Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-04-17


garded her with alteration and the other
with hate. Probably never before 10
the history of the world, has woman
occupied such position. 1t soon be-
came evident that the rage of the Jacob
ins would descend upon Madame Ro-
land, and she was urged 10 escape from
Paris. The heroic woman replied
Il am ashamed to resort to any such
expedient will neither disguise my
self, nor make any attempt at secret es-
cape. My enemies may find me always
in my place. If l am assassinated it
shall be in my own house. owe my
country an example OF frmness, and
will give it,
She remained in Paris, and soon per-
ished upon the gullotine. The conven-
lion consisted Of 800 members. Twenty
Two Of the m 81 illustrious men Of
France were considered leaders Of the
Girondists. The Jacobins accused them
Of treason, and overawing the conven-
ton by the mob, carried the accusation
and condemned them to death. 1t was
then voted that all Paris should be illu-
minated in view of the approach of tbs
triumph by The people. AT midnight the
whole convention, in procession, trayer-
sed the brilliant streets, leading, TO grace
their triumph over the doomed Giron-
dists. The were all then consigned to |
the Concergere, there to await the final
trial Summer came and went while
these illustrious men fingered in their
dungeons. With fortitude, the record of
which has ennobled their memories, they !
struggled to sustain each other to meet
that fate which they knew could not be
doubtful.
AT length the hour of final trial came.
With the most imposing military array
of infantry, cavalry aud artillery, in or
der 10 guard against the possibility of
any counter revolution, the prisoners
were conducted 10 long procession, Two
by two, to the judgment bar. 1t was the
30th OF October, 1898. At11 o'clock at
nigh; the verdict was brought in, and |
they were doomed to be led the next
morning TO the guillotine. As the SEN
tence was pronounced, one of the Giron-
dists, Valeze, plunged dagger into his
heart, and fell lifeless upon the foor.--
Another, in the dellrium Of enthusiasm,
shouted--'This is the most glorious day
of my life 1t was midnight when the
victims were conducted back to the Con-
ciergerie. AS they marched along their
voices burst into the Marseillase hymn,
in tones which reverberated through the
corridors of the prison, and echoed thro'
the streets:
"Come, children of your country, come,
The day of glory dawns on high,
And tyranny has wide unfurled
Her bood-stained banner in the sky"
They were all placed in one large hall,
and the lieless body of their companion
was deposited in one of the corners. BY
decree of the assembly. the remains of
Raleze were TO be taken, with the rest,
to the guillotine, and the axe was to sew
er his head from the lifeless body, and
all the liteless trunks were to be Inferred
together Some friend ofthe Girondists
sent 10 them sumptuous {
banquet, their final, funeral repast. A {
large oaken table was spread. Servants t
entered with brilliant lamps. The rich Z
esi viands of meats aud wines were bro't '
in. Vases of flowers smiled where flow g
ors never bloomed before, aud the most {
costly dishes appeared, one after another, +
until the board was covered with luxury c
and splendor. G
In silence they took their places at |
the table. They were all men of bril- Il
liant inta!lect, and most of them eloquent. q
A priest, Able Lambert, who had gain 0
ID admission, with his pencil noted their d
words, their actions, their indications of b
weakness or Of hcroism. ?
The repast was prolonged till the ear a
y dawn family entered the grated win
lows When the cloth was removed and L
lnd the fruits, the wine and the flowers q
alone remained, the conversation became r
with occasional bursts of mirth =
and gaiety. A few of the un5elievers in a
endeavored thus TO meet q
heir doom. Bot it was hiIarity unnatural v
md unworthy of the men and their con- q
lition. Death is not jest, and he who y
attempts so to regard it, does but dishon- II
,r himself p
'What shall we be doing at this time p
o-morrow p asked Ducos. lt
we shall sleep responded one, 'after 81
he fatigues of the day TO wake no more. Il
Death is but endless sIumber.' b
No. rejoned Fouchet, 'annihilation is II
rot our destiny. These bodies perish. b
These thoughts never die. Tomorrow, W
n other worlds we shall think, feel, act. p
We shall have solved the problem of the a
estiny Of the human mind e'
All turned to Vergniaud, as by COM j
non impulse. His discourse was long, 81
nd has been described as the most elo- Ia
uent which was ever uttered by human ju
ps. Death, said he, in conclusion, is NJ
he greatest act of life. II introduces US Iii
o noble existence. Were ii not so, pl
here would be something greater than th
3od. 1t would be the just man immola- g
irg himself uselessly and hopelessly for q
lis country. No Vergniaud is not ST
reater than God. God will not suffer di
1ergniaud tomorrow to ascend the OF
eafold but to justify and avenge him in g
uture ages h
AS the light Of day penetrated the il
lungeon, some sought moments sleep a
,thers wrote last line TO friends, while al
,thers gathered in groups for conversa- c
ion. AT 10 O'Clock the gems d'armes 81