Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/209

 music, led by five delegates of the Commune, left the Hotel de Ville to be joined on their way by the Freemasons, who were to return with them to the seat of government, which had been decorated for a solemn reception. At eleven o'clock the deputation returned with the Freemasons, and made their entrance into the Court of Honor of the Hotel de Ville, prepared in advance to receive them. The insurgent soldiers were formed in lines between which the procession passed. All the members of the Commune were placed at the top of the Escalier d'honneur, before the statue of the Republic. They were decorated with red scarfs, trimmed with gold. The galleries were adorned with trophies, flags, and olive wreaths, whilst the staircases and Court of Honor were fitted out with crimson carpets. The masonic banners were placed upon the stairway, where could be read the different humanitarian mottos. Among others was a large white banner, carried by an artilleryman, with the motto of "Love one another." As soon as the Court was full, immense shouts arose from every side; "Vive la franc-Maçonnerie!" "Vive la Commune!" "Vive la République Universelle!" The Citizen Felix Pyat, member of the Commune, then pronounced, in a strong voice, the following address:

"Brothers, citizens of the great country—of the universal country—faithful to our common principles, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, and more logical than the Ligue des Droits de Paris. You, Freemasons—you follow your words with actions.

"To-day words mean nothing—acts, everything! Thus, after having posted your manifesto—manifesto of the heart—on the walls of Paris, you go now to plant your banner of humanity on the ramparts of our besieged and bombarded city.