The weekly Butte record., 1863-03-28
Execution Of the Giron3lsts.

ondists and the Jacobins. The mob Of PARIS
was soon entirely at the disposal Of the Jacob
IDS, and sustained them 10 the most atFocious
measures. We must" said Marat one Of the
leaders Of the Jacoblns, strike terror into the
hearts Of cur foes. Ii is our only safety The
Girondists attempted to arrest the progress Of
the frightful massacre in which the Jacobius
were engaging. They thus exposed themselves
10 the dangerous charge Of being IN sympathy
with the aristocrats. The strife, between the
two parties. which ensued. a strife involving
life or death, was one Of the most terrible re-
corded in history.
Madame Roland was ore evening urging
Vergniaud TO rally the Girondist party, at
every hazard. to arrest the massacres. The
only hope Of France said she, q" is in the sa
credness Of law. This atrocious carnage causes
thousands of bosoms to thrill with horror. All
the wise and good in France and in the world.
will rise to sustain those who expose their own
hearts as a barrier TO arrest such enormities." 5"
"Of what avail" was the sad reply Of Yer
gniaud, can such exer;ions be? The assas-
sins are supported by all the power Of the
street. Such a Conflict must necessarily ter
inmate in a street fight. The cannon are with
our foes. The most prominent of the friends
Of order are massacred. Terror will restrain
the rest. We shall only provoke our own de-
struction"
For several days the strife ragged, in the
convention, with the utmost intensity, between
the Girondists and the Jacobins. The party
which could obtain the majority would surely
cousign the other to the Scalold NJ. Roland,
the Girondist Minister of the Interior, was
man of great power, but Madame Roland, with
briiance of genius seldom surpassed, prepared
for him his speeches in the convention. France
recognized her marvellous abilities; the one
party regarded her with alteration, the other
with hate Probably never before, in the his
tory of the world, has a woman occupied such
a position. 1t soon became evident that the
rage of the Jacobns would descend upon Ma
dame Roland, and she was urged to escape
from Paris The heroic woman replied
Il am ashamed to resort to any such expe-
dent. 1 will neither disguise myself, nor make
any attempt at secret escape. My enemies may
fiOd me always in my place. If am assassina.
ted it shall be in my own home. l owe my
country an example Of frmuess, and will give
IT,"
She remained in Paris, and soon perished
upon the guillotine. The convention consisted
of eight hundred members. Twenty-Five of
the most illustrious men of France were con-
sidered leaders of the Girondsts. The Jacob
ins accused them Of treason, and, overawing
the convention by the mob, carried the accusa-
ton and condemned them to death. 1t was
then voted that all Paris should be Illuminated
in view of this triumph of the people. \ mid
night the whole convention, in procession, ira
versed the brilliant streets, leading, to grace
their triumph the doomed Girondists. They
were all then consigned to the Conciergerie,
there TO await the final trial. Summer came
and went while these ilustrious men fingered
in their dungeons. With fortitude, the record
of which has eunobled 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 and artillery, to guard against the pos
sibity of any counter revolution, the prisoners
were conducted, in a long procession, two by
two, to the Judgment bar. 1t was the 30th of
October, 1893 At eleven O'Clock at night
the verdict was brought in, and they were
doomed to be led, the next morning, TO the
guillotine. As the senteuce was pronounced,
one of the Girondsts, Vaaze, plunged a dag
ger into his heart and fell lifeless upon the
floor Another, in the delirium of enthusiasm,
shouted " This is the most glorious day of my
lfe.n 1t was midnight when the victims were
conducted back to the Conciergerie. As they
marched along, their voices burst into the Mar
seillaise hymn in tones which reverberated
through the corridors of the prison and echoed
through the streets:
Come, children of your country. come,
The day of glory dawns on high.
And tyranny has wide uufurled
Her blood stained banner in the sky"
They were all placed in one large hall, and
the Iifeless body of their companion was de-
posted in one of the corners. By decree Of
the Assembly, the remains of Valaze were to
be taken to the guillotine, and the ak was to
sever his head from the lileless body, and all
the headless trunks were to be inferred togeth-
er Some friend Of the Girondists Immediately
sent to them sumptuous banquet, their final,
funeral repast. \ large oaken table was spread.
Servants entered with brilliant lamps. The
richest yiands Of meats and vines were brought
in. Vases of flowers smiled where flowers
never bloomed before and the most costly
dishes appeared, one after another, until the
board was covered with luxury and splendor.
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