Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/36



Communist doctrines, and would hand over Paris to pillage and send France to her grave, if the National Guard and the army did not rise to defend with one common accord their country and the Republic."

The government now feeling with justice that they could no longer countenance the presence in Paris of a party which openly defied them and held the city in terrorism, resolved on the morning of the 18th of March to take possession of the cannon planted on Montmartre, and reduce to obedience the National Guard who presumed to dictate to the authorities. An attempt had been made the evening before to obtain possession of fifty-six guns in the Place des Vosges by a number of artillery-drivers with horses, protected by a detachment of the Republican Guard, but the National Guard refused to open the gates leading to the square, and the regular troops, not wishing to assume the responsibility of shedding blood, withdrew. These cannon were removed in the night to Belleville and the Buttes Chaumont—an elevated portion of the city, in the vicinity of Père la Chaise, and in possession of the National Guards—and the Committee of Direction at Montmartre were advised of the attempt; so when the troops appeared, the sentinels on guard over the artillery, were fully prepared to meet them.

It became absolutely necessary after this failure, and in view of the meeting of the National Assembly to be held on Monday, to adopt at once a more vigorous course. It was accordingly decided, at a meeting of general officers, to bring into requisition the whole military force of the government, and put an end at once to the existing state of affairs.

At 4 o'clock the rappel was heard in all the streets, a sound indicative of barricades and murder. An attack was to be simultaneously made, on Montmartre by