PARIS.

Southland Times, Issue 1590, 11 June 1872, Page 3

PARIS.

(from our own correspondent.) March 0. The croat political trial at Rouen has terminated in tie arquittj-1 of the T>"nn-parti-t Prefect, Mdc la Mo* to and his three co-'iccused. Tt was a, result" rxpert^A. Ir is a defeat for tho individual ministers who ordered the prosecution, rather than for the government. It is no small triumph for the Imperialists, who are reaping a golden harvest from the blunder of their enemies. The race of the Red and Orleanint journals is terrible. They well know what the " man of Sedan" has in store for them if he returns, can run tho blockade of the French gun-boats in tho Straits of Dover. The failure of the prosecution must be attributed to the evidence ofihe Minister |of Finance, M. Pouyer-Quertier. Having as an unofficial witness, as a simple j citizen, taken an oath to tell the truth,.; the whole truth, &c, he, to his honesty) and courage be it recorded, stated tho J ex-Prefect had not embezzled the funds | of the State of which he stood charged ; tbat that clause in the indictment was illegal ; that he believed the prisoner I incapable of such improbity ; and that the strange manner he kept his accounts, or rather disbursed funds, was a prevalent practice duly sanctioned by the Board of Control. For the benefit of circtimloeution offices in general, this practice consists in a robbiug of. Peter to pay Paul, If the Assembly votes the educational estimates, for example, the Minister of War, finding the grants for his department insufficient, often induces his Minister of Education to hand him over funds voted to build schools and churches. The same practice is carried out by the Prefects — but this is not embezzlement. The accusation was not sustained against the prisoner — for his fellow-accused are but minnows in the affair — that he applied to his personal use the other sums either; very respectable witnesses asserted the debts be contracted were for the good of his satrapy, and paid out of the private fortunes he ran through. His gallantries were costly and profligate, but then as bis counsel observed, bis private life was not indicted ; and only those without sin were entitled to throw a stone. Under monarchy, empire, or republic, administrations appear to be very much the same, and recalls what Louis XVIII. said on his restoration, that he found the First Napoleon's bed so well made that in no manner would he sanction its being changed- This trial serves to illustrate the dislocation that so extensively exists in the respect for authority, and it is to be-feared justice was overlooked in the desire to strike the ex-empire through one of its prominent agents. Switzerland was called upon to give up the prisoner, on grounds that a cabinet minister swears were illegal, and the public demands the wherefore, that Communist refugees are left unnoticed, and prominent men accused of ruining the country' are still unjudged. The republic cannot have two weights and two measures. There are all sorts of rumors afloat as to ministerial changes, consequent upon a Minister doing his duty manfully in a Court of Justice. r l\ c only blemish that can be found in the Minister of Finance, and not a small one for bis country, is tbat he is a Protectionist as rabid as M. Thiers himself He never exclaims, like so many of his fellow-countrymen, he is an honest man : the public well knows he has no occasion for self-praise. The Public Prosecutor in this trial was M. Izoard — the house having become divided against itself placed him in an awkward position. He is celebrated as having remained as firm in his home in Nancy as a Koinan senator in his currule chair when the Prussians arrived ; these invaders retained him, and rewarded hid courage by ever placing him on the locomotive when troops or supplies were to be conveyed over districts haunted by franc tireur's.

The Assembly has commenced the discussion of the inquiry into the workings of the International Society, which rightly or wrongly is believed not only in France but on the Continent to represent Belial. As Bismarck opposes it, perhaps this will convince many that it is to be feared. It has found not exactly an apologist, but an exponent in the Assembly, in the person ofM. Tolain, the workmen's deputy for Paris. It was no small effort on his part to speak to the deputies, who, with a few exceptions, are only divided as to whether all the members of the International ought to be shot or guillotined. . M. Tolain threw no light on the subject, although he received what must have been to him a surprise — a fair hearing. When asked what was the aim of the working-uien to coalesce— what their grievance, he replied, to effect " equality in work," and naturally called upon to expound his remedy, he could propose none^ excepting that railway companies should be compelled to convey small parcels at lower and uniform rates !

France desires to be still the eldest son of the church, and to cultivate friendly relations with Italy. She sees that ultramontanism is becoming a thorn in the side of Q-erman unity, and that Italians are more inclined to salaam at Berlin than at Paris. The visit of Prince Frederick Charles — the " Red Prince" of the recent campaign, to Rome, has notbeen stranger to the hushing up of the intended debate in the French Assembly ou the situation of the Pope. It was a fault more to have ever contemplated such a discussion. It would have been useless for his Holiness, and has resulted in Italians seeking new friends, who will no doubt promise to restore them Savoy and Nice. Would Garibaldi draw his sword then against Franco for his native soil ?

The Committee of Inquiry into the origin of the 18th March insurrection has published its report and the evidence taken. It is a very interesting and curious document. The origin of that remarkable emeute has been definitely accounted for. It may be stated to have sprung from a combination of accidents.

There was first of all the peculiar psychological condition of the cit'zuis after undergoing starvation ami close confinement, fooled to tho last, that the invader would be destroyed — and waking up to find the city hud capitulated, a terribly humiliating treat y of pear-.-I pinned, and the Assembly linughiily j refus ; ng to nit in Pnrii, and displaying royalist intentions. Tho army had be come demoralized by its associations during the hiege, debauched — as Marshal j M'M.ihiin staled — by wuuieu aud drink. The Commune was a consequence of an unhoped-for success Its programme did ' not at first o-'cupy — aud this I can personally testify to — the -attention of the inhabitants, so much as their anxiety to have regulated the questions of arrears of rent and overdue commercial bills. The first act of the Commune was to wipe out the first, and nearly do the same for the Feeonl. The capture of the cannon on Moutmarfre was all me-s and muddle, and when they were picked up by the gamins in the waste spots of Paris, to be parked on Mt. Aventine, the intention of tho time was to five them i'rova tho Prussians. When the Commune triumphed, they became a necessity for the defence. The evidence published establishes that society and authority were in a state of dissolution. The Mayors' cilices were so many independeufc governments, that ordered occasionally the arrest evjen... of _ the. .Ri>]JP e - .AJI c^' ll . r 'X_ testified, as Ernest Picard once observed, that the French mind only understands republicanism in its Jacobin for n. Between political prisoners and the members of the government, there were too many instances of companionship, where "auld acquaintance should be forgot." Jules Favre asserts that a deputation from Lyons waited on him, whose manrfat imperatif was that no deputy should be ejected, unless be avowed, aud signed himself a,n) atheist! It was a sad mistake to make patriots of the inmates of the prisons — 20,000 gaol bird?* in the army of Paris ! Barms, in 1793, appealed to the convicts at Toulon in the' name of the nation, to assist in repelling the naval attack by the English ; they did so, but were sent back to the hulks afterwards, those being liberated who showed they "dpserved well of their conntry-" It is singular tba-fe M. Thiers • on the 18th March was in favor of abandoning all the forts as he did the capital ; had Mt. Valerien passed iuto the hands of- the Communists, the 'second siege of Paris might have terminated differently. The- report recommends, that for the ! regeneration of France two things are requisite — the^spread of religion and an increase of the police force. To' put trust in Grod aud keep the powder dry has had chances under former dynasties. Napoleon 311. encouraged public worship aud made the police a scientific institution — everywhere he bad side by side the church and the bari'ack. Yet iie fell. In Spain there is plenty of religion, and the police are as numerous as the rogues ; yet the pronunciamentos have been there as plentiful as the cucumbers, and promise a continuance. As a step towards making the nation religious, compelling the youth to go to school wrmM not bebad — but even this cure is likely to be rejected. Poor Alb-ace and Lorraine assert there is one act of their conquerors they do not blame — obliging their children to learn. Ignorance is the grand plague spot : from it emanates insouciance and crime ; whence acts commenced by imbecility finish, in ferocity, and where the " white terror" replies to the terreur rouge in self-defence.

In the Assembly there is the chronic struggle between royalists and republicans. No toleration ; no prospect of brethren dive! ling together in unity ; no desire to postpoue party aspirations till the Germans have retired, but seemingly an iuolin'atTon to annise'-rhe v-ictors-with the spectacle of a conquered nation rushing to suicMe. The Legitimists sigh after Henry V., whose kingdom they must know by this? is not in tbis-world ; the Orleanists are accused of stopping the way of practical measures in the Committee rooms, not being able to better advance the Comte de Paris ; the* Bonapartists continue to be well watched, which does not affect their spirits ; their editors seem to be engaged fighting. duels with their radical confreres) both, employing the intervals in a mutual besmearing of filth — such as " the cocks of the imperial dung-hill," and " the scavengers of democracy." The revenue has not yet been found to balance the budget ; the Minister of Finance resigns after his evidence at Rouen ; bis successor, may be a free-trader, .who will . find in that^ doctriue and the income tax the ways and means. Tobacco is so heavily taxed that smoking hardly pays, and in addition, the city is short of weed. It is only the soldiers and sailors who can enjoy a pipe of peace, as they are exempt from the high import. A lucifer match is becoming a luxury, and not a few persons are returning to the flint and steel age In the wine shops, a small oil lamp dimly burning has taken the place of the match bos. As each new impost pinches, ingenuity is taxed, and successfully, to find 'cheap substitutes. Perhaps the hard times may explain the failure to realise the three milliards by voluntary sacrifices to redeem the country from Germany. The government rather denounced than encouraged tlie plan, and the committees are in full dissolution, after vowiug they would never g've up till the task vvas accomplished. Subscriptions are of course returned, the donors can invest them in the monster loan to be brought out, as soon as the money is found to guarantee the yearly interest. It is only public entertainments that now keep alive the memory of the patriotic fund, which, uuder the altered circumstances, looks like " in the name of the Prophet, fig.B--! V . The claims of Persia for aid to.) hep famine stricken, people meet with no support. A movement was some time ago set on foot to present England with, a token of French gratitude for her aid to Paris, &c, by means of a penny subscription, it was intended to purchase an historical picture^

symbolising the good done. Not 2000frs. have been collected throughout the republic* so the idea has passed into the limbo 6f good intentions. However, the theatres are crowded houses, and the sinking saloons never had more warblers, nor ppoct ~a+civ& to npplaud. Not wit h-st.-u;d;n-.; t'io Wvj\ price of the neeewiriea of life, no one ■••.pyicar.s to bo in wnnr, and despite the duluess of trade, everybody has plenty of money ; commercial bills are- punctually met, and bankruptcies, like the Registrar's weekly statistics of 1 death, an; not above the usual average. The only balls where dancing takes place I are tho public ones ; this is the season when every" hdhoralTle gT7}TtT"~n'~oTns ifT" annual merry meeting ; the waiters and bill-stickers^ havtj had theirs ; the .undertakers' assistants and wasberwomea will come out strung and jolly in ten days hence., A few nights a_:o the shop girla dance 1 all night till tho broad daylight; , as if the orchestra was not deafening i [ enough, pistol shots were added to in- I crease -the din. On a sudden the gas was I turned off, and the electric liirht turned on, which ,had a dazzling effect as might be expected. It may appear strange, but it is at Belleville, the he;id-qnarters of the Commune,.where the Lentrn religious services are most observed, so far as the churches being; filled with attentive, cjmqregations. Some • months ago a priest or a sister of charity would , have been hunted down in Tha'6 quarter, now they are the objects of nnvctipn. Nothing co eloquent as figures. The Minister of Finance has received 20 L4 projects for paying th_e German indemnity, something likein thetwin-kling of an; eye. and all 'alleged to be feasible. Odd, !of the foreigners -who have thus assisted France by their financial wisdom, 23 write from Fatherland itself. Printers must be coining in Paris, as. ..the. journal of the craft asserts froir^ 25 , to 40 new periodicals appear every weeis, and for the week ending -the.. 2nd. -March, 29 alone were launched, from the names given; every subject appears to be embraced, from common sense to downright madness. Nearly 60,U00 births take place annually in Paris ; one-third of the little strangers are reared by their mothers ; one-third given out by same to nurse, and one-third sent to be nursed by benevolent societies. The mortality for infants under a year, is in France, 18 per cent., and in the capital 26 ; the death rate in the case of illegitimate children is nearly double. A lunatic with a bundle of bank notes, each for one thousand francs, commenced tearing them up before an excited audience in the Luxembourg gardens, 30 of the notes were completely destroyed. - The abbe Michaud, not being able tq celebrate mass without authorization, intends to deliver a series of lectures on " Church History " Crowds will flock to see him, but how many will remain to pray ?. He is dropping out of the public mmd — politics being at boiling point. An author has just brought out a work defending the " moral characters of Aspasia and Suppho." He believes the time appropriate — perhaps he has reason. The latter lady, it appears, impressed her young femalepupils with "the deepest moral truths." A lady states, that during tho first eiege, Parisians lived on bread made up of sweepings, and were governed by men of the same material.