164 COMMUNE DE PAEIS rate and conservative politicians elected from the wealthier districts of Paris, but they al- most immediately resigned. Among all the delegates there were comparatively few whose names were well known. Assi, Varlin, and Duval, prominent members of the Internatio- nale ; Felix Pyat, the journalist and littera- teur, author of the Chiffonnier de Paris; Eaoul Rigault, a cynical and bitter revolutionist, re- calling the men of terror of nearly a century before ; Paschal Grousset, a journalist admired less for his revolutionary qualities than for ele- gance and polish of manner ; Gustave Flourens, the son of the great physiologist, and himself a man of much scientific and literary cultivation ; Vermorel, a journalist of the quartier Latin ; Vesinier, the former secretary of Eugene Sue, and himself the author of a few novels ; Gam- bon, a hero of the insurrection at Bordeaux ; Tridon, a revolutionist of Rigault's school : these were among those elected to the new governing body. There was also the stern old republi- can and Jacobin Delescluze, and M. Bislay, an uncompromising republican, to whom the ex- cesses of the commune were entirely foreign. Victor Hugo and Rochefort were also elected, but withdrew without having taken any part in the principal events. Blanqui's name, in spite of his absence, appeared on the lists ; he was elected, and a substitute appointed to represent him. Gustave Paul Oluseret, who had already taken part in many insurrections, and was one of the few whose practical knowledge of military affairs could be of advantage to the insurgents, was a candidate, but was not returned until a second election held April 16 to fill vacancies. He may almost be considered a member from the beginning, however, as he held office under the commune from April 3, as will presently be shown. On the 29th the first regular sit- ting of the newly chosen delegates was held at the h6tel de ville. The commune (by which name the new assembly now first officially styled itself) was declared to be the only true and legit- imate government of the city ; and a Journal officiel de la Commune de Paris was founded, in which a series of decrees was immediately published. The old revolutionary calendar was restored, March 29 being announced as the 8th Germinal, year 79; laws were issued re~ quiring every healthy citizen from 19 to 40 to serve in the national guard ; a provision grant- ing partial remission of rents due since Oct. 1, 1870, was to go into force immediately, and no one could be arrested for the non-payment of such rents ; the payment of all due bonds and notes might be postponed for three years from July 1, 1871, quarterly payments being made meanwhile; the daily pay of the national guards was raised to 2 francs; all articles that had been pawned for a sum not exceeding 20 francs were to be returned to their owners ; pensions were to be paid to the widows and orphans of those falling in the insurrection ; all factories the possessors of which had left Paris were to become the property of the workmen employed in them ; and a variety of minor provisions were to go into effect for similar purposes of relieving and satisfying the adherents to the new power. The com- mune now proceeded to organization; and the newly elected body found its early sittings the scenes of numberless quarrels. The military class of delegates had nothing in common either in aim or method with the working men; the journalists and politicians had a thousand theories and creeds; the men whose devotion to the cause was so strong and un selfish as to lift them above personal motiv were in the minority ; and among the othe personal jealousies were constantly displayed. Many members began to neglect attendance the meetings, and confusion reigned during th sittings at the hotel de ville. After much di cussion, however, an executive committee w formed, consisting of Bergeret, Duval, Eude Lefrancais, Pyat, Tridon, andVaillant; commi sions were formed for the administration of ji tice, the finances, military affairs, labor, publi works, foreign affairs, and instruction, wi committees on public safety, on subsisten &c. ; and the conduct of the commune's gov ernment assumed some definite shape. A this time the central committee of the fed rates, which had announced itself as so ea to give up its power into the hands of the com mune, and had even, proclaimed its resignatio: continued sitting, refusing to keep its wo and insisting upon ratifying every measure o the commune before it took effect. Both delegates and their adherents were impatien to move upon Versailles, to gain possession the national government there, to overpow the officials " ecraser V assemblee," as th Pere Duchene expressed it. The attempt w fixed for April 2. In the forenoon of that da (Sunday) the troops of the commune, to th number of 5,000 to 6,000, were pushed forwa in the direction of Mont Valgrien. The n tional government, perhaps in the hope of sti bringing about a settlement of the difficulty, but more probably following the character] tically cautious advice of M. Thiers, to rend it manifest that the first direct hostilities cam from the other side, sent a flag of truce meet them. Its bearer was seized and shot, through whose fault does not clearly appear A battle, or rather a skirmish, ensued, in whic" the irregular federate guards, not finding amo the soldiers that readiness to join them whic they expected, but being met with determina- tion, soon gave way before the regular troops, and fled into Paris. Aroused by this defea and instructed by experience as to the stren the government now possessed (for the na- tional authorities at Versailles had during th occurrence of the events just related diligent- ly made preparations on their side, and we bringing together an army of 150,000 me: soon placed under the command of MacMa- hon), the commune leaders instantly prepar to renew the fight. Nearly the whole force in
