The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-04-20
Miscellaneous.
NAP0LE0N'S DEBUT IN PARIS.
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH.

The month of October, 1875, opened
gloomily, darkly and caamitously for Paris
The king, Louis XVI, had been executed /;
his queen, Marie Antoinette, had followed
him to the scafiold; Robespierre and his AS
socates had held the government of France
until they, in turn, had given of their blood
to swell the dreadful flood their wild fanati-
cism had poured upon the land and now
the National Convention, with Barras for its
president, sought to govern the realm with
less anarchy, and more order, looking for the
time when they could safely abolish the
death penalty. But the rank and reckless
Jacobins, with their entire disregard Tor all
things orderly and humane were not crushed
out On the first Of this October, of 1875,
full thirty thousand of them were in arms,
sworn to oyerturn the government OF the
Convention, and to take the conduct of af-
fairs in their own hands Paris was divided
into sections, like the wards of our Ameri'
can cities, and this giant insurrection was
headed by the leaders in these sections. In
the section called Lepelletier were the most
influential of these leaders, and there was
the centre, or focus, of the gathering storm.
At length the Convention received intelli'
gence Of the movement, and the members
we're greatly alarmed, as well they might be
There were at least thirty thousand of the
insurgents, and they were well and thorough
| ly armed. The Convention had only skel
eton of the National Guard for defence, anC
that guard numbered not more than five
thousand, and not thoroughly organized al
that. Not another help could the govern
ment call to its aid While the Convention
was yet deliberating on the fearful situation
the tocsin of revolt was sounded in the sec
ton of Lepelletier, drums were beat ant
armed bodies began to assemble. Gen. Men
on was sent, at the head of considerable
force, to disperse them. He was kind
hearted, sympathetic man, and he attempted
to reason with the ;iotous leaders and a
length, when hes found they were increasing
in numbers, and that they were determine,
to press on, he disgracefully turned an,
fled.
This was a dark day for the Convention
for Paris-for France What should b
done! 1t was not unknown that the insurgen
host had increased to .orty-five thousan
men, and that their plans were laid 10
marching upon the Convention, 1t mean
simply another carnival of blood and hor
rOr.
, At this time young man had just arr
we'd in Paris from Toulon. His name wa
Napoleon Bonaparte. He was General {
Brigade, and had performed great thing
at the southern seaport, Baras knew hiT
well-had been with him at Toulon, an
knew Just what sort ofa man he was.
ave have but five thousand guardsmen
set against this whelming force, " said Barri
to the Convention "but there is "a man
Paris whose individual presence AT the hea
of our National Guard will render them su
fcient to the work. We must place Gene
: al Bonaparte in command of our nations
r forces"
+ But the Convention had great faith
r Barras, and they insisted that he should a
7 sumo the command, To this he agreed {
y condition that Bonaparte should be appoir
n ed second in command under him.
n Napoleon, who had watched narrowly {
$ that had been done, and all that was bell
ii done, and who had been disgusted with t
e ignominious retreat of Menou, thus giyi
n the insurgents the first advantage, was Sc
" for to come to the Convention, He cal
and was introduced by the president. I
members were surprised. Could Barras
in earnestH They beheld in the hero
'Toulon a small, slim, pale-isced, besrdl