Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/212

 The Citizen Terifocq took the red flag from the hands of Citizen Léo Meillet, and addressed to the assembly the following words:

"Citizens, brothers: I am of the number of those who took the initiative to go and plant the standard of peace on our ramparts, and I have the happiness to see at our head the white banner of the Lodge of Vincennes, on which are inscribed these words: 'Let us love one another.' (Bravos.)

"We will go and present first this banner to our enemies' ranks; we will stretch our hands to them, since Versailles will not hear us!

"Yes, citizens, brothers, we will address ourselves to the soldiers, and we will say: 'Soldiers of the same country, come and fraternize with us; we will have no bullets for you so long as you send us none of yours. Come and embrace us, and let peace be made,' (Prolonged bravos—sensation.)

"And if this peace is accomplished, we will return to Paris convinced that we have gained the most glorious victory—that of humanity!

"If, on the contrary, we are not heard, but are fired upon, we will call every vengeance to our aid. We are certain that we shall be heard, and that the Masonry of all the provinces of France will follow our example. We are sure that in whatever part of the country our brothers see troops directed upon Paris, they will go to meet them and call upon them to fraternize.

"If we fail in our attempt for peace, and if Versailles gives the order not to fire upon us, but to kill only our brothers of the ramparts, then we will mingle with them; we, who until now have taken service in the National Guard only as a service of order; those who have hitherto not belonged to it, as well as those already in its ranks, and all together we will join the companies of war, to