Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-03-27
TIE ayRoNpIsrs.

s"S Fo'Ns'
------
The aIRoNDISrs
There Is re doubt that every man has a
right to make public speeches, and. per-,
haps. it il only his own business whseAeg
bis perform lacea sh,w thu, he has correct
nowle,,sss OF history or nat. But while
this is tie andoubted right Of every indvid-
uai who feels inclined to speak in public
on the stage il will not be denied that
any OF his auditors have also the right. If
they feel SO disposed, to question the cor
rectness of his historical aliusions, and es.
pecially to criticise his public display, il in
the historical illustrations OF his argument,
he has made complete burlesque of the
truth and the facts of history.
One ofths speakers (MeGowan) who add
dressed the meeting on last Saturday even
ing referred to the Girondists, a party 50
named which existed in tn early part Of
the French reyoution,-as secret, politi-
cal organization, and which, on account of
It's being secret society, after pursuing
very iniqaitous career, was finally dissolved
By its members being guiilo,incd, and that
- name and deeds have been consigned TO
nfamy and execration By the pen OF history.
r.is is about the meaning OF what the gen.
tlaman said. Now, any one who recollects
the history Of the period referred TO, knows,
that. making proper allowances for the cir
cumstances in which they were placed. a
purer party than the GronGists has very
rarely appeared on the stage of political ac-
tion. As one who has very eloquentlY aud
mpatiaIly commented upon their history
and actions says, their chief defect was
want Of decision. They were not sufficient
Is stern, or courageous If you please. to-
pat down with strong hand and at one
b.aw. the blood-,hirsty apostles Of anarchy
who we're striving for anl rapidly ascend
thg to power; and for this indecisi2n or err
ro-. they did pay the forfei, .! their lives,
But 10 call them secret society, and to say
that their destruction Was because OF their
bsing a secret society, i simply nonsense.
was the speeches and the actions of
the members Of the GjronJst party which,
at the commencement of the French revo-
luton, sent thrill OF rejoicing through the
hearts Of the lovers of rational liberty in
every part Of the world. Madame Roland,
whose name and fame are worldwide, was
member Of that party. and the genius OF
De Stael has been lovingly engaged in the
task OF commemoratinR is high worth and
its undeserved insfortUn 5. II was not un-
til the bloody and brutal faction OF Robes
pierre and his adherents had triu.p hcd
oyer the Brssotines. (as they were also
caiicd,) tha; the hitherto friends and favor
ers Of the French revolution in f gland,
the United States and elsewhere, began 10
doubt whether the revolution would keep
the promises il had made. And when the
Grondists at length succumbed to the mob
supported strength of their INSCRIPTIONS
adversaries, and atoned for their mistakes
BIZ yielding themselves calmly T. dsath,-
the record which they left for history to
make up, wa- that they were body of in
;eliigent, pure-minded and patriotic men,
whose intentions were good, but who, I'M
used to the management of political affairs,
iailed t. conduct them successfully through
the stormy times in which their lot had cast
them.
Thus much for the Gironiists, and We
would not have referred TO them, or the
mistakes uttered about them, had it not
been that the speakers, Saturday evening,
seencd unable to get along at all, without
taking sumo remaEk OF the editor Of ihis
paper Is q text ior heir longwinded and
voei,cruus dissertations. Perhaps we ought
to consider such notices as complimentary
tut wC can hardly do SO Hhenthey are made
by speakers, whose whole remarks evi.
derce m ignorance that would Disgrace
sehootb@y.
CANALS AsD RAEIRoADs.-The tolls Of
- l. l.. r.