Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/11



CHAPTER I.

PAGE

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 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