Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/65



treated with them. But if the Government which signed the preliminaries of peace, is overthrown, the convention is broken. The state of war recommences, and Paris is fatally condemned to an occupation. Thus the long and painful efforts by which the Government succeeded in avoiding that irreparable misfortune will be rendered fruitless; but that is not all—with this lamentable disorder credit is destroyed and labor suspended. France not being able to meet her engagements will be abandoned to the enemy, who will reduce her to a cruel state of servitude. Such are the bitter fruits of the criminal folly of some, and of the deplorable supineness of others. The time has come to return to reason and to take courage. The Government and the Assembly do not despair. They appeal to the country and lean on it, decided as they are on following it resolutely, and on striving boldly against sedition."

The law and order men of the National Guards, with several of the leading citizens of Paris, encouraged by the government, made for a few days a spasmodic exertion to overthrow the insurrection, and bring back affairs to their old state. Admiral Saisset was popular, a true republican and a patriotic man, his only son had been killed during the late siege, and it was thought that he stood well with all the different elements of the National Guard; he had obtained, in conjunction with the Mayors and Deputies of Paris, very important concessions from the National Assembly, concessions which ought to have satisfied any true republican, concessions that were all which the Central Committee at one time wanted—the recognition of its municipal franchise and the election of the officers of the National Guard. Much importance was therefore attached to the following proclamation, which was thought would serve as a base for a compromise: