Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/67



until the necessary arrangements can be made for the forthcoming communal elections.

"Your mayors and your deputies, repudiating the engagements they had just made as candidates, have tried to fetter the elections, which we wish to hold in the briefest possible time.

"The reaction raised by them declares war against us.

"We will accept the struggle, and will crush all resistance, that you may proceed to the vote in the serenity of your will and your power.

"In consequence, the elections are postponed until Sunday next, March 26th.

"Up to that time the most energetic measures will be taken to cause to be respected the rights you have assumed.

"Avoine fils, Ant. Arnaud, G. Arnold, Assi, Andignoux, Bouit, J. Bergeret, Babick, Boursier, Baron, Billioray, Blanchet, Castioni, Chouteau, C. Dupont, Ferrat, Henri Fortuné, Fabre, Fleury, Pougeret, C. Gaudier, Gouhier, Guiral, Géresme, Grollard, Josselin, F. Jourde, Maxime Lisbonne, Lavalette, Ch. Lullier, Maljournal, Moreau, Mortier, Prudhomme, Rousseau, Ranvier, Varlin, Viard—Le Comité Central de la Garde Nationale.

In the meantime, the principal Paris journals entered into a combination to resist the holding of the elections by the insurgents, and issued the following

"DECLARATION OF THE PRESS.

":—Seeing that the convocation of electors is an act of national sovereignty;

"That the exercise of this sovereignty appertains to the powers emanating from universal suffrage;