New-York tribune., 1872-02-02
Nrw.voRx DAILY TRIBUNE, FRIDAY FEBRUARY . 1872

mote General Cissey said the other day. with
| an unaffected caImness which clearly showed
that no thought the Government had been
oyeraowinc with clemency and forbearance,
that ~ 600 prisoners of the Commune had been
discharged on suspicion OF innocence,
600 had received sentence, and 1900
moro were waiting trial in the hulks and else
where. This mOnstr0us state of things excites
little comment. The average European seems
to think it is the regular thing to expect after
| an unsuccessful insurrection, and perhaps re-
CARDS it as necessary measure to prevent
other revolts. All parties seem to forget that
! this wholesale seizure of the unhappy citizens
of Paris can effect nothing against either past
or future instructions. The leaders OF the
Commune are dead or cxiled. Their best men
died on the lost barricades. The thirty thou
sand of the laboring poor, whom policy
of hating vengeance has kept Gagged for
more than half year, are no more rcspons-
| iblc for the outbreak than the horses who
drew the bread wagons every morning to the
trenches. Every workman in Paris had
brother or friend killed or caught by the
Versaillsts last May. And if we who favor
the Government of the Republic, and con-
|
conduct of Mr.. Thiers in this, how bitter
must be the unreasoning anger of those who
look upon Thicrs as tyrant, and on FerrG as
a martyr.
There was reason to fear from the mOnar-
chical parties an opposition to NJ. Vautran as
bitter as that of the Reds. Although man
of great decorum and reserve, he was an
avowcd and determined radical Republican.
| lie resigned his place as Mayor at the time of
the Coup d'Etat, and maintained digniied
attitude of protest against the Empire until
Sedan and the Revolution. The Napolconst
| intrigants could expect no aid or comfort from
him. lie was too old and consistent Rcpub-
lican TO afford any hope to the Orieanist
conspirators The UltramOntanes and L.
| gitmists feared and hated him rather
more than his opponent. Louis Nculllot
exhausted the resources of his foul invectiye
against him. After the refusal of Marshal
MacMahon to stand, more than half of the
Press Union of Paris withdrew from the con-
test. contcnting themselves with impartial
abuse of NJ Vautrain and his iliusrious an
tagoniat. There appeared TO be little hope for
him. The Government favored him, but the
Government seemed so unpopular that lis
|
Conservatives were exhOrted TO ahstention'
The Democracy proper had their candidate III
Victor Hugo.
1t has grown the English fashion, Of late, to
snccr at this name, but it is probable that 1T
is one of the very few that are to cause tins
century to be remembered Whatever we may
think of him, he is recognized in France, not
only as the first writer Of the age, but also az
one of the leaders of that continuous demo-
| cratic movement which began half century
ago, and has already rcvolutionizcd the
thought and the laws OF Europe. His later
style is something too vivid to suit the
seyerer taste of Glasgow and Peoria, but
it is addressed to the people of Paris, who
| do not find so much fault with 1t. lilo has
had no opportunity to make speeches OF late
years. But his last speech in the legislative
| body few days before the Coup dEtat IL still
| of record, and il any living orator can make
| a better one, he is wasting time in not doing
it. The Radcalism of Paris made good
choice of their candidate Victor Hugo would
probably poll as many votes as any one they
could name. The contest was not in any
sense personal The candidates represented
the two parties to whom the future of France
belongs. 7 he question was, the Republic as
| III IL, the lcpuDLC VI MI iniCIo VI thc YUM
munc.
The result was most significant. NJ. Vau-
train was elected by majority of 10000 over
far more popular man. The abstentions
were very numerous The mOnarchists held
aloof-some of them, the slyer and more
provident-vOted for NJ. Hugo as being likely
to assist their Red-Specter policy if he once
took his seat in the Chamber. The lower classes
were true to their poet and champion. Belle
vile, McnimOntant, the slums of Montmartre,
and the novels of Vanguard, all went for the
author of Les Mserables. But the better
portions Of the district the dwellings, of the
artisans, the shOpkeepers and the business
men generally, gave III. Vautrain his great
majority. The vote indicates that Paris
wants peace and order; that she accepts n
reasonable Republic as a means to that
end. NJ. Vautrain strongly advocated III
his canvass general amnesty and the return
of the Assembly TO Paris. His election may
have some weight in determining these qJcs-
tions. 1t will be matter of unmixed con-
graduation if it tend to convince the various
factions that the time for plotting is over
that Republic of law and order was the only
legitimate government for France after the
battle Of Worth.
OF PERJURY, and OF THE CUSTOM no USE.
We suppose it clear that either Col. Geo. X.
Leet or Mr.. Allen N. Leet has committed
n A -. al G.