The New York Herald Newspaper, November 11, 1873, Page 5

THE WHITE FLAG. The Political Agitation Through- out France. Besangon the Chosen Base of Opera- tions of the Republicans, MEN OF THE RESTORATION. Panis, Oct. 25, 1873. ‘When France has passed through tne present crisis in her affairs it will be the duty of historians 1 remember that the bulk of the nation remained “es unconcerned during these anxious days as if the two parties in the Assembly were merely pre- Paring for a game of skittles. It is as well to take note of tne fact thus early, lest foreigners should imagine that the battle of Monarchy vs. Republic ‘Was preceded by @ period of public excitement as intense as would be witnessed in the United States or in England under similar circumstances. Will the American reader try to picture the condition of New York, if Congress were going to meet at ‘Washington, on the 3d of November, to determine whether the Republic should continue in existence, and if, furthermore, this Oon- grese had received no powers irom its constituents to determine any question of the kind, but were acting of its own good pleasure, in direct deflance of the popular will? Tamult, riot, exasperation are certainly wild Words to describe what would be the state of matters, and, indeed, the supposition will best be met by saying that no situation like this is possi- ble in America, or conceivable. But the French are 80 accustomed to illegalities in high places and 80 little acquainted with the use of public liberties that events which-wonld arouse the population of free States to fever heat leave them perfectly cool and torpid. Since Louis XVI. ascended the throne, just ninety-nine years ago, Charles X. isthe only man who has risen to and kept the supreme power ‘without violence. The first Republic was founded by deposing and beheading Louis XVL, and it was transformed into a dictatorship by General Bona- parte roughly dispersing the Legislature with his soldiers, When Napoleon was, in his turn, forced toabdicate after his deieats, the Bourbons were imposed upon an unwilling nation by foreign armies, and to get rid of them a murderous revolu- tion was required, which drenched Paria in blood for three days. Louls Philippe climbed to tne throne over the mounds of bodies slain in these three days, and eighteen years later three more Gays’ bloodshed and other heaps of carcasses served as stepping stones to the second Republic. came Napoleon Ill, who strangled the Republic one December night, and was in due course upset by a handful of revolutionists, who governed the country ior six months without asking anybody's leave, M. Thiers, to be sure, was duly elected by the Assembly, but he only kept his place by crush- ing one of the most formidable insurrections the ‘world has ever seen; and now we are about to see &n unpopular faction, who overturned M. Thiers while he sti!l enjoyed the confidence of the nation, try to set up a form of rule which they weil know is disliked by the large ma- fority of the people, When will these things cease’ When will the French learn that there is a middle course between armed rebellion and abject subserviency, and that in political as im bodtly disorders, prevention is better than cure ? {tis evident that, If the public opinion of France could assert itself at this moment by lawful agita- téon, public meetings, demonstrations, petitions, Outspoken warnings, in newspapers, the royal- iste would never dare venture on the step they are meditating. Unfortunately, nothing is lawful here which bears the color of agitation. Political meet- ings are prohibited save during the twenty days that precede an election. Street demonstrations ‘would cause @ general panic and be repressed by the military. Anything like a printed threat of Civil war would encail immediate suspension on the journal which published it, and the other day we had the Gauwlois officially cautioned for simply printing lists of such among its readers as were in favor of a plédiscitum. In a word, French law provides no outlet for popular discontent, and the consequence is that when this discontent grows $00 strong a farious explosion ensues. Let us be just towards the royalists, however, and acknowledge that if they are forcing on a grave constitutional crisis without holding any authority from their electors to so do, they have a famous precedent in the proceedings of an Assem- bly of which even the reddest republicans speak amely, the States General, con- ene States General were elected simply to vote supplies and petition the to revise the fiscal laws; but when this part of their task was ended and Louis XVI. wished to dissolve a ish model within twelve uties of the Third Estate met ersailles and took a soiemn ‘ urging the example of 89 as a justification of their conduct, The Deputies of the third estate kept their word; they resolved themselves into a tional Assembly, suppressed the privil of the mobility and clergy. confiscated well nigh all the ‘tives o1 the crown and voted a constitu. Eon tat wed the way to the Republic. The roy- ‘serment y Tevanche du au Jeu de Paume’’ (we wish to retaliate on the tennis court oath). “THB LRADERS OF THR RESTORATION. But who men who have plotted the resto- quiet investments in land, marriages and systematic parsimony. Gea Wochefoucanld-Bisscols, descended. trom the 3 ace: m the famous La R sarcastic author of in = old and pos- an English duke. he refused ali the ions made him leon IiL, just as his lly reject all the advances of and he lived ape ge pe an waiting patiently for the time put his energies and his fortune to the active service of Henri V. e wire-puller or “w: Of the Right. ‘During the past two years ie bas tavishea enormous sums in dinners, hunting par- ‘ties and other festivitics designed to bring Orlean- iste and legitimists together; also in private sub- sidies to newspapers and in political tracts, whicn have been scattered about the country districts by ‘the million, spreading (or endeavoring to spread) @vetywhere the notion that republicanism is Synohymous with spoliation and the guillotine. THE CHIEFS 1B RESTO Next to the Duke de be mentioned, ite manners and most winning ike d’Andiffret Pasqater, nepnew tion of that celebrated Chancellor juier ‘who had sworn fealty to eleven different iorms of Sp rcrnmen and ended his days under the reign Louis Fhe As President of the House of last pour When cores Was little Known Gntil , appointed re} y oes. ‘Sung ae. war. contac he ae. chmen: net the Empire as jeahitn at once the he Chamber, He is about that he ripples the ve @& mei 7 eaect oF his utterances by a Teterence i), presence, comes and heir by HI na to note even where the most complicated figures and @tatiatics § are concerned, sats a Aor valuane aly @ man * Feats, correct, aca- Pt orators, but no Sghting speaker who could hold his own against the re ubtiba: ‘Andiftret acted towards the Orleans parte as tke 8 party as the de la Rocheloucauld towards the Teg _ atid when these two dukes had come her ‘and ‘ to understand each other the fusion was three- settied. M. Bocher, member for Calvados Solicitor to the Orleans princes—a slim, whis- man, who lwoks the very image of an Eng- at 1 was the next most important man in por ist counctis, ior he was tI s Fi tm Oricans party, the “in: ” of the ov cont ine or. The Hight are -room speaker, maint; On his inauence to win over members of the Leit centre. ONURCH INFLUBNCK. Count d’Harcourt, M. de He a Then | 2 M. Thiers end in pre- to write directly to the Count im to forego the white France “might not, become a heresies.” Monseignenr nd writes the purest French of is an excellent, charitable prelate, much loved in his diocese and much re- spected “jn the Assembly even by his politi. cal enemies. But, for all that, he is a hee of the fighting school, who plies his crozier ike a battle axe and will have no compromise on questions of dogma. At elections he issues a pas- toral directing his flock how to vote, aud whenever a party division is about to take place in the As- sembly one may see him gliding about the lobbies wich hid gold cross round his neck, his eager, scholarly face lit up, and his thin hands feverishiy gesticulating as i! ne were marshating crusaders to the fray. Monseigneur Freppel is a little, bustling man, full of French wit and vigorous discourse, At his prelatial palace in Versailies he holds part. cal “at homes,’’ attended by members of ull shades and their wives, and it is chiefly tirongh these feminine channels that he makes his spiritual in- fluence felt over the Legisiavure, THE PERSON BEWIND TIE NEW THRONE. It may be noted that the Duke Deseazes, Count @’Harcourt and M. de Larcy take their cues al- most exclusively from Monseigneur Ireppel, whois supposed to be in constant communication with the Count of Chambord, through M. de la Rochette, a@ Breton Deputy, proprietor of the Kelaireur de Naiwes, and Agent General to the future Henri V. This M. de la Rochette holds tittle direct in- tercourse with his brother members; for, though a first rate man o! business, he is a poor talker; but he conveys the Count’s wishes to Monseigneur Freppel, who inculcates them with striking argu- ments on MM. Descazes, d’Harcourt and de Larcy, who, in their turn, spread them among the members, in lobbies, — ratl- way carriages, ministerial parties and at dinner tables. The Duke Descazesis at present French Ambassador in London, which does not prevent his being generally in Paris or at Versailles, and Count d’Harcourt was his predecessor at the Court of St. James’, he likewise being more often absent trom his post than present there. M. de Larcy was Minister of Commerce for the first year of M, Thiers’ rresidency, but*resigned when M. ‘Thiers pronounced openly jor the Republic. He now industriously seconds M. Bocher in button- holing and Hinges? members of the weak-kKneed order; an he has _ considerabie eloquence in addressing the House from the tripune. MM. Chesnelong and Incien Brun, who were the interviewers of the Count of Chambord at the recent Salzburg interview, are neitner of them men of much importance, the former being a retired draper and the second a country banker. They were delegated to Salz- burg asa reward for having seceded from the Bonapartist section, who, numbering but twenty- six members in the house, could ill afford the loss of two Deputies, however insignificant, If Henri Y. be restored MM. Chesnelong and Brun will doubtless be created counts; im tact, 1¢ is generally reported that a formal promise to that effect was given them before they started. .General du Barail, the present War Minister; M. Leon Renault, the Preiect of Police (formerly a republican), and M. Batbie, the Minister of ‘Public Instruction, com- lete the qnorum of those who may be called the fen of the Restoration; but, of course, we must superadd tothe number the Dukes of Aumale and Nemours andthe Prince of Joinville, who, by purse aad other methods avowed and secret, labored indefatigably to compass an object in which théy are so personally interested. THE SURRENDER OF THE WHITE FLAG. ee Paris, Oct. 24, 1873, Well, the great surrender bas taken place at last, and Henri V. has foliowed the suit of his an- cestor, Henri IV., who recantedgthe faith of his early life, observing:—“Paris vaut bien une messe.” To have announced the surrender a couple of months ago would have been to afford the.republicans and Bonapartists an opportunity of sinking their differences, closing their ranks and offering a formidable battle front, with the democratic party cry of ‘Dissolution and appeal to the country.” As it is, the alliance of republi- cans and Bonapartists is too recent for mutual mistrusts to have heated and for combined action to have been settled with any method. The ‘‘dem- ocrats,” as the two parties have begun to call them- selves, were allowed to believe up to the last that the obstinacy of the Count of Chambord would jeopardize all the fruits ot the fusion; so each half kept shyly from the other, and the whole legion was weakened. It was cleverly managed on the part of the royalists, end one may say that the white flag nas been dropped just in the mick of time. The original tntention'was'to postpone the sacrifice till the 1st of November; but some of the minor royalists, who were not in the secret, were growing disheartened, so, instead of making the surrender tally with the meeting of the Assembly, the Assembly will meet at once because of the surrender. From all parts of the country members will be trooping up to Versailles to-day and to- morrow at the summons of the telegraph; and just about the moment this reaches the Unitea States the 760 lawgivers of France will’be fighting out the question as to whether Frenchmen are to remain citazens of a Republic or call thehiselves once again His Majesty’s subjects. A HISTORICAL PARALLEL. Meanwhile the last of the French Bourbons, lay- ing down his old-time principles to win the crown, reminds one in more than one point of the founder of the Bourbon line abjuring his Protestant creed after repeatedly declaring that he would be hanged first. It is not yet three centuries since Henri IV.'s famous bit of apostacy was accomplished to the general satisiaction of a religious people, and if the walls of the Louvre ever fall to meditating about public business they must contrast the Paris which refused Henri IV. because he was not Catholic enough with the Paris which rejected Henri V. because he was too Catholic, and conclude that this is a mad sort of globe afterall. It is on record that as soon as HenrilV. had formally abjured Protestantism the Le: rs, Who had closed the barriers of Paris him, laid down their arms, and the King rode in, amid loud cheers, through the gate of St. Denis. He wore a rosary over his breastplate to mark nis thorough con- version to the popular principles of the day; and, having dismounted at a glover’s shop, took his, stand at a winaow to see a couple of hundred ob- stinate uers, Who mistrusted the sincerity of his abjuration (they were the irreconcilables of that time), fie out with the honors of war. To one of these, who was @ Gascon and looked a merry ie, the King wagged his head and shouted, ‘Better stay with us, man; yonder road doesn’t lead to heaven.” “No, certainly,” answered the other, ‘for if it did I should never have met you on it.” Henri IV. 1aughed at this queer hit, and, remounting again, went offto a taree o’clock dinner at thé Louvre, where he found everything ready to welcome him as if he had been in sion all his lite. ‘‘Ah, Crillon! said he, sitting dowm to table and turning towaras his favoi Duke, ‘who would ever have thought it was so easy as this to become king? If I could only have guessed itI might have recanted ten years ago and been firmly rooted to throne by this time.’? “That’s not so sure,” replied the blunt Crilion, who of a candid enjoyed all the priviles mend. “Let Your Majesty wait ten years more before you talk of firm rooting;” and these words were ominous, for exactly ten years afterwards Henri [V. was assassinated ef the fanatic, Ravail- lac. Now, there exists a wellknown picture of Henry IV. sitting down to his inaugural dinner, and a companion painting would not come amies next winter showing us Henri V. proceeding to dine ut Versailles—-not at three P. M. however, but at eight, for the advance in the dinner hour has kept pace with the great march of progress—and saying to his friend and confidant, M. de la Rochette, “If I could only have guessed how simple it would be to stow away tha’ hite fag I might have got the job over in 1848, that is five and twenty years ago, aud been finely consoli- dated by this time.” ‘But to this M. de la Rochette may answer as Crilion did, ‘ait the five and twenty years, Sire.” For, in truth, even if Henri V. should be restored next month, where will be be in a quarter of a century from this? ‘A ROYAL SUPERSTITION, Let it be noted oy the way that the Count of Chambord, tl superstitic it has long been known among his intimates that if he ascended the throne at all he would take care to ascend it and get the formalities of Bagg all over before the present year (1873) 1s ended, The reason for this is that Louis XVI., of headiess memory, began his ill-starred reign in 1774, and ben coincidence Los Sag B.. ee 748 Reker be of evil at suggesting a of troublous years, to be ‘foucd anew by that anti-regal instrament to which Dr. Guillotine lent his name. itis natural ee should always ieel @ distaste for such paraliels. THE SKIRMISHING IN THE LOBBIES BEFORE THE PARLIAMENTARY BA’ At the time when the Count Chambord’s gtandiather, Charles X., was reigning, a liberal paper one di remarked:—“His Majest; is safely guarded on his throne the af- fection of his Parisian subjects at by ten Tegiments—six of intantry, two of cavalry and two Ol artillery.” An equal number of regiments, or, perhaps, more, will assist the loyalty of our now- Tisians in restoring Henri V. to his an- cestral crown, and I already hear that the com- teres, precautions are being taken “to protect seem against factious influences from vane 24 on Cd aay. ¢ cates ‘Will surround the two stations in Paris that lead to Versailles and the road be- tween the Versailles ons, and the palace of the Assembly will be kept clear by lines ef troops and by atvefien or AN crowds. will be dis- raed and no one will be admitted within of the Palace unless he bas actual he incts there, either yuty or as a reporter, bunthee be no ty tote neaged 10" eameerionsresaketorenc Mae now comes, bly des not at tms moment represent the nation. Its members were, for the most part, elected in the agitated period which jeliowed the war, and their sole mission Was to conclude peace with Germany and appoint a provisional government. To re- store monarchy without first appealing to the peopie would be in excess of their prerogative; and the republican sections are considering whether they .shall lend their sanction to such an illegal act by voting at all. If they re- signed in a body they would not prevent the royal- ists from voting ; but their withdrawal would reduce the monarchical restoration to its proper propor- tions as @ coup d'état, and nota lawiul act of par- lamentary privilege. Unfortunately, the republi- cans are Inuch divided in their lobbies, and there are battiesome spirits among them who hope by dint of speeches to drag the majority over to their side at the moment of battle. They torget the remark of a wise ola parliamentary “whip” in England, who said he had never known @ speech to change the result of a division. At the last cowputations the royalists reckoned their strength at 388, while the republicans could only muster, counting the Bonapartists, 324. It is more likely that there will be desertions from the Jatter force than trom the former, because m every French parhamentary engagement there are numbers 01 waverers, who, from principle—or the want of it—go over to the stronger party, and in this instance the number of such waverers is sure to be largely increased by the thought that every man who votes against the new King will have @ biack mark set against his name during the whole of the coming reign. No hopes of preterment, patronage, pensions or decorations tor such a one; | and, indeed, the prospect will be so poor that it will need @ man of strong nerve and elastic pocket to face it, On every ground the repubii- cans will do well to decline accepting battle. Their position will be strong if they can say they were no accessoriesto promoting a revival of kingsiup, effected in direct defiance of the national will. GATHERING FOR THE BATTLE. + PARIS, Oct. 2, 1873, At the present writing it is not yet certain whether the National Assembly is to meet on the 28th inst. or on the 3d of next month; but in either case we are only a few days distant from tne crisis, which, among other matters of more importance, will determine whether French postage stamps are in future to bear the impress of a king's heaa, Reduced to these propositions, the struggle for authority looks a poor thing enough, and, really, when we remember how olten these untamabie Frenchmen have knocked their crown into the gut- ter, it 18 a marvel how any man can care to pick up the battered headdress and air a precarious king- ship in it, Where are the memories of 1804, 1814, 1815, 1824, 1830 and 1852? In each of these years a sovereign ascended the throne amid loud acclaims, addresses of congratulation and vows of fealty; but twenty years later where were the loyal cheers Gnd the oaths of allegiance ? A PRACTICAL VIEW OF RESTORATION, Not long ago I was visiting a country mayor, who opened acupboard and demurely showed me five marble busts, standing of a row, on the same shelf. They were those of the two Napoleons, of Louis XVIIL, Charles X. and Louis Philippe. Each nad had its turn of heyday over the mantelpiece of the Mairie’s Council Chamber, then been removed in disgrace and stored as lumber, My mayor in- formed me that if Henri V. were enthroned the corporation would be at the expense ofa new bust, to say nothing of painted ’scutcheons, and of royal | dies for engraving the municipal stationery; and | this observation disclosed to me a new aspect of monarchical revivals. There are 36,215 Communes in France, and, reckoning but one bust and one coat of arms to each, what a picture we have of active sculptors and inaustrious decorators! But we must allow more than one bust to each Vom- mune; for the prefectures, courts of justice, lyceums and indeed all government establishments are ex+ pected to have each thejr presentment of the soy- ereign, either in marble or plaster; also in many cases loyal paintings portraying His Majesty in the act of saying this or doing that, enscrolied ciphers, banners, and, when they can afford it, full length Statues gorgeous to look upon and dear to pay for. No wonder that restorations should be accounted good things for trade, and that artists shouid feel they are better patronized by kings than by repub- lics. On the other hand, it is fair to state that thre ts at least one section of the commercial fraternity which looks With @ cool eye upon autocrats of ali shades, and never grieves over their mishaps, and this section is that of the glaziers; for, as a glazier once feelingly expressed it, “the best form of gov- erment 18 a revolution, because it breaks so many windows.” WILL THERE BE BLOODSHED ? But though the restoration seems to be as much of a certainty as anythiug can be in this uncertain country, it seems thatthe throne is not to be won without a wrestle, and, perhaps, not without bloodshed, The most conflicting rumors are rife as to the tactics which the republicans mean to adopt, and some timid people are already sending their famities out of town under the conviction that the faubourgs will rise and smoke the city with petroleum. But 1 happen to know on good authority that the present plan of the republicans is one that will involve no armed movements in Paris. The Parisian workmen have received orders to keep quiet, and the republicans mean to rally unreservedly round M. Thiers: butif at the last moment it be seen that the royalists are secure of @ majority THE REPUBLICANS WILL RETIRE IN A BODY TO BESANCON, summon the Councils General, tender their resigna- tions, and then issue a manifesto Belay, Fe opin the parliamentary coup d'état which the Right are seeking to accomplish and calling upon the con- stituencies for a general election. This course would be constitutional, for by a law passed last year it was meena enacted that in the event of a coup d'état the majority of Deputies, or as many of their number as could get away, should adjourn to a provincial town, invoke the Vouncils General, and remit the government to their | keeping while an appeal was made to the country. Now the republicans are not a majority in the Assembly, but ail the elections held during the last two years prove that they represent a sub- fantial majority ef the nation, At the general lection which followed the war, in February, 1871, al number of monarciists were returned without reference to their epinions, because no constitutional questions were then at issue aud the simple matter im hand was to make peace. But since then 161 elections hi taken place, and the republicans have carried no less than 119 of them, whence they argue with good reason that the members of the Right no longer represent the opinion of the electoral body; that any attempt on their part to restore @ monarcby without first consulting the nation is consequently in excess of their prerogative, aud that they (the republicans) are justified in ing precisely as if the Republic were in danger of armed violence, as at Louis Na- oleon’s coup dt in 1851. may add hat ~=Besancon has been chosen as the place of retreat for two reasons—first, be- cause it is near the Swiss frontier and would afford a ready means of sca; in case the secessionists were followed up by an army; and, secondly, because the republicans think they can depend upon the general in command of the garrison. If t general pronounced for the re- publicans he would become @ rallying point to Other officers and soldiers—perhaps, indeed, to en- tire regiments—who might raise an insurrection ae the radical populations of the South, and either = PLUNGE FRANCE INTO CIVIL WAR or frighten the government by tne prospect of such & contingency into dissolving the present Assembly, which is ail the republicans require. But if this plan be a fine and bold one, likely to succeed if carried out in perfect union by the entire repub- lican party, there isno denying that it may lead to the most sanguinary repression should it be attempted by a mere section of republicans. For the secession to succeed at all it must be headed Lag Thiers, whose name 1s universally respected. The royalists dare not take and shoot M. Thiers, and his presence at Besancon would be certain to rally the Councils General, among whom the republican element largely predominates and give to the secession an air of lawfulness and respect- ability which would be wanting were a few extreme members of the Left alone to secede. The repub- licans are bound to bear this in mind if they wish to avold the fate of those three dozen Deputies, Who, on the 3d of December, 1851, met at the | Matrie of the Tenth Arrondissement in Paris and were dispersed withouficeremony at the bayonet’s point. Gambetta, who 13 an energetic man, though apt to be too sanguine and to over-estimate tie power of his own name and opinions, would com- Init @ fatal blunder if he were to le: secession without Thiers’ help, for this would pply the royalists with just the excuse they want for crushing the radical party out of all existence. THE ROYALISTS ARE DESPERATRLY IN EARNEST. They well know that they are playing their last and that, should they fail in ther coming venture, they and their principles will be beaten Without remission. General du Barail, the War Minister, is a determined legitimist, and has been aenens the last four months in removing to out- tions of the south are Gambettiss, ana would seeede altogether irom the north and set up a re- puplic of their own if they could; but any attempts Mm this direction will be checked with a prompti- tude that will astonish them.” General de Ladmi- rault is not wrong in saying that the south would secede from the north they could. Durning the Commune M, Emile irardin brought out @ daily paper—Za France ‘rale—t rhich he ad- yoeated the partition of France into Mteen States like those of America, each having an indepenuent governm ud all being bound together for im- perial pi 8 by a national congress, This idea bank dey into the minds of French radicals as realizi in a legal and practical form, one of the aspirat: of the Commune; but, of course, itis thorot distasteful to such Frenchmen— y are the majority—who look mpon tie present excessive centralization as the only safe guarantee for national union, and it might give rise to an internecine struggle more murderous than Europe has seen nce the religious wars of the sixteenth century. is, then, is the actual position of affairs:— France is passing through one of those crises which may lead to anything. All may end quietly after @ noisy vote in the Chamber; but probably the vote may not take place at all, or, if it do, this vote may be the mere prelude to a period of agita- tion and violence such as cannot be contemplated without great apprenension. THE CASE OF BAZAINE. a a Paris, Oct, 24, 1873, Marshal Baz&ine’s trial stili continues, and the testimony elicited against him is so damaging that the genera! opinion of the army is that BAZAINE WILL BE SENTENCED TO DEATH, though the Committee of Pardons, or the King, as the case may be, will commute his sentence into degradation, Ido not think myself that such will be the sentence, for it would act as an apotheosis of Gambetta and the Tours government—a consum- mation to which the military judges are not likely to lend themselves, I persist in thinking that the sentence Will be one of simple dismissal jor incom- petency, and that the Court will contrive in its nding to censure Gambetta’s operations equally with those of the Marshal. However that may be, Bazaine 1s already judged by public opimion— and that on his own confession—as guilt, of having sacrificed Metz and i 140,000 soldiers to political considerations. He has admitted that he did not consider the gov- ernment of Tours as a lawiul government, and was resolved to hold no terms witn it. In other words, he was aetermined that Metz should capitulate rather than be saved by republican aid. As the Duke d’Aumale pertinently remarked, “Those are strange principles jor a soldier. If in your eyes the republican government had no existence, surely France existed.’’ But to this the Marshal simply shrugged his shoulders. He is very well satisfied with himself, and has produced a letter trom Napoleon II. proving that the Emperor was quite satisfied, too.” Apparently it is a principle with Bonapartisis that victories are only good when they come from Napoleonic hands, and that if once the Emperor be beaten it is a duty for all his generals to be vanquished too, to prove their loyalty. BLACKBOARD RELIEF _——— The “Party” Arousing to Its Debt to Nast. ——————— A WORLD'S DONATION TO GENIUS. Handy to Have in the House. BROOKLYN, Nov. 5, 1873. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— Alter the many hearty responses to the Nast fand which have appeared in the HERALD it would be unjust did any citizen tail to do what he could to farther the end and aim of the enterprise. Feel- ing that I had a duty to discharge in this matter I have circulated a subscription paper among my friends, with the 1ollowing result:— Simeon Hornpipe—A litter of bull pups, seven in | number. A Friend—Filteen feet of stout hemp rope. Fine Art—A used up goose quill. Jennie L.—A pound of nitro glycerine and a ham- | mer. Others of my friends have been solicited and have promised to contribute, but have not yet de- cided what they will give. When their subscrip- tions come in | shall send them to you. AJAX, A Stamford Repeater. StTamForRD, Conn., Nov. 7, 1873, To THE EoITOR oF THE HERALD:— A few days ago I contributed a small mite (25 cents) towara the Nast Rellet fund, and being a very ardent admirer of Mr. Nast’s illustrations, and also feeling somewhat more “plethoric in purse,’’ have arrived at the conclusion that I can “go ten cents more,”’ as you will please find en- closed the above amount. Would send one cent Mure, but haven’t got it. Yours, respectfully, Dr. GEO. F. DENNIS. Glimpse of a Horrible Fate. HARTFORD, Conn., Nov. 1, 1873, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— When I went home from work last night, I found my wife in tears with the Wednesday's HERALD before her. She said she had been reading of tne misfortunes of tne nation’s delineator, Thomas Nast, and she felt overwhelmed witn grief that such @ worthy man is so distressed. She hada brother once who travelled with a pack (he was a German pedier) and he was frozen to death one winter's hight. She says “Just think of poor Nast meeting with such a fate with his blackboard and chalk basket on his back."? I feel very poor, be- cause I have to quit work next week and lose $4 a@ day, but, to please my wile, [ inciose $0 02 (by United States stamp). A WORKINGMAN, A Man and His Money Seon Parted. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— Please accept one cent, enclosed for the worthy Mr. Nast, and would give more with heart and soul but that I was ingeniously robbed by a scamp on the Belt line. And only think what a lively scene our brilliant artist could portray if he was made acquainted with the subject! Butas I intend to employ one of our scrutinizing detectives to tap nim on the shoulder I will subscribe myself A READER OF YOUR INSPIRING HERALD. Radicals Come “Stamping” Down! New York, Nov. 8, 1873, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— “Uncompromising Radical’ has struck a keynote to which all true republicans should respond, Among the members of our little coterie I collected bh nding | the following sums, the total of which I 6 93. Let Hr really help Mr. Nast A One Cent Pi New York, Nov. 10, 1873, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— Enclosed find one cent which please place to the credit of the inflexible Thomas Nast. He has stood unmoved before his enemies, and now, when hard toon by want, he remains firm in his decision to rave the flame of public opinion; hke “Casa- bianca,” that brave boy on board the burning ship, he ts faithful at his it. Why not erect a monu- ment in Central Park, with the following inscrip- tion, to his honor:— The boy stood on the burning dec His blackboard graced the mart: He chalked, but never walked his chalk, His pame was Thomas Nast. 4 FRIEND OF THE BRAVE. A Brother Black Leader to the Rescue. NEw Brunswick, N. J., Nov. 9, 1873, To Tne Epiror oF THE HERALD :— Looking over the Nast fund not one of our in- habitants had contributed towards iz, As | ama boss over one man that blackens stoves I want another one to blacken old ag providing he don’t blacken people's chara>ters. 1 will give Mr. Nast the job if he comes under these rules, Iam always ready to relieve the needy. SNIPEY-VAN, 4 Hollow Contrt' Mount Vernoy, N. Y., Nov. 10, 1873, To Tae EDITOR oF THE HERALD :— Isee by your paper that such things as bones, medals, chews Of topacco, stove pipes, second hand coffins and such like handsome and necessary articles have been contributed to the Nast fund. 1 now enclose one-half of a second hand cellar (which was made so ig the great fire at this place last October, and which I have no further use for), ne-way Co pen all generals and colonels who are known to be republicans, and bringing up into the large cities—Varis, Lyons, Marseilies, Nantes, Lille and St. Ettenne—officers on whom he can rely to the death. The only reason why the Assem- bly was not convoked last Monday is that General Barail wanted ten days or a fortnight more -to complete the military movements which are to close Paris and Lyons into a rfect hetwork, I know for certain that neral de Ladmirault, Governor of Paris, being questioned the other aay as to What would happen im the event of Paris or the populations of the south offering resistance, answered significantly :— “alter we had Seine cr the Commune M., Thiers eon pie yg ex n of rebels when we had not shot a third of the number we ought. If there be other we shall teach the radicals a lesson to be used a8 a place to deposit the Nast fund in, Yours truly, MIKE, Two Sous for the Pund. Monpay, Nov. 10, 1873, To Tne EDITOR OF THE HERALD :— it being hard times and only receiving $4 per week, still having made @ promise with a distant irtend to help any of the suffering poor, who are recommended by the HeRatp for aid, I send you enclosed a fer the tenefit of His Royal Highness You wiil confer # favor on me by asking T. Nas avenue ¢ for . it to call at No, 109 Of. | If they are not caligad agme AH ate ") ~NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER J], 1873—TRIPLE SHEET. THE VIRGINIUS. The Execution of the Four Pris- oners at Santiago. Ryan and Bembetta Die with Firmness and Courage. Wiliams Another Expedition to be Organized by Cubans. Hey West, Fla.. Nov. 10, 1873, A letter from Havana, dated November 5, gives the following account of the execution of the Vir- ginius prisoners at Santiago de Cuba:— The four prisoners were shot at the place made famous by previous executions and in the usual manner, kneeling close to the slanghter house wall. All marched to the spot with firmness. Bembetta and Ryan showed marked courage, although the former was slightly affected toward the last. The two others quite broke down before they were bandaged, but Ryan kept up to the last, never funched a moment and died without fear or regret. Bembetta and Ryan were killed at the first dis- charge. Spanish Rejoicement Over the Capture by the Tornado—American Official Reclamation—Looking Out for the Tornado and Her Prize—Question as to the Point of Capture. HAVANA, Nov. 6, 1873. The closing lines of my letter yesterday to the HERALD gave the just then received intelligence of the capture of the steamer Virginins, witha number of Cuban expeditionists on board, and all the cargo of arms and munitions of war. The gov- ernment immediately spread the news by extras printed at the office of the Oficial Gazette, and other journais followed suit, SPANISH REJOICEMENT. * Great enthusiasm and rejoicing has been dis- played by the Spaniards throughout Havana at the reception of this news, and in the streets where Spanish shopkeepers do hold forth the national emblem has been spread from store to store across the streets. Telegrams of felicitation are received from the ‘‘unconditionals” in the interior, and a subscription has been started to raise funds to pre- sent a testimonial to the commander and officers of the Tornado for the capture of the Virginius, the first success of'this nature since the insurrec- tion commenced. . At noon a deputation from the Casino Espafiol, headed by its President, Don Julian de Zulueta, took occasion to visit the Captain General to com- pliment him upon his arrival, and also upon the auspicious inauguration of his command by the capture of the Virginius, In the evening a sere- nade was given both to him and the Spanish Ad- miral, and crowds of enthusiastic Spaniards circu- lated in the streets. RUMOR OP EXECUTION. All sorts of ramors were given out, and among the Spaniards there exists the general clamor tor the execution of all the captured expeditionists, and all hands found on board. The Voz de Cuba, “Voice of Hell,’ as it has been frequently called by the liberal press, is especially jubilant over the event, and publishes all the meagre particulars known as yet witha sort of | ferocious joy, something like a tiger scenting blood, and demands capital punishment. The capture, atcording to the Voz,is due to the well adoptea measures of Admiral Pigeta in ordering the Tor- nado, the fastest Spanish vessel afloat, to watch that part of the coast, although much against General Pieltain’s views, who wished to order the Tornado to Jamaica. UNITED STATES OFFICIAL RECLAMATION. I have learned that the Acting Consui General, Mr. Hall, has addressed a communication to the Captain General, caliing bis attention to the fact that the Virginius was not captured within the waters of Cuba or Spain’s maritime jurisdiction, and claiming for any citizens of the United States who have been captured all the rights and con- siderations to which the treaiy of 1795 between Spain and the United States entitles them, and furthermore asking that no sentence of death shall be enforced upon such citizens until the same shail have been approved by the government of Spain and the government of the United States made acquainted with all the facts. THE NEWS TELEGRAM from Santiago de Cuba was dated Ist inst., and had been delayed on account of the cable being out of order and the land wires down. The wires are still out of order, and no direct communication by wire can be had with Santiugo de Ouba. It is supposed that the telegram which gives the news of the cap- ture was forwarded to Tunas, on the south coast, per steamer, and from that place telegraphed to the authoritics here. ISOKING FOR THE PRIZE, The Tornado had arrived at Santiago de Cuba on the Ist, the date of the telegram referred to, with her prize. Ful details regarding the chase and capture have not come to hand, but it would appear from all indications that the Virginius as soon as sighted by the Tornado directed her course towards Jamaica, and after a stern chase of eight houra’ duration—which must have brought her close into British waters—during which horses and a considerable quantity of arms were thrown overboard from the Virginius and @ number of hams were burned in the furnaces to increase the speed, the Tornado overhauled and captured her and all on board. The despatch is not clear enough upon the exact place of the capture, whether it occurred in neutral or British waters; but the latter is the most likely, as it speaks of effecting the capture “towards the coast of Jamaica.” This point will give rise to diplomatic corre- spondence Comments of the Press of Havana. {From the Diario de 1a Marina, Nov. 6.) The notice of the capture of the Virginius and the arraignment of the prisoners before a naval tribunal will doubtless rejoice the heart of every loyal citizen, since the Virginius 1s the first pirate vessel that has fallen into the hands of our brave sailors, The filibusters have been taken to San- tiago de Cifba, where they have been put on trial. The crime of piracy is that which is most antag- onistic to the laws of all civilized peoples. We pre- sume that among those captured are Santa Rosa, the American, Ryan, and several others who were mentioned in the letters of our correspondent in New York, which have already been before our readers, There will be many notices touch- ing this very important item of success, which we shall publish without the least delay. To-day, however, we shall content ourselves by tendering our acknowledgments to the commander of the frigate Tornado, Seior Don Dionisio Costillo, We have now neither the time nor space to enter iully into the consideration of the capture of the Vir- ginius, as we have so many other subjects to oc- cupy our columns, but we cannot conclude with- out ardently felicitating the Spanish navy, and in rticular the brave men of the Tornado. To His Sxcellency, Captain General Jovellar, we would express our entire satisfaction with this exit of the Virginius at the commencement of his com- mand in this Anttlle, regarding it as the nuncio of complete victory in the future, and with the loyal of Ona we will exclaim, with the most hearty en- thusiasm, “Viva la marina Espaiolal la integridad del territorio patrio!” At twelve o'clock to-day @ cemraittee of the Casino Espaiiol of Havana arrived at the palace to congratulate the Captain Genera! on his safe ar- rival and to compliment him on nis erin poeeee. sion at the head of the government, and at the same time they took the opportunity of expressing their joy at what they considered the most fa Viva able augury that could be conceived on his rival—viz., the seizure of the Virginius, On learning the news of the capture the inh: It ants along the streets of the Muralia and Merca- deras decorated their dwellings with flags, &c., as in the days of the old patriotic feasts, Organ- ms are the Virginius surren- dered 1—Who Owns Her? The Cuban element in New York city is exceed- ingly active just now, and there is every likelihood that @ tremendous effort will soon be made to avenge the deaths of Bembetta, Ryan, Del Sol and the younger Cespedes, who were so relentlessly executed a few days ago at Santiago de Cuba. The exertions now being made in behalf of Cuba Libre are being in two directions. The Cubans chiefly in their efforts to fit @ hostile tion, larger, stronger and better equipped than any that has yet leit American waters, The American element which sympathizes with Cuba is to awake a public senti- ment, which will be heeded at Washington and in- duce'if not compel the administration to demand and exact full reparation for any offence which have been offered to this Republic by the cap- +059 0 da Yeaiplas ewe jy toe execution of Gga- out eral Kyan, 1 veing maintainea anu r *,. susceptible of proof when proof is required thaw the Virginius was an American ship and Ryan am American citizen. In reterence to this latter question the probabile ities are that no direct action will be taken betorer Wednesday or Thursday of this week. By-thag time, it is believed, more authentic and PREC SB OFFICIAL INFORMATION > will be received in relation to all the circumstance@ ~~ of the capture of the Virginius, as well as of the — execution of her passengers. Then, should ther information show that she was regularly cleared as an American vessel, beyond the limits of the marine jurisdiction of Spain, and that Ryan and ~ others were American citizens, it is proposed to — organize and hold a monster mass meeting to pro= Lest against such illégaland summary action om the part of Spain, The committee having the mate ter in charge are in consultation daily on the sub ject, and have already communicated with manyt eminent gentiemen, with a view to securing theitt co-operation and advice or their attendance as Speakers on the occasion. Mr. George W. Brown, of No. 62 Beaver street, 1s in change of the a # 4 Tangements, and has already had conlerences wit! Judge Edwards Pierrepont and Henry War Beecher. Judge Picrrepont strongly vises course of DELIBERATE ACTION, j as there will be nothing to retract asthe consee quence of tuo great precipitation. Itis the intend uon to secare the attendance, if possible, of th bl gentlemen above named as speakers, togethel F with Gerrit Smith, the champion of emancipation, and General N. P. Banks, the soldier and states< man and advocate of Hberty among all nations, Z There 1s little doubt but that the meeting will be very large and influential one should the detaile despatches show that any injustice has bee rashly and deflantly done, # Among the Cubans themselves, although there i# union ol sentiment, there does not appear, unfor< tunately, to be unity of action, and each of the tw branches is working independently of the other. Thi society of ‘Amigos de Cuba” has its headquarter: at No. 50 Exchange place, and there was a privat session of the leading members of that body hel there yesterday afternoon, General Francisco V. 5 Aguilera, Vice President of the Cuban Republi who was present, informed the reporter, upon in: quiry, that the Cubans in New York are exertin, all their power to fit out A NEW AND LARGE EXPEDITION, i and that the indications are now that the ente! prise will be carried out within two weeks. Ot course nothing could be learned as yet regardin, the persounel of the party or the point from whic! the expedition will sail. MANY STRANGE RUMORS are afloat concerning the capture of the Virginius, which include one to the opinion that she was sur: rendered unnecessarily to the Spanish corvett Tornado. It is stated that the Virginius took 01 boardat xiagaton, Jamaica, prior to sailing for Cub: 300 tons of coal; sne was decidedly fast, havin: a steaming power a equal to nearly fourteen knot an hour. She left Kingston on the 22d of Octobe! and was chased and captared on the 30th, Accord. ing to the testimony of engineers who have serve on the Virginius her consumption of coal average: twenty-two tons per day, and twenty-five ton would be a very large allowance, The average speed of the Tornado is aboug nine knots, but in emergencies she may ued to eleven knots, an extreme rate of spee for a War vessel unier any circumstances. iow, in the time the Virginius had been at sea, 1 it i the fact that she took on board 300 tons of co she should have consumed not more than 200 ton: leaving a balance in her bunkers of 100tons, Fro! these data it is argued that she never should have been overhauled by any such vessel as the Tornad The insinuation in those assertions against hei commander, Captain Joscph Fry, is a very grav one, and as he is now a prisoner, with no opportu. nity for making @ delence ol the charge, it woul be well to consider it leniently. WHO OWNS THAT SHIP ? A question having arisen as to the actual owners ship of the Virginius, involving, of course, th right of protection, a HERALD reporter yesterd: called on General Manuel Quesada to learn th facts, It has been asserted that she belongs General Quesada, but the General denied cir stantially that she does or ever did, for ever short a period, belong to him. either since he hag been a resident of the United States or while hal was in Venezuela. He further asserted that’ sha has uever—since 1871, at least—carricd any than the American flag, and she bas always durin; that period received her clearances in the usu; form irom American consuls in ports abroad. It is said that she is owned by Mr. John Paterson. The following letter, received in reference to th case of the Florida, seized some two years ago an overhauled by a Spanish man-ol-war, is pertinen' at this time, as demonstrating in some measu Frenaens Grant’s views on the question of neus trality :— WHAT PRESIDENT GRANT THINKS ABOUT NEU TRALITY. Deranruxnt oF tax Ixrenion, To Francis DaRR:— Wasnincron, Oct. 1, 1869. Your despatch of to-day came while I was at $,Cabine! meeting, and atter [had brought before the len Your letter on the same subject. Aiter tull consultatio With the Cabinet the President was of opinion that shipment of arms was vot prohibited to either party i the Cuban struggle. The revolutionists have as power to buy and ship as the Spaniards. It is upon the fi ting out of & military or naval expedition, warlike in it character, that the ueutrality laws operate. It is an en. tire mistake to suppose that the United States office: have ever been instructed to stop the shipment of me! chandise, though it be in form of articles contraband war. The owners and masters of vessels must simp! take their own risk in these cases. But if an expeditio whether ot armed men or armed vessels, intended f naval wartare is started in our ports, then the quesiu: of our duty as neutrals or as @ trendiy Power arises, ands even if we had acknowledgeu the independence ot ‘our duty and our rule could be no whit different until had directly and publicly espoused one of the question by making war upon other. You must remember that we constantl; bought arms of England during the rebellion, and. noy one questioned the legal right of snglishmen to sell to us or the Confederacy. The blockade runners took thei own risk of capture, e Alabama was fitted out make war upon us a! ip of ‘The Cuban republicans must tinction before complaining of spect, as I have said above, the rec pendence would not alter the law. Secretary of the Interior. Alleged Difficulties with the Governor of Puerto Principe. A private letter from a trustworthy source, date@ Havana, November 6, 83} An oficial telegram was yesterda! the palace, from Puerto Principe, of an engages ment between a Spanish force ‘and a column of in« surgents, under command of Sanguiti, in weniy rm to make this diss conduct. ‘In this res nition of their indee ‘ours truly, received af the insurgents were severely beaten, losing twent} killed and eighty taken prisoners. The Spanist commander caused all the prisoners to be sho! 0 lo por los armas) on the field of battle. T: Governor of Puerto Principe, upon hearing of ite took the command away irom the Spanish mander and arrested him, Cay fer tae the even to the Captain General. ‘The latter immediate! telegraphed to Puerto Principe, causing the com: Mander to be reinstated and ordering the Gover nor to Havana. It is thought here that the Govere nor feels an undue sympathy toward the insurs geuts, through the mfuence of his wife, who is am aunt of the late Agramonte. Cuban Meeting in New Orie NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 10, 1873, There was an enthusiastic Cuban meeting her@ yesterday, at which the Surveyor of the Port an@ other prominent federal officials participate: Resolutions were adopted condemning the bare barity of the Spaniards and calling upon the fedq eral government to recognize the Cubans as belile gerents and demand indemnity aud apology for th recent outrages on American citizens, “Phe Outr f the Virginitus.” To tue EpITOR OF THE HERALD:— ¥ Will the HERALD please answer a few question@ for an old army officer, who in many a bard foughs battle tried to uphold the dignity of his country and now deeply feel the disgrace heaped upom us by a nation that cannot even govern its owm immediate territory, much less its colonies? FE enclose you a certified copy of resolutions adopted and approved by the Mayor, Aldermen and Com monaity of the city of New York in 1869, Question—Did ce during our war for inde~ pendence require much from us as we now re# quire irom Cuba betore she recognized our bellige erency? Q. Was England at that day a more powerfull nation than Spain is now t Q. Have the American people since the war wit! Mexico and the South become demoralized? Al they so disabled that they dare not make resist ance ? 10 says:—“It is a du’ ‘The HeRratp of November ple incumbent upon our government a! nize ihe belligerent rights of the Cubans, and it ist aduty which Secretary Fish cannot apy longeg safely postpone.” of our representatives in coneee og ony are ar omicials or their relatives re counsel to the Spanish government ? Q. How much Jonger are we to remain without @ o olicy * ‘ ot we nave a foreign policy, what is it ? YOURS IN 1846 AND 1848, 1861 AND 1863, following are the resolutions of the Mayor, auermen and Commonalty referred to:— ™ the citizens of New York have ¢ me “areca me clurane of amy oth Rave, Sve a wherever struggling the peop:e of Cuba ore whereas Rpone ot ane xpress ther cava 10, the His Ho rn ited States in behall of jew York, to render ali th wer to the patriots! cause. sentative in Congress fr of Gonarean, be, Feds i Me, of ies ete “4 recognition of the ‘Boned of Aldermen, September 299 by Adopted ti the Board of sasistant Aldermen, Seip ‘Ad a tember bs Hi eaBas Sashes cama Pak ee YE Aare Saoneaeen me, yap