Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/82

 Several Voices.—"Was it by the existing executive?"

M. Flouquet.—"You desire, then, the continuation of the civil war?" (Renewed disturbance.)

M. Arnaud believed he had no occasion to give any explanations, as, in speaking of delegation, he recognized no other power than that issuing from universal suffrage. He was anxious to state that he and his friends had come to state the results of their common efforts, and that they hoped to triumph; but they were anxious to be strengthened by the sentiment and assistance of the Assembly. He left the matter in the hands of the President, and asked at least that a tribune should be assigned to the various representatives of the municipal bodies of Paris.

The President.—Nothing could be more simple than to reconcile the rights, prerogatives, and interests of the Assembly, which must never be sacrificed, with the deference due to the mayors of Paris. M. Arnaud had said that they had a communication to make. Amongst them were several members of the Chamber; let one of them read the document. As to the respect due to the municipal functionaries, that would receive full satisfaction. A tribune should be placed at their disposal, and he believed that the questers had already taken the necessary measures.

M. Baze, a member, said he would give the mayors the most distinguished places in the house.

At that moment fourteen members of the municipality of Paris entered, each wearing the tricolored scarf, which forms the insignia of their office. The whole Assembly at once rose and welcomed them with loud applause, the Left with cries of "Vive la France!" and "Vive la République!" and the Right with the former alone. The mayors responded with some exclamations for France and the Republic, when fifty or sixty members of the Right, pointing to them, called out: "Order! order! They do