[17] “THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD. “Inasmuch:— “That it is most urgent that the Communal administration of the City of Paris shall be formed immediately, “Decrees:— “1st. The elections for the Communal Council of the City of Paris will take place on Wednesday next, the 22nd of March. “2nd. The electors will vote with lists, and in their own arrondissements. Each arrondissement will elect a councillor for each twenty thousand of inhabitants, and an extra one for a surplus of more than ten thousand. 3rd. The poll will be open from eight in the morning to six in the evening. The result will be made known at once. 4th. The municipalities of the twenty arrondissements are entrusted with the proper execution of the present decree. A placard indicating the number of councillors for each arrondissement will shortly be posted up. “Hôtel de Ville, Paris, 29th March, 1871.” V. Paris remains inactive, and watches events as one watches running water. What does this indifference spring from? Surprise and the disappearance of the chiefs might yesterday have excused the inaction of Paris, but twenty-four hours have passed over, every man has interrogated his conscience, and been able to listen to its answer. There has been time to reconnoitre, to concert together; there would have been time to act! Why is nothing done? Why has nothing been done yet? Generals Clément Thomas and Lecomte have been assassinated; this is as incontestable as it is odious. Does all Paris wish to partake with the criminals in the responsibility of this crime? The regular Government has been expelled. Does Paris consent to this expulsion? Men invested with no rights, or, at least, with insufficient rights, have usurped the power. Does Paris so far forget itself as to submit to this usurpation without resistance?