The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-01-30
MECHANICS, COURSE
lecture by DIR. j. A. spaIding.

Mechanics Hall was we'll filled last evening
by an audience intent upon hearing DR.. Spald-
ing lecture upon "Mirabeau and the French
Revolution" The lecture was, as might be
expected from DR.. Spaldng, fine effort and
was closely listened to throughout. He spared
not the faults of Mirabeau, but pictured his
greatness and perseverance, in the most glowing
colors. The following abstract gives but a
faint idea of the lecture;
Gabriel Honore Rquetti, Count of Mrabeau.
was the sublime child of wild race, of Italian
extraction, one of the most notable EXAMPLES
In history OF the influence of family traits con-
veying for centuries and at last concentrating
an their good and evil qualities in one man. He
was born in the middle of the eighteenth cen.
tary in France, at least, the most vicious age
ever known; an age, all over Europe, as ceie-
DRAFTED as 1t was infamous, for its corruption
and RIGHTEOUSNESS His father was q despot
who often had his whole family shut up in Jail
hatred upon this, his eldest SOD, from the ten
derest years of youth. The Influences of fam.
lly wlldness. OF vicious surroundings, of paren-
tai abuse, must be looked upon as determining
causes of Mirabeau's dissolute WAYS Between
the ages of eighteen and thirty lone Mirabeau
was imprisoned fifteen times, kept in prison
nine years, and besides this, finding time for a
year of fighting in Corsica, marrying pretty
girl who soon became notorious, running into
debt. becoming renowned all over Europe for
bis gallantry. and especially notorious for his
escapads with Madame Monnier, which at last
sent them both to prison. After his release
from prison. until the meeting of the states
General of France in 1889, Mirabeau wandered
over Europe, prodigal son, writing some bril-
liant essays, and attracting great attention by
gaining a,pension for Madame Monnier from
her husband, and in trying to regain his wife
sSr ssS I'D left him. Then came the French
Revolution,S Y hiechh=~was- q vast confagration
started by the extravaganza of tbs court the
despotism of the mobiles, the poverty of the peo-
pie, and famed by the breath of liberty from
America, the absence of fundamental laws, and
the perverseness of Marie Antoinette
Mirabeaus course in the Revolution was
short, but brilliant; for two years he was the
foremost man IN France, but his way of carry
ing out his plans vas so obscure that it is diff
cult to follow him in his path of diplomacy and
intrigue No one doubts, after setting the
Revolution in motion, he set to work at the
proper time, after reform had been inaug-
urated, to rebuild from the wreck Of the
House of Bourbon, a monarchy modelled up
on that of England. Historians will dispute
to the end of time his ability, or the ability of
any man, to carry any form of government
safely through that raging whirlpool of Revo-
luton and terror set in motion by few French
fanatics. aud stirred about for years by agents
subsidized by Pitt and the Courts of continent
tai Europe.
Mirabeau died at the right time, At the ze-
NTH of his glory and renown, and was followed
to the grave BY one of the largest, by one of the
most sadly affected PROFESSIONS that Paris ever
saw. After his death came the reign of terror;
the murder of Lous XVI; the civil war; and
then Napoleon Bonaparte.
People despised Mirabeau for his vices, ard
yet his ways were irresistible. He was man
OF tremendous energy and concentration; he
was ignorant of impossbilities; he knew no
ito morrow; and he had gift. hardly short
Of the miraculous, Of interesting people to help
him. AS an orator he was world renowned
he revealed in his power over the Assembly,
and seemed to delight in proposing one day,
what he had eloquently opposed the day be-
fore.
Mirabeau cannot be called great man, in
his public deeds, or motives for his Deeds We
are to look upon him as phenomenon, whose
glory was made by the revolutionary times in
which his passionate life blazed out to its end
And yet there is something so fascinating in
The man that we cannot help admiring him,
and the careful student will not fail to see
that in spite of his failings and vices, he was
man Of much yirture and great force.