The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-08-02
The EARNINGS Of H!s5oPy---I Ae
.EGcObi3ts rs. THe Gitosst;jsfs.


profitable instruction and adlnonition to
those who desire the overthrow of What
Is known among US as the Radical fac
ton. 1t shows the dangerous peru OF
those who are moderate and conserVa-
i've amid The Whirlpoolot revolutionary
action, and whose opponents are politi-
cal desperadGes, restrained by no con-
sideration of justice or humanity. We
aliude to the celebrated Contest between
the Jacobins and the Girondists, so we'll
and graphically told in the pages of
the historian, philosopher and poet OF
France, Laniartine. The leaders of the
and wit. They represented the masses
of those who had been urging on the
ear Of the revolution. They sought to
arrest the excuses of blood and crime
which had been running riot since the
organization Of popular government.
They pleaded for moderation, for hui
nanity and liberaIity to the Nahquiahed,
and they argued for a government rest
ing upon affection instead of fear. They
had the argument, the reason, the phi
losophy, all on their side. They had,
also, as we have said, the power of
numbers, if it had been invoked and
organized.
But they did not know the character
y
knowing it they failed to combat them
with the only weapons that could bring
success. The consequence was that they
all miserahly persisted on the guillotine
or starved in exile and perjury. While
they were reasoning the .jacobins were
acting. While they were considering
only such measures as were warranted
by the Constitution, their Jacobin an
tagoniets threw that instrument to the
winds and regarded it not. The elo-
quence OF the Girondin orators could
not be answered by the Jacobins, but it
was responded to by the hootings OF
their depraved and frenzied mob, which,
upon Jacobin invitation, took possession
forever by the pea!ing of the revolution
airy toesin. There We're men among
them who counseled a different policy,
and who would have met the Jacobin
chiefs with weapons of a different char
aeter. But unfortunately for themselves
and unfortunately for France and the
world, it was not adopted, and the con-
sequence WAS a series of the most awful
crimes and the most terrible national
misiortunes.
The Jacobin spirit is fully infused into
the Radicals, who are now seeking to
gain all power in the United States.
They, like the Jacobins, delight in blood
and confscation. Like the Jacobins;.
their political system is based upon
cruelty and blood. Like them, they
that is their individual and faction in
terest, which, to gain, they will sacrifice
every other earthly consideration
With them, as with the Jacobins, a
difference OF opinion is crime, to be
expiated by the severest penalties
Their leaders, like the Jacobins, prate.
Of Liberty and Equality, while they are
really establishing the most bloody and
atrocious despotism. Charles Sumner,
in his pedantry, in his affectation, in his
political malice and envenomed bitter
ness-even in his cowardice and perso-
| nal habits-may not be inaptly compared
to Robespierre. Wendell Phillips, in
his savage ferocity of frankness, and In
the enOrmity of his demands, has taken
pattern after Marat, who demanded two
hundred thousand heads for the French
guillOtines. It was the custom Of the.
Jacobins to obtain majorities in the As,
sembly by excluding their colleagues
from its benches, and by raids of Viz
Olence upon the chamber. Our Jacobins
have pursued the same policy of ex-
clusfOn, and by its means are dominant
in the National councils to-day. They
are now Matching dark conspifacies
against the executive branch Of the
Government, and are considering means
by which they can depose him from au-
thority. and then commence another
reign of terror. Their motto is that Of
Danton, and can be expressed in one:
word, audacity! There have been those
who have ever doubted whether they
would take this or that step, but they
have never hesitated, but have moxeE
straightforward in their career of usurp-
alton and violence. They do not intentIi
now to stop midway, and will not, by.
any appeals to argument or reason.
They have passed far beyond that
Within the last four or five years they
have fully developed their policy, and
we know what it is! The Conservatives.
in meeting them must not play the par1
of the Girondins. They must act as
well as talk. They must meet organis.
zation with organization, and if there is
to be revolution, they must take the
initiative in it. It is better to have 8
just revolution than an unjust one. The
Conservatives of this country can hardly