East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-07-27
Execution Of the Girondists.
DY JOHN C.. ABDorr..


During the progress of the French
revolution, there were two parties
, which arose, and for long time con-
tested for the suprcmacy-the GiroIr-
dists and the Jacobins. The mob of
Paris was at the disposal of the Jacob
ms, and sustained them in their most
attrocious measnrs. "We must" said
Murat, one of the leaders of the Ja-
cobins, ''strike into the hearts of our
foes, it is our only safety" The Gi
rondists attempted to arrest the pro-
gress of the frightful ,nasacres in
which the Jacobins were engaging
They thus exposed themselves to
the dangerous charge of being in sym
pathy with the aristocrat. The strife
which ensued, strife involving life
or death, was one Of the most terrible
; recorded in history.
; Madame Roland was ono evening
urging Vcrgniaud TO rally the 'Giron-
dist party at every hazard to arrest
the massacres. dThe only hope Of
France" said she, sis in tho sacred
ness 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 barrier to arrest such enor-
mites"
"Of what avail was the sad reply
of Vergniaud, "can such exertions be9
The assasins are supported by all tho
power Of the street Such conflict
must necessarily terminate in street
fight. The cannon are with our foes.
The most prominent of the friends of
order are massacred. Terror will re-
strain the rest. We shall only pro
woke our own destruction"
For several days the strife ragged in
the convention with the utmost inten-
sity, between the Girondists and the
Jacobins. The party which couldobtain
the majority would surely consign tho
other to the scafold. Nj. Roland, the
Girondist Minister OF the Interior, was
a man of goont power. bnt Madnme
Roland, with a brilliance of genius
seldom surpassed, prepared for him
his speeches in the convention
France recognized her marvellous abil-
tiles the one party regarded her with
alteration, and the other with hate
Probably never before in tho history,
of the world has woman occupied
such position. 1t soon became ev-
ident that the rage of the Jaeobins
would descend upon Madame Roland,
and when she was urged to escape
from Paris, the the heroic woman re-
piled
81 am ashamed to resort TO any
such expedient. i will neither dis
guiso myself nor make any attempt at
secret escape. My enemies may find
mo always in my place. l owe my
country au example of firmness, and
l will give it,"
She remained in Paris, and soon
persisted upon the guillotine. The
convention consisted of eight hundred
members. Twenty-Five of the most
ilustrious men Of France were con-
sidered leaders of the Girondists.-
The Jacobins accused them of treason,
and overawing the convention by tho
mob. carried the accusation and con-
.demned them to death. 1t was then
voted that all Paris should he ilumi-
mated i'll view of the triumph of the
people. AT midnight the whole con-
vention, in procession, traycrsed the
brilliant street, leading, to grace their
triumph, the doomed Girondists.--
They were all then consigned to the
Conciergeric, there to await the final
trial. Summer came and won't, while
these illustrious men fingered in their
dungeons. With fortitude, the record
of Which has enobled 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 triumph
came. With the most imposing mil
itary array of infantry, cavalry, and
artillery, to guard against the possi-
bility of any counter revolution, the
prisoners were conducted in long
procession, two by two, TO the judg-
ment bar. Ii was the 30th day of
October, 1893. At eleven O'Clock at.
night the virlict was brought in, and
they were doomed to be led the next
morning to the guillotine. As the
sentence was pronounced, one Of tho
Girondists, Valaze. plunged his dag
ger into his heart aud fell liieloss TO
the floor. Another i'll his lelirium of
enthusiasm, shouted: "This is the
most glorious day Of my life ~ 1t
was midnight when tho victims were
conducted back to the Conciergerie.-
as they marched along, their voices
burst into the Marseillaise Hymn in
tones which revervcrated through tho
corridors of the prison, and echoed
the streets:
"Comc children of thy country, come,
The day of glory dawns On high
And tyrany has wide unfurlcd
Her blood-staincd banner TO the sky."
They were placed in one laIge hall,
and the lifcless body Of their compan.
ion was deposited inone of the corners.
BY decree Of the Assembly the re-
mains of Valaze were to be taken,
with the rest, to the guillotine, and
the ak was to sever his head from tho
lifeless body, and oil the hcadless
trunks were to be inferred together.
Some friends of tho Girondists i'm
sent to them sumptrious
banquet, their final funeral rcpast.--i
A large oakcn table was spread. Scr
wants entered with brilliant lamps.
The richest vivadds of meat and wines.
were brought in. Vases of flowers
smiled whore flowers never bloomcd
before aud the most costly dishes ap-
peared, one after another, until tho
board was covered with luxury and
cnloofnr