Note 5 — Chapter III
Reading edition
See the third address issued by the International Workingmen's Association on the Franco-Prussian war, 1870-71.
The Italian Socialists in Milan, June, 1871, closed a rhetorical address to the Parisian Communards as follows: "To despotism they responded, We are free.
"To the cannon and chassepots of the leagued reactionists they offered their bared breasts.
"They fell, but fell like heroes.
"To-day the reaction calls them bandits, places them under the ban of the human race.
"Shall we permit it? No!
"Workingmen! At the time when our brothers in Paris are vanquished, hunted like fallow deer, are falling by hundreds under the blows of their murderers, let us say to them: Come to us, we are here; our houses are open to you. We will protect you, until the day of revenge, a day not far distant.
"Workingmen! the principles of the Commune of Paris are ours: we accept the responsibility of its acts. Long live the Social Republic!"
See Ed. Villetard, History of the International, p. 342. This sentiment was also expressed in London and other centers.