Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/93



Successful results obtained by the Committee on the elections—Small number of voters—List of the Commune—Delescluze resigns his seat in the Assembly and becomes member of the Commune—Ceremony at the Hotel de Ville—Commissioners appointed by the Commune—Proclamations—Decrees—The red flag floats from the Tuileries—Absolute Power of the Commune—Sub-Committee of eleven members—Garibaldi—Opinions of the Communist Journals—Post-office Director appointed by the Commune—Imprisonment of Sullier—Situation of Paris—Preparations of the insurgents—Concentration of their troops—Plan of attack—Engagement at Meudon—Chatillon—Sortie by the Port Maillot—The insurgents met by the Versailles troops—Bearer of a flag of truce shot by the insurgents—Their precipitate retreat—Charge of the gendarmes—False bulletins of the Commune—Arrival of the insurgents, commanded by Flourens, at Reuil—Barricades erected in the streets—Arrival of the gendarmes and capture of the barricades—Utter rout of the Federals—Search for Flourens—He is discovered and killed—His aide-de-camp taken prisoner.

The elections passed off quietly throughout the city, except in one or two quarters where the controversy between the adherents of the Commune, or insurgents, and the Order party was exceedingly bitter, and even blows were resorted to—a very unusual thing in Paris or among the French people. The Committee candidates were returned by large majorities. The Conservative or Order party were only successful in the 1st, 2d, and 16th arrondissements. These represent the quarters of the Louvre, the Bourse, and Passy. Two arrondissements elected candidates representing the fusion between the Committee and the Advanced Republicans; the other fifteen returned Committee candidates. The number of votes cast was comparatively small—180,000 only voting. At the elections on the 12th of February, 620,000 electors were inscribed. Out of the 180,000 votes the Commune received 120,000, or less than one-fifth of the whole