New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-23

Europe, because the aristocratic and
church factions in France were
both conspiring to defeat the rights Of
the people By the use OF money and by
appeals to prejudice Theirs himself was
almost an open advocate Of the Bourbons,
because he believed that in their defeat
there was no other alternative but the
success of the Bonapartes. The religious
element was intriguing, first, TO destroy
all hope for the republic, because that vas
the only way 70 maintain the ascendancy
Of Catholicism in France, and secondly.
to obtain the support Of the successful
party in favor of interference to restore
the Pope. The Catholic clergy are the
secret partisans of Bonaparte because he
is the only person in Europe who has as
sisted in suppressing Italian liberty by
armed interference, and he has intimated
a still further design or inclination to use
France for the same purpose again. His
wife is supposed to influence him in this
respect, as she is somewhat of Cath
arine Medici in her religious impulses
All the Protestant world breads the return
to power Of Napoleon, not only because
he is corruptionist, but because be is
under the influence Of that sentiment
which declares what God people shall
serve, and how they shall do it.
With the National Assembly wavering
between monarchy and imperialism, the
Republican party in France seemed to be
in danger Of being defeated of its just
right to establish liberty The Assembly
fed from Paris, which was another sign
that it distrusted the people. 1t refused
TO order the election Of its successor,
which was sign that it had designs upon
the government which the people did not
indorse. 1t accepted Mcmahon as one Of
its leading military officers, and this, too,
looked dangerous to liberty, because
McMahon is nothing but an Indifferent
soldier and court favorite In this con-
juncture Of affairs the commune revolted
against the Assembly. proclaiming that its
first devotion was to the republic, which
Theirs intended to betray, and that its
second principle was the right of the peo-
pie to govern themselves in their munich
pal affairs. We could do nothing else,
with the lights before us, than to favor
the commune, not because it represented
France, but because it represented liberty.
Our idea was that the great majority of
the intelligent French people were dis
posed TO give the republic fair oppor-
unity to prove its capacity to govern the
country. They had been cheated by |
Bonaparte, they had not been allowed to
nave the BourbOns, then why should they |
lot exert the right to govern themselves
Is this seemed to be the determination of
he commune, our sympathies at once
Inclined to the revolt of Paris.
After time, however, either because it
lad changed its opinions OF because it
lad been misrepresented, or because it
lad learned from President Grant the
dea Of conforming TO the will Of the peo-
lie, the Versailles government assumed
n attitude in favor of the republic which
issipated our apprehensions as to its
oyalty to liberty. 1t decreed the Danish
1ent Of the Bourbons, denied to the Ma
oleonists the right to intrigue for power,
nd declared itself in favor of the repub-
&c. 1t implored the commune to dis
erSe in the interest Of peace and liberty.
his attitude at once altered the entire
spect of affairs. From that day until
ow the National Assembly has grown
.ronger with each succeeding week.
Il France responded to the uncon-
ltional dedication of the country
republican institutions. The cause
the commune was at once
'sorbed by its enemies, and it should
I'VE shown its faith by at once fraterniz-
g with the republicans at Versailles. j
OF having done SO proved that the lead |
8 were selfish men. And when they {
parted from the general principles of
se government, and set out to establish
culiar ideas Of popular equality in prop
ty and of popular power to arrest re- 7
,ious freedom, the commune lost the /
mpathy of the liberal-minded world. I
ON that day until now it has fallen /
'ay in strength, and to-day it has no
pporters outside of the lowest classes
the community, and of the utopians
10 believe in leveling society as they O
'uld piece of landed property.
The telegraphic dispatch, therefore, {
itch shall announce the destruction of {
commune as political power can not
me too soon to suit our notions of the "a
ness of. things q
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