Year: 1871

Mazzini ON Com m u u 4 sna--yVhY he Dlsa NJ


proves of the Paris Programme.


In the newly-publlshed number of the Corten,-
pordry ReUieic there Is q significant article by
MaZzini on the Commune, and its aims and Its
proceedings From this paper (which was writ
ten before the fall of the Communists) we make
the following extracts


We republicans of the present day have too
much of the rebel and too little of the apostle
amongst US. The banner of insurrection fasci-
mates u.s. wheresoever or for whatsoever reason 1t
floats We have endured so much from the de
yfdcto governments that every protest against
an existing power assumes In our eyes the
appearance of sacreds manifestation of
lberty-an assertion of the right to ad-
vance, against the immobility to Which we
have been for so many centuries condemned.
Every daring affirmation finds an echo in the
heartsEof our youth; not because upon mature ex-
animation it is found to have enunciated por-
tion of truth hitherto unknown, but simply be-
cause it is daring. Every spark of exceptional
courage displayed in support of such daring
affirmation transforms the actor into hero In
our eyes. 1t is by such passionate adoraCion
and brief but fruitless enthusiasm that in
dividuality avenges itself for its long
subjection to brute force. Just as-about
third of a century since-the youth of that day
rebelled against the pedantic rules of art long
enforced in the name of Greek and Roman
models, and gave themselves up to blind wor-
ship of the empty and immoral formula of art
for arts sake, denying the sole true formula
art for the sake OF human progress our camp
is threatened at the present day by the formula
of action for actions sake.


To prophesy the salvation of France through
the Partisan Commune because 1t has raised
the flag of nsurrection against an unworthy
Assembly, without regard to the sole point of
real impOrt-the insurrectionary programme
will not impede lite fall If it do not sink, as 1t
seems probable, in battle, it will fall through
the anarchy inevitably resulting from that pro.
gramme, and facilitating the return of
monarchy, which fools believe to be
pledge of order, while in fact it is,
wherever 1t is incapable of identifying
itself with the progressive destiny of the
nation, simply pledge of future revolutions.
In tie meantime, however, the fall of the Paris
Commune, which is, in reality, merely the ne
cessary consequence of an abnormal incident In
the development of the republican enterprise,
will be, to the many who have regarded it as an
initiatory fact, fresh cause of fatal discourage
ment among the peoples, of hesitation and dis
trust among lukewarm Liberals of the Parlia-
mentary Left, and a new weapon furnished to
will argue:-"This also was a republican move
ment. and its overthrow is new proof of the
impotence of the principle"


If on the uprising of Paris in the name not of
a great European or national principle but of
her own local rights, our party had only remem-
bered that similar uprising, holy and oppor-
tune against foreign foe, would have secured
for them all that they now demand, but that
such insurrection is neither holy nor opportune
while that foreign foe holds the heights of
Paris, and watches with scornful smiles French
men slaughtering each other while they ignore
his presence and violation of their territory-if,
studying the programme of the Partisan Com
mune, they had proclaimed it false, harmful,
and condemned beforehand to succumb, they
wonld now have right to say to the republican
party:-"Be not discomftted; the inevitable de-
the republic, but of men who, consciously or
upconscionsly, have abandoned both republican
unity and the republican mission, and are in
capable of victory"