Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/60



execution. To do this would be to make the dying expiate the crime of a few perverse enemies of their country. As to the damage done to the telegraph at Pantin, the government, unfortunately, has not at present the means of repairing it. Notice has been sent to the mayors, who perhaps will be able to do what is demanded. But I have the honor to repeat to your Excellency, that, owing to the good sense of the great majority of the Paris population, to the firmness of the Assembly, and the support given by the departments, the cause of right will prevail, and that in a few days I shall have the power of giving entire satisfaction to your Excellency in respect to the claims justified by our engagements.

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The streets of Versailles soon became filled with soldiers from Paris, and no great alarm was manifested by the population at what was transpiring in that ill-fated city. Great military preparations, however, were being made, and arms and artillery were demanded from the departments.

The provinces were firmly determined to resist what was taking place in the capital, and to support their deputies. The Mobiles of the departments, stimulated by their representatives, commenced arriving by all the lines of railway.

A stormy debate took place at the sitting of the National Assembly on the 20th, on a motion brought up for the purpose of putting the department of the Seine and Oise in a state of siege. Louis Blanc violently opposed the measure, which he stated to be one of most aggressive character. He thought a policy of conciliation should be adopted with respect to Paris, the situation of which was extremely grave.