Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/13

CHAPTER III.

Admiral Saisset appointed Commander-in-Chief of the National
Guards—The Law and Order Party endeavor to overcome
the Insurrection—Concessions obtained by Admiral Saisset
from the National Assembly—His Proclamation—The Insurrectionists
still unsatisfied—The Elections postponed
by Decree until March 26th—Declaration of the Press—It
calls forth a Threat from the Central Committee—Procession
of the Order Party—Passage through the Place
Vendôme—Citizen Tony-Mollin appointed Mayor of the
6th Arrondissement—M. Leroy takes possession of the
Mairie—Is ejected by Citizen Lullier—Warehouses broken
into by the Mob—Chassepots sold for ten francs—Deputation
sent to Valèrien—Second Procession of the Order
Party—Endeavor made to disperse the crowd—Shots
fired—Frightful Massacre—Ambulances collect the dead—Differences
of Opinion with regard to which Party fired
the first Shot—Account given by the Official Journal—General
Bergeret's view of the question—Requisitions—Executions
at Montmartre—Deputation of Mayors to the
Assembly demanding a Compromise concerning the day
of the Elections—Hostile Attitude of the Assembly—Address
of M. Arnaud—Tribune assigned to the Mayors—Their
Entrance—Their Observations resented by the
Right—Violent agitation—The Meeting dissolved—Evening
Sitting—Resolutions presented by the Mayors for
Approval—Several Mayors on their return to Paris make
an Arrangement with the Central Committee—The Citizens
exhorted to Vote—Discrepancy in the Statement of the
Mayors and that of the Central Committee—The Resolutions
of the Mayors rejected in the Assembly by a large
majority—Decrees in the Official Journal—Insurrectional
Movement in Lyons—In Marseilles—Toulouse—St. Etienne—Fusion
of the Mayors and Central Committee—Version
of the Committee—That of the Mayors—Proclamation of
the Deputies of Paris—Resignation of Admiral Saisset—Proclamation
of the Central Committee. 55