The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-03-31
Mirabeau.

There have been men in particular ages,
who might be considered as concentrating
within themselves all their country's char
acter,-who represented at the same time,
both the good and evil traits. Themistocles
was the very impersonation of all the vir-
tues ard vices of Athens in his day. That
moral dntihesiS, A!cibiades, was still more
remarkable compound of the manifold vir-
tues, vices, foibles, ETC., of this same Athens,
at later and more degenerate period. In
looking over France during the session of
the national assembly, we shall find the cell
ebrated Mirabeau, without doubt, TO be the
iRpe- Frcnchman of that epoch; and il Lons
XIV, could say, in his day, / am The State,
Mirabeau could say, in his latter days, with
more truth, lam The national assembly.
This extraordinary man had been born
among the nobility, and been matreated.
He had experienced every kind of tyranny
from his very birth, that of his own father,
ofthe government and ofthe tribunals. lie
was thus trained TO dcSpisc the government
and the upper class of French society. His
travels, observations and immense reading,
had taught him much, and his memory re-
tanned il all. He had seen all manner of
men, from drill sergeanfs to prime ministers,
from his inmates Of the jails of Pon,arlier to
princes and kings. He had made himself
notorious by his diSsolute manners and his
quarrels. Theirs speaks of him as frightful
with uglineSs and genius; yet no man had
more dmOurS, or was SO successful in them.
His charaCt was so low at the meeting of
the States General, that there was muir
mur in the assembly when he first entered
/ In tel, l.; I,,t, 4 81 Ia.
centric man appear in the tribune, than his
power became manifest.
He was UNNECESSARILY superior TO every
mind with which he came into contact in the
assembly. lie had, in fact, no second 1T
was Eclipse first, and the rest no ichere.
From the member that was hardly tolerated
he soon became the member that was gazed
on by every eve, and courted by every or
der. Proud Of his high qualities, testing
over his vices, by turns naughty and supple.
! he won some by his ilattery, awed others by
his sarcaSms, and led all in his train by the
extraordinary influence of his oratory. OF
the Able Maury, the leader of the cole droH,
! he used to say, "when he is on the right side.
we debate: when he is on the wrong,
crush him. His sarcasm. irony, Grignal-
| ty, were so great, that every body was
afraid OF him in the tribune. The aristoc-
racy at last. not being able to meet him in
debate. made an effort TO get rid Of him by
duel. Many sent him challenge. but he al
ways refused, merely noting down their
names in his pocket-book. Ii is not fair,
said he, in regard to one of his opponents. to
expose man Of talent like me, against a
! blockht ad like him What is very extra :
ordinary in such a country as France, this
conduct did not bring him into contempt, or
even cause his courage 70 be doubted. There
was something so martial in his mind. so
bold in his manner, that no one could i'm
pute cowardice TO him. lie made partiSans
everywhere, among the people, in the We
~ court,-and to crown the measure of his
greatness, as soon as he learned the secret
of his power. and saw the career that was
opened to him, he suddenly became one OF
the hardest working men who have ever
appeared on the stage of action. III had
not lived with him, says Dumont. | should
never have known what man can make Of
one day. y day iofthis man was more thar
a week or a month is for others. The mas,
Of things he guided on together, was prodi.
gous: from the scheming TO the executing
not n moment was lost. The fact is. that he
at last, tough as was his physical frame
overworlied himself, and died from fever
generated by his excessive laborS .-Souit-
ern Quarterly Rc,icc.