The horrible cracking sound that is heard at sea when a vessel splits
upon a rock, is not a surer sign of peril to the terrified crew, than
are the vain efforts, contradictions and agitation at the Hôtel de
Ville, the forerunners of disaster to the men of the Commune. Listen!
the vessel is about to heave asunder. Everybody gives orders, no one
obeys them. One man looks defiantly at another; this man denounces
that, and Rigault thinks seriously of arresting them both. There is a
majority which is not united, and a minority that cannot agree amongst
themselves. Twenty-one members retire, they do well.[92] I am glad to
find on the list the names of the few that Paris’ still believes in,
and whom, thanks to this tardy resignation, it will not learn to
despise. For instance, Arthur Arnould. But why should they take the
trouble to seek out a pretext? Why did they not say simply: “We have
left them because we find them full of wickedness; we were blinded as
you were at first, but now we in our turn see clearly; a good cause has
been lost by madmen or worse, and we have abandoned it because, if we
were to stay a moment longer, now that we are no longer blinded, we
should be committing a criminal act” Such words as these would have
opened the eyes of so many wretched beings, who are going to their
deaths and think they do well to die! As to those who remain, they must
feel that their power is slipping from them. They did not arrest or
detain Rossel; it would seem as if they dared not touch him because he
was right in thinking what he said, although he was very wrong to say
it as he did. While the Commune hesitates, the military plans of the
Versaillais are being carried out. Vanves taken, Montrouge in ruins,
breaches opened at the Point-du-Jour, at the Porte-Maillot, at
Saint-Ouen; the Communists have only to choose now, between flight and
the horrors of a terrible death struggle! May they fly, far, far away,
beyond the reach of vengeance, despised, forgotten if that be possible!
I am told that the Central Committee is trying now to substitute itself
for the Commune, which was elected by its desire.[93] One born of the
other, they will die together.
[Illustration: Arthur Arnould, Commissioner of Foreign Affairs.[94]]
[Illustration: Foundered Craft on the Seine.
Porte Maillot et Avenue de la Grande Armée]