Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/84

 the above propositions, entered into an arrangement with the Central Committee that the election should take place on the 26th.

The walls of Paris were covered with placards exhorting all citizens to go and vote at the municipal elections. At the first glance it would appear that all parties were unanimous in giving this advice. The Central Committee stated that the mayors and deputies had rallied to it. On the other hand, these last, in a rival notice entitled, "The only authentic text of the Convention," whilst endeavoring to show it was not they who had gone over to the Committee, but the latter to them, also came to the conclusion that all ought to take part in the ballot. But in looking a little more closely, it was seen that this unanimity was much less perfect than at first appeared.

Louis Blanc made it known to the Assembly that it had been decided to hold the elections on Sunday, March 26th, notwithstanding that body had as yet taken no action in the matter; but he had thought there was danger in postponing that proceeding, and in consequence asked, in the name of the Deputies of the capital, the Assembly to declare that the mayors and adjoints, in consenting to that course, acted like good citizens. The Chamber rejected the proposal by a large majority.

The official organ of the Central Committee continued to publish daily decrees of more or less importance. Following the announcement of the municipal elections on the 26th, there was one encouraging the National Guard to persist firmly in their service, although they were opposed by several battalions of that body and a portion of the press, which stigmatized the movement of the Committee as the act of communists, pillagers, and insurgents; another implored the citizens of Paris to repair in crowds to the voting places; another appointing com