To the National Guardsmen of Paris
First Published: March 19, 1871;
Translated: from the original for marxists.org by Mitch Abidor;
CopyLeft: Creative Commons (Attribute & ShareAlike) marxists.org 2005.
You charged us with organizing the defense of Paris and of your rights.
We are conscious of having fulfilled this mission: aided by your generous courage and your admirable calm, we have chased out the government that betrayed us.
At this time our mandate has expired, and we yield it, for we don’t claim to be taking the place of those who a revolutionary wind has just overthrown.
So prepare and carry out your communal elections, and as a reward give us the only one we ever wished for: seeing you establish the true republic.
In the meanwhile, in the name of the people we will remain at the Hôtel-de-Ville.
Hôtel-de-Ville, Paris, March 19,1871
The Central Committee of the National Guard
Assi, Billioray, Ferrat, Babick, Edouard Moreau, C. Dupont, Varlin, Boursier, Mortier, Gouhier, Lavalette, Fr. Jourde, Rousseau, Ch. Lullier, Blanchet, J. Grolard, Barroud, H. Geresme, Fabre, Pougeret
