Documents of The Paris Commune 1871

The Fatherland is in Danger!


Written: September 6, 1870;
Translated: from the original for marxists.org by Mitch Abidor;
CopyLeft: Creative Commons (Attribute & ShareAlike) marxists.org 2005.


In the face of the enemy there are neither parties nor nuances.

Cooperation was impossible with a power that betrayed the nation.

The government that came out of the great movement of September 4 represents Republican thought and the national defense.

That is enough.

All opposition, all contradictions must disappear before the common salvation.

There is only one enemy, the Prussian and his accomplice, the partisan of the fallen dynasty that wants to impose order in Paris with Prussian bayonets.

Cursed be he who, at this supreme hour, is capable of preserving a single personal concern, a single ulterior motive, whatever it might be.

The signatories below, putting aside any personal opinion, offer the provisional government their most energetic and absolute assistance, without any reserve or conditions, if not that of the maintaining of the Republic and that they will be buried with us beneath the ruins of Paris rather than to sign the dishonor and the dismemberment of France.

BALSENQ, BLANQUI, BREUILLET, BRIDEAU, CARIA, EUDES, FLOTTE, E. GOIS, GRANGER, LACAMBRE, ED. LEVRAUD, LEONCE LEVRAUD, PILHES, REGNARD, SOURD, TRIDON, HENRI VERLET, EMILE VILLENEUVE, HENRI VILLENEUVE