“CITIZENS,—The gate of Saint-Cloud, attacked from four directions
at once, was forcibly taken by the Versaillais, who have become
masters of a considerable portion of Paris.
“This reverse, far from discouraging us, should prove a stimulus to
our exertions. A people who have dethroned kings, destroyed
Bastilles, and established a Republic, can not lose in a day the
fruits of the emancipation of the 18th of March.
“Parisians, the struggle we have commenced cannot be abandoned, for
it is a struggle between the past and the future, between liberty
and despotism, equality and monopoly, fraternity and servitude, the
unity of nations and the egotism of oppressors.
“AUX ARMES!
“Yes,—to arms! Let Paris bristle with barricades, and from behind
these improvised ramparts let her shout to her enemies the cry of
war, its cry of fierce pride of defiance, and of victory; for Paris
with her barricades is invincible.
“Let the pavement of the streets be torn up; firstly, because the
projectiles coming from the enemy are less dangerous falling on
soft ground; secondly, because these paving-stones, serving as a
new means of defence, can be carried to the higher floors where
there are balconies.
“Let revolutionary Paris, the Paris of great deeds, do her duty;
the Commune and the Committee for Public Safety will do theirs.
“Hôtel de Ville, 2nd Prairial, an 79,
“The Committee for Public Safety,
“ANTOINE ARNAULT, E. EUDES, F. GAMBON, G. RANVIER.”