Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/56



and they who punish by hunger the refusal to murder, call us assassins! In the first place—we say it with indignation—the sanguinary filth with which they attempt to sully our honor is an ignoble infamy. No order of execution was ever signed by us; the National Guard never took part in the execution of the crime. What interest would it or ourselves have had in doing so? The charge is as absurd as it is base.
 * selves to be disarmed rather than fire upon the people;

"We are indeed almost ashamed to defend ourselves. Our conduct shows what we are. Have we ever sought after emoluments or honors? If we are unknown, although we have obtained the confidence of 215 battalions, it is because we have disdained to make any propaganda. A few hollow phrases or a little cowardice is sufficient, as is shown by recent events.

"We who were charged with a task which imposed on us a terrible responsibility have accomplished it without hesitation and without fear; and now that we have arrived at the goal, we say to the people who have esteemed us sufficiently to listen to our counsels: 'Here is the authority which thou hast confided to us; where our personal interest commences our duty ends; do this well; Master, thou hast recovered thy liberty. Obscure a few days back, we are about to return obscure to thy ranks, and show to those who govern that we can descend proudly the steps of the Hôtel de Ville, with the certainty of finding at the bottom the grasp of the loyal and robust hand.'

"Ant. Arnaud, Assi, Billioray, Ferrat, Babick, Ed. Moreau, C. Dupont, Varlin, Boursier, Mortier, Gouhier, Lavalette, Fr. Jourde, Rousseau, Ch. Lullier, Henri Fortune, G. Arnold, Viard, Blanchet, J. Grollard, Barroud, H. Géresme, Fabre, Pougeret, Bouit—Les membres du Comité central."