Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-05-30
RObespierre.


A small, mean-looking man, weak
limbs, always palpitating with nervous
shiver, and a timid, irresolute gait. His
dress is faultlessly neat and precise.
Head powdered, not single hair awry.
Bright blue coat, buttoned tightly at the
hips. but open at the chest to display the
spotless white waistcoat; yellow breeches
white stockings, shoes and buckles. This
costume is never varied, except that the
shoes are sometimes exchanged for top
boots. The face is sharp and peaky; the
forehead projects over the temples, and
is compressed at each side like that of a
wild beast; eyes blue, deeply sunken,
with heavy lids, and latent, savage
sparkle; nose small straight, expanded
st the nostrils; mouth large; lips thin
and pallid, and compressed at the cor
ners; chin small and pointed; complex
ion yellow, liyid, cadaverous. Habitual
expression grave, with half-sweet, half
sinister smile. Every muscle of the
face working with ceaseless twitch.
Over the whole, terrible expression OF
concentrated purpose. When he speaks
his gestures are awkward, his fingers
work nervously; his voice is shrill and
discordant; when agitated by rage or'ex-
ultation it sounds like the scream of a
hyena.
After leaving college Robespierre be-
came student Of jurisprudence His
studies complete, he returned to Arras.
His old friend, the Bishop, procured him
an appointment in the criminal court
He now distinguished himself as a siren
uous advocate for the abolition of capi-
tai punishment; and, not long after he
had accepted the membership, being
compelled, in virtue of his office, to con-
denim q criminal to death, he was so
painfully affected that rather than again
undergo the same infliction he chose to
resign his office. Does this not read
like the widest fable2 1t was no hypoc-
risy-for what could he gain by it ?
Only the displeasure of his patrons.
No; the nature of the man was utterly
devoid of physical courage and all
such natures instinctively shrink from
blood; which is, in their minds, inextri-
cably associated with violence-with
that physical contention for which their
nerves unfit them. | have said
they instinctively shrink from blood
yes, until they taste it; then
their appetite grows Unsuitable for it,
Even as late as 1871 we find him hotly
his old war against capital
punishment. On the occasion of a mo-
ton of Lepelletier Pargeau for its abo-
lition, he uttered these remarkable
words: In the eyes of justice and
mercy these death scenes, which are got
up with so much solemnity, are nothing
less than base assassinations, solemn
crimes, committed, not by individuals,
but by nations, and of which every indi-
vidual must bear the responsibility.
*tf@ To take away from man the
of expiating his misdeeds by
repentance or by acts of virtue, is, in my
eyes, the most horrible refinement Of
cruelty
Listen to these passages from the very
speech in which he was urging upon the
Assembly the death of the King: . For
myself | abhor the penalty Of death;
but dethroned king in
the heart of republic not yet cemented
neither prison nor exile
can give him q harmless existence. 1t
Is with regret pronounce the fatal
truth, Louis must perish because our
country must live.
| vote for death.