Paris under the Commune: The Seventy-Three Days of the Second Siege; with Numerous Illustrations, Sketches Taken on the Spot, and Portraits (from the Original Photographs) — John Shaqi
Paris under the Commune: The Seventy-Three Days of the Second Siege; with Numerous Illustrations, Sketches Taken on the Spot, and Portraits (from the Original Photographs)Leighton, John
History
Paris under the Commune: The Seventy-Three Days of the Second Siege; with Numerous Illustrations, Sketches Taken on the Spot, and Portraits (from the Original Photographs)
Leighton, John
Paris (France) -- History -- Commune, 1871
“INHABITANTS of PARIS,
“Once more we address ourselves to you, to your reason, and your
patriotism, and we hope that you will listen to us.
“Your grand city, which cannot live except with order, is
profoundly troubled in some of its quarters, and this trouble,
without spreading to other parts, is sufficient nevertheless to
prevent the return of industry and comfort.
“For some time a number of ill-advised men, under the pretext of
resisting the Prussians, who are no longer within our walls, have
constituted themselves masters of a part of the city, thrown up
entrenchments, mounting guard there and forcing you to do the same,
all by order of a secret committee, which takes upon itself to
command a portion of the National Guard, thus setting aside the
authority of General d’Aurelle de Paladines so worthy to be at your
head, and would form a government in opposition to that which
exists legally, the offspring of universal suffrage.
“These men, who have already caused you so much harm, whom you
yourselves dispersed on the 31st of October, are placarding their
intention to protect you against the Prussians, who have only made
an appearance within our walls, and whose definite departure is
retarded by these disorders, and pointing guns, which if fired
would only ruin your houses and destroy your wives and yourselves;
in fact, compromising the very Republic they pretend to defend; for
if it is firmly established in the opinion of France that the
Republic is the necessary companion of disorder, the Republic will
be lost. Do not place any trust in them, but listen to the truth
which we tell you in all sincerity.
“The Government instituted by the whole nation could have retaken
before this these stolen guns, which at present only menace your
safety, seized these ridiculous entrenchments which hinder nothing
but business, and have placed in the hands of justice the criminals
who do not hesitate to create civil war immediately after that with
the foreigner, but it desired to give those who were misled the
time to separate themselves from those who deceived them.
“However, the time allowed for honourable men to separate
themselves from the others, and which is deducted from your
tranquillity, your welfare, and the welfare of France, cannot be
indefinitely prolonged.
“While such a state of things lasts, commerce is arrested, your
shops are deserted, orders which would come from all parts are
suspended; your arms are idle, credit cannot be recreated, the
capital which the Government requires to rid the territory of the
presence of the enemy, comes to hand but slowly. In your own
interest, in that of your city, as well as in that of France, the
Government is resolved to act. The culprits who pretend to
institute a Government of their own must be delivered up to
justice.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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