Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-09-17
SKETCHES OF OLDEN TIMES.

In the great drama of the worlds history there
have been some startling passages, which cause
thrill of astonshment, as often as we review
their authors, causes or far-reaching effects. 1t
is a true though trite saying, that great occa.
sions call forth great minds; and whenever an
exigence presents itself to nation, which seems
to call for immediate and resolute action, some
master spirit is found, which often gives a new
turn to the tide Of national affairs. Perhaps it
is a Brutus who carries in his bosom hatred of
tyranny, and when the fitting time arrives,
plunges his dagger into the heart of the tyrant.
Or it may be Judith, who, laying aside the
weakness and fears of her sex, nerves her arm
to strike the death blow of her couatry's ene-
emy. But while we feel just horror of the
deed, and condemn the unlawful means used,
we cannot restrain our admiration of the one,
who for the love of his country, dares to aim a
blow at its tyrant, in public place, in the open
light of day; or of the other, who, making her
beauty snare to her country's foe takes advan-
tage of his ungarded repose, and in the strength
of the God of Israel, executes speedy vengeance
on the spoer of her people.
The French Revolution of 1893, was not at
so distant period but that we are all some
what familiar with its events; nay perhaps dim
remembrance of its fearful scenes vet fingers in
the memories of our aged grandsres and dark
shadows from the Reign Of Terror" rise before
their minds eye like phantoms in a long forgot
ten dream.
France, beautiful France, was given up prey
to anarchy and desolation, while murder and ra-
pine stalked boldly through the land. The as
sassin was not compelled to lie in wait at mid
night for his victim, nor to choose silence and
secresy for his deed of darkness; for he could
meet him in the very thoroughfares of Paris at
midday, and the blow which took the life of an
innocent man was loudly applauded by thou
sands. The king and queen were butchered,
and the land was watered by the blood of null
titudes, whose only crime was their noble birth.
France was now, in name, Republic, but gov
erned by triumvirate, who, in the name of Lib
erty, committed acts of the greatest injustice
and most relentless cruelty. The Sabbath was
abolished, churches profaned, church bells mel
ted into cannon, death declared an eternal sleep,
and the misguided people, denying the true God
worshipped at the shrine of their imaginary d.
vinity-Reason.
Where was now the gay populace which once
thronged the Boulevards, or danced in the Elys-
ian Fields! Alas, many had gone to their long
home, and those who had escaped death, Ian
guished in dungeons or were dragging out the
remainder Of their wretched lives in obscurity
and poverty. Where once the joyous song re-
sounded, now were heard the groans of the dy-
ing, and the halls where once glad music entran-
ced gay listeners, now echoed sullenly the coarse
jest and rbald song licentious soldiery. The
innocence of childhood, the beauty of youth, the
dignity of manhood, and the hoary head of age
excited no sympathy, woke no kindly feeling
called forth no pity or remorse in the bosoms
of the blood-thirsty tyrants; but day after day,
with inhuman barbarity, they continued their
work of crime, glorying in the desolation they
caused. Who can estimate the horrors compre-
hended in single day of that mournful period
Where is the register Of the tears, the agony,
the heart-breaking anguish, as those fendsh
men separated parents and Children, brothers
and sisters, the husband and wife, the lover and
the loved, and bore them to prison or to death
Truly it was the Reign of Terror. But the fire
of patriotism had not died out in erery heart
Many patriotic bosom swelied with indigna-
ton at the wrongs inflicted on its bleeding co uu-
try by its professed friends. Here and there a
noble heart dared to raise its voice against the
prevailing anarchy and msrule, but il was either