“The struggle going on between Paris and Versailles is one of those which can never be terminated by deceitful compromises. There can be no doubt as to the issue. (Oh, no! there is no doubt about it.) Victory, pursued with indomitable energy by the National Guard, will remain with principle and justice. We ask it of France.” Where is the necessity, since you have the indomitable energy of the National Guard?”. “Convinced that Paris under arms possesses as much calmness as bravery ...” You will find that a very difficult thing to persuade France to believe. “... That it maintains order with equal energy and enthusiasm ...” Order? No doubt, that which reigned at Warsaw; the order that reigned on the day after the 2nd of December. “... That it sacrifices itself with as much judgment as heroism ...” Yes; the judgment of a man who throws himself out of a fourth-floor window to prove that his head is harder than the paving-stones. “... That it is only armed through devotion for the glory and liberty of all—let France cause this bloody conflict to cease!” She’ll cause it to cease, never fear, but not in the way you understand it. “It is for France to disarm Versailles ...” Up to the present time she has certainly done precisely the contrary. “... by the manifestations of her irresistible will. As she will be partaker in our conquests, let her take part in our efforts, let her be our ally in this conflict, which can only finish by the triumph of the Communal idea, or the ruin of Paris.” The ruin of Paris! That is only, I suppose, a figurative expression. “For ourselves, citizens of Paris, it is our mission to accomplish the modern revolution, the grandest and most fruitful of all those that have illuminated history. “Our duty is to struggle and to conquer! “THE COMMUNE OF PARIS.” Such is this long, emphatic, but often obscure declaration. It is not wanting, however, in a certain eloquence; and, although frequently disfigured by glaring exaggerations, it contains here and there some just ideas, or at least, such as conform to the views of the great majority. Will it destroy the bad effect produced by the successive defeats of the Federals at Neuilly and at Asnières? Will it produce any good feeling towards the Commune in the minds of those who are daily drawing farther and farther from the men of the Commune? No; it is too late. Had this proclamation been placarded fifteen or twenty days sooner, some parts of it might have been approved and the rest discussed. Today we pass it by with a smile. Ah! many things have happened during the last three days. The acts of the Commune of Paris no longer allow us to take its declarations seriously, and we look upon its members as too mad—if not worse—to believe that by any accident they can be reasonable. These men have finished by rendering detestable whatever good there originally was in their idea. NOTES: