Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-10-29
Irrom onr REGULAR Correspondent
Paris Letter.
PARIS, Oct. IS, 1879.

1t has been resolved by the French
ministry to refuse the demand for full
amnesty put forth by the partisanS of the
commune. Full amnesty implies, in the
first place, an act of oblivion-a wet
sponge wiped over the offences of the
commune. and II restoration of all its
partisans to political rights. But it sig
nifies something more. The communards
say that it was they who founded the
republic. They contend that, but for their
revolt, the partisans Of the monarchy
would have proclaimed Henry "; that
their Instruction terrified the royalists,
and compelled them to respect NJ. Theirs
rs the only chief who could at once ap-
pcase aud control the democracy of
France. No statement of history can be
more false. The real founder of the re-
public was NJ. Theirs, and the commune
was especially directed against him. He
was detested by the men who controlled
Paris for time, and they were quite
logical when they RACED his house TO the
ground. Had he remained in the capital
he would have been to certainty captur-
ed, held. as hostage, and finally, no
doubt, doomed to the fate of the archbishop
and priests. Thus, SO far from being the
founders of the republic, the commun2rds
were those who did all they could to dc,
stroy the power of its real founder, and il
was they, and they alone. who made the
return of Henry V. a practical possibility.
These are the truisms of recent history,
but the interest of the situation lies in the
restoration to political activity of men who
claim that they only arc the real founders,
and ought, therefore, to be the actual
rulers of the present republic of France.
Thus are we dealing, not with political
group that asks for federation, but with a
political party that aims at power. It's
chiefs have returned and the great majority
of its rank-and file have been restored to
their homes. Those who remain in New
Caledonia are of Two classes. Some are
ordinary criminals, who, during the COM
munc, seized the opportunity to murder
and to rob and did so with impunily in
the name of the instruction. Others are
communtrds who, inflamed by pure polit-
zeal insanity, committed crimes like the
murder of the hostages and the burning
down Of the Tuilleries. These are the
only persons who have been excluded
from the general amnesty, excepting n
few journalists like NJ. Rocheport, still in
exile, not on account of what they have
done in the past but because they preach
day by dry renewal of revolt. 1t NAV
be thought that such minority of polti.
clans, sustained by the memory of II most
unnecessary and most atrocious insurrec
ton, mixed up, too. with the dregs of the
criminal population, and aiming at the
overthrow of the present republic in order
to establish a more democratic regime.
could never constitute u danger to the
government. Minorities, however, have
had great luck in Selling power in France.
No leader Of the commune was worse
than Robesplerre; yet though Il majority
not only of Frenchmen but of Parisians
detcsted him, they lacked courage for
years to effect his deposition. What gives
hope and audlcity to the smallest groups
Of revolutonists in France is the timiditv
and despair which paralyz Frenchmen in
presence of political violence. The rule
is to submit to any one in office. A whole
nation has been trained for years to look
to government for guidance, and when a
telegram arrives in q thousand French
towns from the minister of the interior +"
lis commands are obeyed, even though
the so-called minister was yesterday n
pcnnilcss agitator. The administrative
machinery of the land is so perfect that,
once inside, any man can set the whole in
motion, and the vast engine is thus con-
trolled by the first acknowledgements,
journalist, barrister or poet-who happens
to be at hand when the preceding ruler
disappears. 1t is, therefore, not ut all
beyond the bounds of possibility that the
returned convicts of New Caledonia nav
one day be the rulers of France. In 1871
they controlled all Paris, and would have
controlled the provinces but that NJ Theirs
had removed with his cabinet to Versailles
and united to the assembly offered French
men another centre of authority. 1t was
the first time since 1893 that the masters
Of Paris failed TO govern France. When
the next attempt is made tho enemies of
the commune will have only one neck,
and that will be in Paris itself