[53] The citizens, united under the denomination of the League of
Republican Union of the Rights of Paris, had adopted the following
programme, which seemed to them to express the wishes of the
population:—
“Recognition of the Republic.
“Recognition of the rights of Paris to govern itself, to regulate
its police, its finances, its public charities, its public
instruction, and the exercise of its religious liberty by a council
freely elected and all-powerful within the scope of its action.
“The protection of Paris exclusively confided to the National
Guard, formed of all citizens fit to serve.
“It is to the defence of this programme that the members of the
League wish to devote their efforts, and they appeal to all
citizens to aid them in the work, by making known their adhesion,
so that the members of the League, thereby strengthened and
supported, may exercise a powerful mediatory influence, tending to
bring about the return of peace, and to secure the maintenance of
the Republic.
“Paris, 6th April, 1871.”
Here follow the signatures of former representatives, _maires_,
doctors, lawyers, literary men, merchants, and others.
[54] MANIFESTO OF THE FREEMASONS.
“In the presence of the fearful events which make all France shudder
and mourn, in the sight of the precious blood that flows in streams,
the Freemasons, who represent the sentiments of humanity and have
spread them through the world, come once more to declare before you,
government and members of the Assembly, and before you, members of the
Commune, these great principles which are their law and which ought to
be the law of every one who has the heart of a man.
“The flag of the Freemasons bears inscribed upon it, the noble
device—Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, Union. The Freemasons uphold
peace among men, and, in the name of humanity, proclaim the
inviolability of human life. The Freemasons detest all wars, and
cannot sufficiently express grief and horror at civil warfare.
Their duty and their right are to come between you and to say:
“‘In the name of humanity, in the name of fraternity, in the name
of the distracted country, put a stop to this effusion of blood; we
ask of you, we implore of you, to listen to our appeal.’”