The rise and fall of the Paris commune in 1871; with a full account of the bombardment, capture, and burning of the city

Front matter

9" .

rJ<

V

Preface

A S accuracy is tlie principal merit in a "work of this description, tlie autlior, who remained in Paris from March 6 th until after the capture of the city by the Government troops, which was completed May 29th, 1871, has diligently examined and carefully sifted all reports published by the different writers in the Paris journals, as well as those of foreign correspondents, with whom he was brought in hourly contact. Naturally, there was much discrepancy in the various accounts given, as the scene of action covered so large a space of territory. Each succeeding day corrections were made in the original reports, of which readers in the United States could never be thoroughly informed through the newspapers. Three days in succession three different first-class Paris journals gave the last dying words of General Dombrowski, one of the chiefs of the insurrection, all entirely different. So it was in every instance connected with the arrest or execution of

IV PREFACE.

the different members of the Commune, the storming of the different barricades, and the multitude of heroic and daring actions performed throughout the city. These accounts have been corrected by facts since brought to Hght ; and this material, with what the author personally saw, is now brought before the pubHc. The record is probably the saddest which has ever appeared on the page of history.

Paeis, August, 1871.

CHAPTER I. PAGIi

Causes of tlie Insurrection — War ■with Prussia — Fall of the Empire — Clause in the Treaty of Brussels, leaving the National Guard in Arms — Letter of Prince Napoleon to Jules Favre — Mistake made by Jules Favre in Signing the Treaty — Fears entertained regarding the Return of the Soldiers — "Weakness shown by the Government — Council of Ministers held at Versailles — Meeting of National Guards at Montmartre — Election of Members for the Central Committee — A Prefect of Police appointed by the Government — Protest of the National Guards — They Insist upon their Right to Elect Municipal Officers — They Protest against the Introduction of Regular Troops into the City — Organization of the National Guard — Necessity for its Dissolution — Refusal of the Guards to deliver up their Guns — The Government proposes to Stop their Pay — Prussian Sentry killed by a National Guard — Arrest of the latter — Arrest of two Germans by the Malcontents — Their Trial and Condemnation by the Central Committee — Their Release— Conditions of their Release unfulfilled by the Prussians — Proclamation of M. Thiers — Proclamation to the National Guards — Determination of the Government to subdue the Insurrection — Attempt made to secure the Guns in the Place des Vosges — They are removed to Belleville — Erection of Barricades — Occupation of Montmartre by the Troops — Mismanagement shown — Hostile Attitude assumed by the National Guard — They oppose the removal of the Guns — Refusal of the Soldiers

Vi CONTENTS.

PAGE

to Advance — The 88tli Eegiment of the Line fraternizes with the Insurgents — Withdrawal of the Troops who remain faithful — They are fired upon by the Insurgents 15

CHAPTEE II.

Elation of the National Gu.ards — Erection of new Barricades- Battery surrendered hy its Escort to the Insurgents — ; Arrest of Generals Lecomte and Thomas — Their Assassination— Brave attitude of the murdered Officers — Two Aides-de-Camp of General Lecomte narrowly escape the same fate^-The Central Committee assume the direction of Affairs — Excitement at Montrouge — Barricades erected in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine — Gendarmes dismounted and disarmed — Proclamation of the Government — Events at the Hotel de Villa — Ail Access to the Buttes Chaumont forbidden by the National Guards — Two .Regiments of the Line Surrounded and Disarmed — The Insurgents take possession of the Place Vendome — Evacuation of the llth Arrondissement — Meeting of Paris Deputies, Mayors, and Adjoints — Concessions proposed to the Government and accepted, but withdrawn after news received of the Murder of Generals Lecomte and Thomas — The Central Committee take possession of the Hotel de Ville — Arrest of General Chanzy — Official Journal seized by the Insurgents— Proclamation of the Central Committee — City entirely abandoned by the Troops — Public Buildings occupied by the Insurrection — Decree for the Elections * — Communication cut off with the Provinces — The Government Officials summoned to Versailles — The Prussians return to St. Denis — Their Despatch to M. Jules Favre — His Reply — Great Military Preparations — Sitting of the Assembly — The Department of the Seine declared in a state of siege — Children of General Lecomte adopted by the Country — Prussian Communication to the Central Committee — Reply of Paschal Grousset 33

CONTENTS. vii

Chapter III. Page

Admiral Saisset appointed Commander-in-Chief of tlic National Guai'ds — The Law and Order Party endeavor to overcome « the Insurrection — Concessions obtained by Admiral Saisset from the National Assembly — His Proclamation — The Insurrectionists still unsatisfied — The Elections postponed by Decree until March 26th — Declaration of the Press — It calls forth a Threat from the Central Committee — Pro- r cession of the Order Party — Passage through the Place Vendome — Citizen Tony-Mollin appointed Mayor of the 6tb. Arrondissement — M. Leroy takes possession of the Mairie — Is ejected by Citizen Lullier — Warehouses broken into by the Mob — Chassepots sold for ten francs — Deputation sent to Valerien — Second Procession of the Order Party — Endeavor made to disperse the crowd — Shots ' '4- fired — Frightful Massacre — Ambulances collect the dead — Diflferences of Opinion with regard to which Party fired the first Shot — Account given by the OflScial Journal — General Bergeret's view of the question — Requisitions — Executions at Montmartre — Deputation of Mayors to the Assembly demanding a Compromise concerning the day of the Elections — Hostile Attitude of the Assembly — Address of M. Arnaud — Tribune assigned to the Mayors — Their Entrance — Their Observations resented by the Right — ^Violent agitation — The Meeting dissolved — Evening Sitting — Resolutions presented by the Mayors for Approval — Several Mayors on their return to Paris make an Arrangement with the Central Committee — The Citizens exhorted to Vote — Discrepancy in the Statement of the Mayors and that of the Central Committee — The Resolutions of the Mayors rejected in the Assembly by a large majority — Decrees in the Official Journal — Insurrectional Movement in Lyons — In Marseilles — Toulouse — St. Etienne ' — Fusion of the Mayors and Central Committee — Version of the Committee — That of the Mayors — Proclamation of the Deputies of Paris — Resignation of Admiral Saisset — Proclamation of the Central Committee 55

YIU CONTEiq-TS.

CHAPTEK IV.

PAGE

Successful Results obtained by tbe Committee on the Elections — Small number of Voters — List of tbe Commune — Deles- ' cluze resigns bis seat in tbe Assembly, and becomes Member of tbe Commune — Ceremony at tbe Hotel de Ville — Commissioners appointed by tbe Commune — Proclamations— Decrees^Tbe Eed Flag floats from tbe Tuileries — Absolute Power of tbe Commime — Sub-Committee of eleven members — Garibaldi — Opinions of tbe Communist Journals — Post-office Director appointed by tbe Commune — Imprisonment of Lullier — Situation of Paris — Preparations of tbe Insurgents — Concentration of tbeir Troops — Plan of Attack — Engagement at Meudon — Cbatillon — Sortie by tbe Porte Maillot— ^be Insurgents met by tlie Versailles troops — Bearer of a Flag of Truce sbot by tbe Insurgents — Tbeir precipitate Eetreat — Cbarge of tbe Gendarmes — False Bulletins of tbe Commune — Arrival of tbe Insurgents, commanded by Flourens, at Eeuil — Barricades erected in tbe Streets — Arrival of tbe Gendarmes and Capture of tbe Barricades — Utter Eout of tbe Federals — Searcb for Flourens — He is discovered and killed — His Aide-de-Camp taken prisoner. 85

Chapter V

Proclamation of tbe Marquis de Gallifet — Tbreat of tbe Communists — Imprisonment of Assi — Grade of General abolisbed — Dombrowski appointed Commandant of Paris — Attack on Cbatillon — Deatb of General Duval — Decree rendering Military Service obligatory for all men between tbe ages of nineteen and forty — Pretexts adopted for escape from tbe City— Eocbefort instigates tbe demolition of M. Tbiers' bouse — .Letter of Garibaldi — Decree relative to Prisoners — Cluseret's Eeport — Note of Pascbal Grousset to tbe Foreign Eepresentatives-^Bergeret's Letter — Cap-

.CONTENTS. IX

FAGB

ture of Courbevoie by the Versailles Troops — The Bridge of Neuilly takeu— Shells fall at the Arc de Triomphe — Persecution of the Clergy — Imprisonment of the Archbishop of Paris — Conflict of the Commune and Central Committee — Bergeret Incarcerated — Despatch of Dombrowski — The fight at Courbevoie — Attack on tlie Insurgent Outposts at Issy — Account given by General Cluseret — The Committee of Conciliation 105

CHAPTEK VI.

M. Jules Favre at Prussian Headquarters — Letter of Paschal Grousset to the Prussian Commander — Proclamation posted at St. Denis — Sacrilege of the Communists — Religious services discontinued — Decree ordering the destruction of the Column Vendome — Article in the Mot d'Ordre — Shells fall far into Paris — Report of General Cluseret — Battery at Trocadero — Marshal de McMahon appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Versailles — Formation of that Army — The Army of Reserve — Fighting on the 15th — Elections of the 16th — Fighting at Asnieres — The Chateau de Becon carried by the Troops — The Government accused of Procrastination — Deputations to Versailles—Address of the Republican League — Programme of the Commime — Severe firing on the 19th — Losses of the Insurgents — Attack of the Insurgents on the Bridge at Neuilly— Their Defeat — Letter from the Archbishop to M. Thiers — Damage caused in Paris by Shells— Engagement at the Bridge of Clicky — Explosion of a Powder Magazine — Convents and Nunneries invaded — Atheism of the Communists — The Executive Committee — Suppression of Journals — Insurgent Batteries at Lavallois and Clichy — Attack on tke Park of Neuilly — Proclamation announcing an Armistice at Neuilly — Expectation of a grand attack — Attack on Levallois by the Troops— Repulsed by Dom-

browski 131

1*

COKTENTS.

Chapter VII

The Armistice — Unliappy Condition of the Inhabitants of Neuilly — Sitting of the Commune — OflScial Circular from Versailles — Cannonade of Fort Issy — Reconnaissance on the Boulevard Bineau — Meeting of Freemasons at the Chatelet — English Journals — L'es Moulineaux captured by the Troops — Attack on Neuilly — Reported Cruelty of a Versailles Captain — Speech of M. Thiers in the Assembly — Combats on the Boulevard du Chateau — Proclamations of General Cluseret — ^Meeting of Freemasons — Speeches at the Hotel de Ville — ^Procession to the Eamparts — Deputation to Versailles — Evacuation of Fort Issy — Re-occupied by the Insurgents — Versailles Circular— Deposition of Cluseret — His Arrest — Rossel appointed to the War Department — His History — Issy summoned to Surrender — Rossel's Reply — Committee of Public Safety — Letter of Rossel — Capture of the Chateau of Issy — Heroic Defence of the Fort — Cannonade of Fort Vanves — Redoubt of Moulin — Jaquet taken — Fighting at Neuilly — Deputation of the Republican League — Decree of the Committee of Public Safety— Military Appointments — Brilliant Success of the Troops— The Mont-de-Piete 169

CHAPTEE VIII.

Concert given at the Tuileries for the Benefit of the wounded National Guards— Appeal of M. Thiers to the Inhabitants of Paris— Battery of Montretout — Evacuation of Fort Issy — Occupation by the Troops — Engagement at Moulin- Saquet — False Reports given by the Official Journal — Rossel's Report — His Letter — His Imprisonment and Escape — Delescluze appointed Delegate of War — Fort Vanves evacuated — The Insurgents again take Possession

CONTEl^TS. XI

PAGE

— Differences of tlie Commune and Central Committee — Government Despatch — Decree ordaining the Demohtion of M. Thiers' house — Camp in the Bois de Boulogne — Pro- i cession of Troops at Versailles— Sinking of an Insurgent Gunboat — Capture of Fort Vanves — Villas in the neighborhood of Paris plundered by the Insurgents — Threat of the Communists with regard to Paris — Dissensions of the Commune — Fall of the Column Vendome — Its Description — Guns captured at Vanves presented by a Deputation to the National Assembly — Marshal de MacMahon's Order of the Day — Explosion of the Cartridge Manufactory in the Avenue Eapp — The blame thrown upon the National Assembly by the Commune — Sacrilege at Notre Dame des Victoii'cs — Cluseret tried and set at liberty by the Commune— Arrest of Rochefort at Meaux — His entrance into Versailles 233

CHAPTEE IX.

Porte St. Cloud — Communication of M. Ducatel — Entrance of the Troops into Paris — Fourth Army Corps — Army of Reserve — General Ladmirault at the Gates of Passy and Auteuil — Entrance of General de Cissey — Arrest of Assi — Entrance of the Troops long unknown in the City — Plan of Attack — March of the different Corps — Occupation of the Park Monceaux — Confusion at the Hotel de Ville — Erection of Barricades— Violent Proclamations — Melancholy appearance of the City — Deputations to the Hotel de ViEe — Orders given by Delescluze — Evacuation of the Palais de rindustrie and Ministry of the Interior — Fighting in the Faubourg St. Honore — At the Rue d'Anjou — In the Boulevard Haussman — Investment of Montmartre — Left bank of the Seine — Barricades constructed — Manifestation in favor of the Government 281

Xil - CONTEJSTTS.

CHAPTEE X.

PAGE

Attack on tlie Place Clicliy — Tlie Rue Lepic — Manner of Attack— Assault of the Moulin-de-la-Galette — Volunteers of the Seine — Capture of Montmartre — The Barricades of the exterior Boulevards taken — Boulevard Magenta — Death and burial of Dombrowski — Place de la Concorde — Chapelle Expiatoire carried by the Troops — Fighting in the Boulevard Malesherbes — Places de la Madeleine and Concorde taken — Conflagration in the Eue Royale — Persons smothered in the flames — Ministry of 'Marine — Ministry of Finances — Conflagration of the Tuileries — The Louvre saved — Barricade of the Place de I'Opera — Church of the Trinity — Chaussee d'Antin — Place Vendome taken — The Bourse saved — Bank of France bravely defended — Cruelty of the Insurgents — Combat at Montparnasse and in the Rue de Rennes — Defeat of the Insurgents — The Croix Rouge taken — Place Saint-Salpice — Conflagrations on the left bank — Montrouge — Frightful Slaughter at the Church of Saint-Pierre — Government Circular — The Expiatory Chapel — Barricades erected during the night — Assassination of Chaudey — His Funeral — Attempt made by several Communists to Escape 300

CHAPTER XI.

Paris on the Morning of the 34th — Incendiary Orders — Proclamation to the Soldiers — M. Thiers' Speech in the Assembly— Porte St. Denis — The Theatre of the Porte St. Martin set on flre — Massacre of Women and Children — The Hostages transferred to La Roquette — Massacre of the Archbishop and five other persons — Monseigneur Darboy — M. Duguerry — President Bonjean— Visit to the Arch-

. COITTENTS. xiii

PAGE

bishop — Progress on the right bank — Saint Eustache — The Palais Eoyale in flames — Occupation of the Faubouro- Saint-Germain — The Pantheon taken — Explosion of a Powder Magazine — Arrest and Execution of Raoul Rigault — His Character — His Extravagance — Cannonade from Montmartre — Night of the 24th — Conflagration of the Palace of Justice — The Prisoners of the Conciergerie 839

CHAPTER XII.

Government Circular — Capture of the Butte-aux-Cailles— The Gobelins taken, but in flames — Fall of the Forts Bicetre and Ivry — Massacre of Dominicans — Death of MilHere^— Of Valles— General de Cissey — His brilliant Career — Capture of the Hotel de Ville — The building in ruins — Advance on the Place de la Bastille — Attack on the Ansterlitz Bridge — The Mazas prisoners released — Their ^ death — Citizen Vincent — The Grenier d'Abondance in flames — Despatch of Ferre to Delescluze — The Chateau d'Eau — Artifices of the Commune — The Boulevard Magenta — Capture of the Chateau d'Eau — Death of Delescluze — Papers found on his Person — Large number of Prisoners taken — Preparations for blowing up the neighborhood — Place du TrSne — ' More victims at La Roqnette — The remaining Prisoners erect Barricades within the building — Some of them leave the Prison and are murdered — Announcement made by the Minister of War in the National Assembly — Circular of M. Jules Favre to French Representatives at Foreign Courts — Answer of the Belgian and Spanish Governments — ^Protest of M. Victor Hugo— He is Ejected from Belgium — Conflagration of the Docks of La Villette — Offers of Firemen made by the English and Belgian Governments 393

XIV CONTENTS.

CHAPTEE XIII.

PAGE

The Line of Battle — Boulevard Eicliard-Lenoir — Capture of .the Buttes Chaumont — Resistance at Pere-Lachaise — Appearance of the Cemetery — Taking of La Villette — Government Circular — Hostile attitude of Belleville — Rage of the Insurgents — Belleville Conquered — Circular issued by M. Thiers — Proclamations of Marshal de MacMahon — ^Vicar Lamazou's Letter — Military Decrees — Arms taken from the Insurgents— Paris divided into four Military Departments— Aspect of the City — The Louvre — The Tuileries — The Palais-Royal— The Hotel de Ville— Escape of the Archives — The Bank of France — The Palais de Justice — The Legion of Honor — The ConseU d'Etat and the Cour des Comptes — Cost of the Commune to the City of Paris — Strangers of the Commune 435

CHAPTEE XIV.

Projet de loi concerning the Hostages — Funeral Services of the Archbishop and the other victims, celebrated at Notre- Dame — Immense number of Prisoners captured by the Government — Description of the Camp at Satory — Audacity of a Communist — Fate of the Members of the Commune — Billioray — Gambon — Eudes — Okolowitch — Mathieu — ^Varlin — Jourde — Johannard — La Cecilia — Treilhard — Paschal Grousset — Regere — Vesinier — Verdure — Courbet — Rossel — ^Vermorel — Cluseret — Dufil — Langelle — Razoua — Rochefort — His Ingratitude to his Father — Letter of Henri V. — M. Ducatel made Knight of the Legion of Honor — The American Minister in Paris — His Letter concerning the Archbishop — First Condemnation of the Councils of War — Conclusion 483

Chapter I

Causes of the insurrection— War -with Prussia— Fall of the Empire— Clause in the Treaty of Brussels, leaving the National Guard in arms— Letter of Prince Napoleon to Jules Favre- Mistake made hy Jules Favre in signing the treaty— Fears entertained regarding the return of the soldiers— Weakness shown by the Government— Council of Ministers held at Versailles— Meeting of National Guards at Montmartre— Election of members for the Central Committee— A Prefect of Police appointed by the Government— Protest of the National Guards— They insist upon their right to elect municipal oillcere —They protest against the introduction of regular troops, into the city— Organization of the National Guard— Necessity for its dissolution— Eefusal of the Guards to deliver up their guns— The Government proposes to stop their pay — Prussian sentry killed by a National Guard— Arrest of the latter — ^Arrest of two Germans by the malcontents— Their trial and condemnation by the Central Committee— Their release— Conditions of their release unfulfilled by the Prussians— Proclamation of M. Thiers— Proclamation to the National Guards— Determination of the Government to subdue the insurrection- Attempt made to secure the guns in the Place des Vosges— They are removed to Belleville— Erection of barricades— Occupation of Montmartre by the troops — Mismanagement shown — Hostile attitude assumed by the National Guard— They oppose the removal of the guns— Eefusal of the soldiers to advance— The 88th regiment of the line fraternizes with the insurgents — Withdrawal of the troops who remain faithful— They are fired upon by the insurgents.

THE unfortunate war which France declared against Germany in the month of July 1870, was indirectly the cause of the late insurrection, the most formidable and criminal the world has ever seen. The head that had so long controlled the ruthless desperadoes of Paris, most of whom have by this time expiated their -fearful crimes, was . in exile — the defeat of Sedan had set them at liberty.

Although the insurgents had always been strictly opposed to the Empire, they were the first and loudest in their shouts of ''On to Berlin" when marching through the boulevards, although the last to try and get there ; and happy were they at the defeat of the brave and gallant army, overmatched by numbers and military organization.

After the overthrow of the Imperial dynasty, September 4th, 1870, by a greater coiip d'etat than that practiced by

16 - THE PARIS COMMTI^E.

the Emperor, the chiefs of that movement, many of whom were leaders in the late insurrection, proclaimed to the world that JSTapoleon III was the prime mover in the declaration of war. Most people, residents of France, knew to the contrary; the English Grovernment knew to the contrary when Lord Lyons' dispatches were read in the House of Commons, declaring that the French people had taken the reins out of the Emperor's hands. The armies of the Empire were defeated, the Eepublic was proclaimed, its armies defeated, its military and political leaders overpowered by the surrender of Paris and the treaty of Brussels — then was committed the crowning error of leaving armed a National Guard, a large portion of which was the refuse of France, and the scum of different European countries, who, getting the uj)per hand of the more respectable portion of the Eepublicans in the city, loosened the hagne of some thirty thousand of its frequenters, and, led by instigators of murder and rebellion — assassins like Eudes and Megy — released from prison by the Committee of National Defence, in which they had been confined under the Empire, committed, under the name, and for the purpose of protecting the Eepublic, every species of crime and blasphemy.

Prince Napoleon, cousin of the Emperor, and who, in the event of the death of the Prince Imperial, would be the next heir to the Imperial crown, addressed the following letter to Jules Favre, in which he accused that statesman with all the misery lately brought upon France. Its publication will throw considerable light on the origin of events proposed to be illustrated :

" London, May, 1871.

" Peace is signed with the conqueror. Paris, the great capital, burns — its finest edifices, which have existed for

PKINCE NAPOLEON"'S LETTER, 17

centuries, are reduced to aslies — blood flows in torrents — your work is complete.

" The affliction which oppresses every French mind ought not to obscure one's reason, which has the right to demand from you an account of the disasters which you have accumulated.

" The 4th September — the armistice discussed at Ferrieres — the defence of Paris — the preliminaries of Versailles— the 18th March — the peace of Frankfort — the burning of the metropolis; — such are your ill-omened dates. History will call you Vliomme fatal, and will find in you only one motive — hate for the name of Napoleon.

"The disastrous war commenced the 19th July, 1870, by the Empire, terminated on the 10th of May by the government without name, to which you belong. What is that regime? Is it the national defence? No; — for you only capitulated. Is it a national restoration ? No ; for disorganization and anarchy have seized on France. Is it a Monarchy? No. Is it a Eepublic? Still less. Is it liberty ? Certainly not. Look at the elections oppressed by decrees of ostracism, withdrawn at the last hour, after having perverted the choice of the citizens.

" All those are the evils accumulated on one another by the absence of order, security, liberty, and strength.

" Let us go over the steps by which you conducted us to the bottom of the abyss.

" On the 4th September you proposed the deposition of the Emperor. The insurrection, led on by you, drove away your colleagues; you violated your oath, and you usurped power at the Hotel de Ville against universal suflrage.

" The Empire had committed faults, our defeats were great, but our disasters date from you — to each, his share. Doubtless the error was most unfortunate to count too much on the forces of France, and to commit in 1870 the

18 THE PABIS COMMUNE.

mistake made by Prussia in 1806 ; to think too mucli of the victories of the great Republic and the first Empire ; to forget too much the powerful enemy we had to combat; to contemplate the Crimea of 1854 and the Italy of 1859, instead of looking firmly at the strength of Germany* in 1870, and the remarkable men whom she had at her head.

" I do not wish to deny, nor can I, those faults which the Napoleons pay still more dearly for by their heart-felt grief than by their exile ; but the Emperor did not seek to cling to the throne by a peace which might save his power in imposing heavy sacrifices on France.

"At all events, we have one consolation, that of having, fallen with the country, whereas your elevation dates from her misfortunes.

" Better than any one, you know the conditions which Napoleon III could have obtained from Prussia at Sedan ; certainly they were hard, but incomparably less so than those accepted by you. Our sacrifices were not to be compared to those which you signed, without reckoning that we should have avoided the months of disorder entailed by the government of the non-defence of Paris, and by the dictatorship of those of your colleagues who emigrated in balloons to pillage and o]3press our provinces. Down to the fall of the Empire, we had suffered great misfortunes, but capable of being repaired, as may be found in the history of many great nations. Since the 4th September, on the contrary, those which have occurred can no longer be so termed — they are disasters unexampled in history.

" To the Empire falls the responsibility of faults, to you that of positive disasters; and I ask, if, amongst the former, the greatest is not to have tolerated your criminal attempts in the interior.

"The inevitable consequence of your usurpation was

THE PRINCE'S SARCASM. 19

the revolution of tlie 18tli March, which you now accuse, and the burning of Paris, for which you are responsible.

To defend Paris, you confined yourself to proclaiming fictitious successes. You did not utilize those terrible but vigorous elements which you have unchained, and which lately held the soldiers of France in check during two months; and, however they were the same men, misled since by democratic folly, amongst whom you could have excited the patriotic passion, they were the same national guards, cannons, muskets, forts, ramparts, barricades, all those forces which remained paralyzed in your weak hands, and which might have been sublime against the foreigner.

" Know this fact, that the Napoleons would have been patriotic enough to have blessed your triumph and their fall, if you had freed France, but history will say that having promised to save the country, you destroyed it.

" In the interval, you went to Ferrieres to shed tears ! and I really pity you. You pronounced there the dangerous words which are not those of a statesman: 'Not a stone of our fortresses, nor an inch of our territory.' Your conscience ought to feel oppressed by them. For the honor of a French Minister, you should have had the modesty to place some other name than your own at the foot of the act recording the grievous sacrifices rendered indispensable by often-repeated faults.

" At Versailles the conqueror proposed the disarming of the National Guard or of the army, and you chose that of the soldiers, because you feared Bonapartist tendencies among the troops; at the same time that you never paid the slightest attention to the elements of disorder in an irritated crowd, dissatisfied with itself, badly led, humiliated, and unfortunate, all of which causes were destined to lead to that terrible explosion of the Commune.

'•' You sold France to the representative of the enemy.

20 THE PARIS COMMUl^E.

in exchange for your personal Eepublic. "Why did you give way ? I will tell you — because the Foreign Minister hinted at the possibility of assembling the former Legislative Body. Then you signed everything.

" To continue. Your incapacity led to the triumph of the Commune in Paris, and to daily increasing demands on the part of the Germans. The negotiations languished at Brussels, and nothing was accomphshed. You went to Frankfort, but what was done there? You signed an aggravation of the preliminaries of peace, first, by shortening the time for the payment of the indemnity ; secondly, by prolonging until December, 1871, the occupation of the northern forts, which were to have been evacuated after the payment of the first 500 millions ; and, thirdly, by not making Prussia take to her charge so much of the former national debt of France as belonged to the departments ceded, in proportion to the territory and the number of the inhabitants, which is a principle of public law, and which was admitted on the cession of Lombardy, Savoy, Mce, and Venetia.