Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-12-22
Execution Of the Girondisfs.
BY JOHN $. c. ABBOTT.

luton, there were two parties which arose.
, and for long time contested for the suprem-
acy, the Girondists and the .Jacobins. The
mob Of Paris was at the disposal Of the ia
, cobns, and sustained them in thor most
atrocous measures. "We must" said
Murat, one of the leaders Of the Jacobns,
| strike into the hearts of our foes. 1t is
, our only safety" The Girondists attempted
, to arrest the progress of the frightful mass
acres in which the yacobns were engaging
They thus exposed themselves to the danger
, Gus charge of being in sympathy with the
aristocrats The strife which ensued-a
the most terrible recorded in history
, Madame Roland vas one evening urging
Nergniaud TO rally the Girondist party at
every hazard, to arrest themassacres. "The
only hope of France" said she, sis the sa-
, credncss of the 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 enormities."
"Of what avail was the sad reply of
Nergniaud, ''can such exertions be? The
assassins are supported by all the power of
the street. Such conflict must necessarily
end i'll a street fight. The cannon are with
Jul lOcs uc OI Jilc IflSnuS OF
order are massacred. Terror will restrain
the rest. We shall only provoke our own
destruction" "
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 sure
y consign the other to the scaflold. Mr..
Roland, the Girondist Minister of the In
terror, was man of great power, but Ma
dame Roland, with brilliance of genius
} seldom supposed, prepared for him his
speeches in the convention. France recog-
nized her marvellous abilities; the one party
regarded her with alteration, and the other
| with hate. Probably never before in the
history of the world has woman occupied
9 such a position. 1t soon became evident
: on Madame Roland, and she was urged 10
escape from Paris. The heroic woman re-
piled:
t Il am ashamed to resort to any expedient
L will neither disguise myself nor make any
t attempt at street escaps My enemies may
find me always in my place. [ owe my
country an example of firmness, and | will
, give it.
She remained in Paris and soon perished
, upon the guillotine. The convention con-
sisted of 800 men. Twenty-one of the most
illustrious men of France were considered
leaders of the Girondists. The eJacobins ac-
cused them Of treason, and oyerawing the
members of the convention by a mob, car
ricd the accusation, and condemned them to
!, death. 1t was then voted that all Paris
should be Illuminated in view of the triumph
Of the people. At midnight the whole con
:. vention, III procession, traversed the brilliant
streets, leading, to grace their triumph, the
dooma1 (,irnn1istc 'Nhav yrnra oil tbap
consigned to the Conciergerie, there to
await the final trial Summer came and
went, while illustrious men fingered in their
dungeons. With fortitude the record of
which has embalmed 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 military array of
infantry, cavalry, and artillery to guard
against the possibility of any counter revo-
luton, the prisoners were conducted, in a
long procession, two by two, to the judgment
bar. 1t was the 3Oth 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
sentence was pronounced, one of the Girond-
lists, Nalane, plunged his dagger to his heart,
and fell lifeless ON the floor. Another, in
the delirium of enthusiasm, shouted This
is the most glorious day of my life. 1t was
, midnight when the victims were conducted
, back to the Conciergerie. As they marched
along, their voices burstinto the Marseillaise
) Hymn, in tones which reverberated through
) the corridors of the prison, and echoed
l through the streets.
"Come, children fyour country, come,
The day of glory dawns on high;
And tyranny has wide unfurled
l Her blood-stained banner in the sky
D They were placed in one large hall, and
the liteess body of their companion was de
posted in one corner By decree of the as,
sembly the remains Of Nalane were to be
taken with the rest, to the guillotine, and
the axe was to sever his head from the life
less body, and all the headless trunks were
to be inferred together Some friends OF
the Girondists Immediately sent to them a
sumpeuous banquet, their final funeral re-
, past. A large oaken table was spread. -
Servants entered with brilliant lamps. The
5 richest viands ofmeat and wine were brought
} in, vases of flowers smiled where flowers
never bloomed before, and the costly dishes
appeared one after another, until the board
was covered with luxury and splendor.
In silence they took their places at the ta-
ble They were all men of brilliant intellect
and most of them eloquent. A priest, Able
Lambert who had gained admission, with
his pencil noted down their words, their ac-
tions, their indications of herOism. The re-
, past was prolonged till the dawn family en-
tered the grated windows. When the cloth
, was removed and the fruits, the wine, the
flowers alone remained, the conversation be-
came animated, with occasional bursts of
gayety. A few of the unbeievers in immor-
tality endeavored thus to meet their doom
But it was hilarity unnatural, and unworthy
of the men and their condition. Death is
not rest and he who attempts to so regard
it does but dish onor himself
''What shall we be doing tomorrow p
asked Dacos
eve shall sleep" responded one, latter
the fatigues of the day, to wake up no more.
Death is but an endless slumber"
"No, reioined Fouchet, Humiliation is
not our destiny These bodies perish. -
These thoughts never die. Tomorrow, i'll
other worlds, we shallrthink, feel, and act.
We shall have solved the problem of the
human mind
All turned to Vergniaud as by common
impulse. His discourse was long, and has
been described as the most eloquent which
was ever uttered by human lips: death, y
said he, in conclusion, sis the greatest act
fife. 1t introduces us to noble existence.
u Were it not so, there would be something
greater than God. 1t would be a just man
isolating himself uselessly and hopelessly for
his country. No! Vergniaud is no greater
than God. God will not suffer Vergniaud
tomorrow to ascend the scaffold but to JUS