The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-20

came it to terminate its worthless existence by
setting fire to its home and going up in flames
and volcanic explosion? General wall, of
the Versaillists (Thiers' homnae de 6ien), now
engaged in o confused, distressed sort OF
way, to sort out what is still valuable among
the ruins, has given place to spirit of inquiry.
There must have been something more than
the exertions of the military adventurers
within to drive the revolt to the lengths of
organized warfare. IT must have been set in
motion by the impulse of some hidden and
powerful agency from without, say some,
rather vaguely. Where are we to look for
that powerful agency-the master mind that
worked the puppets in PARISH This inquiry
leads the logical mind to another-Who was
likely to profit by tanning the combustibles
into flame? We believe we have an inkling of
the man. But let us not anticipate the con-
clusion, to which the following combination Of
facts and indications will inevitably lead;-
Setting out on the road of inquiry, here is
little landmark to begin with. L'Indfpen-
dance Belge-a paper known for its general
veracity-some time back reported what it
called significant fact Significant fact, that
Herr-his name has escaped our memory, bat
we could hunt it up if needs be-.that Herr
some German name or other-who had been
private secretary to Prince Bismarck, was one
of the leading lights of the International So
ciety. What, Bsmarck's private secretary col
league of Assy and the International Society,
the same organization that fathered Central
Committee, the fgurehea of the revolt! In
ternational, which, according to its own an
nouncement, as our cable despatch the 0the
day had it, assumes the responsibility for the
burning Of Paris!" Impossible! What LIN
dependence reports as significant fact must
be gratuitous fiction Not all too rash,
gentle inquirer. Here comes another signifi-
cant fact to match 1t. A week or 80 ago-we
are not particular about dates so the facts
chime in with our argument-we gathered
from reliable source an account of a con-
versation between Prince Bismarck and
American Minister Washburne published
among our miscellaneous items about that
time), during which conversation Bis
marck is reported to have said, in
his airy, bantering way, "All the revo-
lutionary hotheads have met by appoint
ment in Paris Use s0nt d0nBfs rendezvous d
Paris. Let them for while run on their
wild race. In the fulness of time we shall
bar the gates, and lucky the man who will
succeed in making his escape Singularly
verified by the bloody repulse which the Tying
Communists met at the hands Of the Germans.
Poor Communists Trying to find refuge among
the Germans against the wrath of their coun-
trymen, whom they grimly call the Prussiens
of Versailles Vain deluson! "Hundskerle
back to your native lair!" thunder forth the
Germans, upon which Communists regale
their rage to grand bonfire.
Comes another significant fact in aid of our
argument AT the beginning Of the Communist
tragedy-or farce, if you choose-we find
General Fabrice-acting, no doubt, under the
instructions of Bismarck-manifesting, 10 his
grim German way, sort of friendly neutrality
toward the Commune, telling the enraptured
insurgent powers of the hour-for they were
shortlived-that he didn't care straw for the
Versaillists that they could cut one others
throat to any extent they pleased, 50
long as they did not interfere with
his Germans. Communists Growing over
it in their fantastic, fabulous way.)
He did more than say this. He allowed the
insurgents to scour the country around for
supplies, while on the other hand he hampered
as much as possible the operations of the
versaillists by keeping them sternly to the
stipulations Of the preliminary treaty.
Facts pointing to the same conclusion accu-
mulate with singular persstency. What made
the incorporation of .Alsace and Lorraine,
speak in such mild and benevolent terms of
the Commune, saying that the Commune was
not all wrong, that it had perfect right to
demand municipal liberties, and so forth
speech which gave offence to the Assembly,
gave offence to Trochu, made him say that
the Paris instruction was the continuation of
the Prussian war, that several of the Com
muDsts leaders, Dombrowski and others, had
been arrested as Prussian spies during the
first SIEGE and like insinuating hints? Motion
by another member of the Assembly asking
for strict investigation of the causes that
led to the Paris revolt. So Investigations we
shall have, and perchance some revelations.
But we think we can do without them. Out
of the preceding facts and speculations we
can extricate into coherency the following
conclusions -
Conclusion No. THAT Bismarck wanted
to get the Theirs government into a yielding
humor by putting this formidable revolt on its
hands. In which he succeeded. He had re-
duced France to helplessness and obtained his
terms.
Conclusion No. 2.-That Bismarck was
troubled by apprehensions of the spectre rouge