues
continued in Paris after the forlorn mob ha
hocked back into the city, but it was n
longer the CHEEKY dslusiOn of the day before
1t was the sullen and melancholy mania Z
the patient who knows himself disbelieVe
and suspects himself insane. They still IL
dulged from time to time in wild aud futil
expedients. They issued lyric addresses
their unresponsive brethren outside. The
attempted even to harter the German prid
by decreeing the destruction of the Vsndom
column. The Freemasons organized sent
mental picnic on the rsmparts, with has
and signals of fraternity, which was stern
broken up with shell from the unsympathet
guns of the Government.
This isolation must in time have a atron
effect upon the population of Paris. If til
administration can resist the disintegratin
influences OF delay, and if the Prussians ca
see that their Interests do not suffer by I'll
abnormal situation, the fall of Paris and til
collapse of the rebellion will point mori
which, if taken to heart, win be worth all th
blood and discord 1t has cost If the col
viction can be once firmly Impressed on Il
general mind that Paris means pothir
more than two millions, more O, Issa
French people, each counting one in ,
spect of rights and influence, it will be ale
cult to exaggerate the Importance of Il
achievement OF course il will alwavsi