Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-08-17
1AE AERER1lSTS.

What Is known Ms the Reign OF Terror-the
whole Revolution, lasting six years and three
months, IL often 10 regardcd-was signalized
by o new calendar, assumed to have begun
Sept %, 1T92 Christianity, specially sig
nifying Roman Catholicism, which the peo-
ple associated with every form Of despotism,
was also abolished, mainly as political mea-
sure, and the religion Of Reason substituted
therefor Nothing in that momentous and
naniacnl time has 30 startled the theologic
world, or made 30 deep an impression.
Hebert, Pache, Bouchotte, Vincent, Rousn,
and other furious partisans, conspicuous In
the movement, had rendered themselves odi-
Gus; but Anacharss Clootz and several OF
his companions were as sincere as generous,
II visionary, and unquestionably had the i'm
provement and welfare OF the human race
nearly at heart. II mankind could be made
10 follow reason, which IL never could, this
world would be n wonderful advance on
what 1t has been thus far, whatever its forms
Of belief.
Clootz, whose proper prenomina were Jean
Baptiste, was Prussian baron, though edu-
Gated in Paris, having ample means and the
disposition TO apply them to the development
of his social and political theories. Aiming
TO unite all nations In one common brother
hood, he Travelled with this laudable view far
and wide to spread his doctrines. He pro-
claimed himself the spokesman OF the human
family, and at the dawn OF the Revolution
returned TO Paris to take part In 1t. No one
was more devoted than he TO the grand up
henval: no gave considerable sum for tho
public defense, and spoke frequently and
passionately against monarchy and the
church which had been instrumental In keep
ing the people in subsection. He urged that
a price be set on the head Of the Duke Of
.t~ 1t %
fered TO raise at his own expense legion Of
his compatriots In behalf Of the republic.
Made French citizen, he was chosen a
member OF tho national convention by the
department OF Oise. and distinguished him
self by his fierce democracy. His detestation Of
princes and Of all rank was most Incorporate,
though undeniably earnest. He was an in
tense socialist; but tho fact that he was rich
and bore tito made Robespierre and his CO.
adjutors suspicious; they were, indeed,
afraid Of him. Consequently, they caused
his expulsion from the Jacobin club, and i'm
picated him with Hebert, Chaumette, Mono
TO and the rest, on the ground of attempting to
corrupt the people and get control OF tho
government There was not tho least evil
dence against him-evidence. direct or in
direct, was not needed during the Terror
but he was condemned all the same.
cending the steps as he would have assembled
TO his bed chamber. He requested that he
might be the last of his companions to die,
because he wished to verify certain theories
he had formed by seeing their heads fall. He
then protested against his sentence; appealed
10 tho human race; predicted the ultimate
brotherhood OF man, and joined the silent
majority. No man could have gone out OF
life more phiosophically. Among his curl
Gus writings were, "The Certainty Of the
Evidence OF Mohammedanism,n The Orator
of the Human Race and Tho Universal
Republic"
lIGbert, who was ono of the twenty decap-
itated with Clootz, has been painted blacker
than he was, as almost every revolutionary
leader has been. He was bitterly prejudiced,
full Of fiery hate; but there is little reason to
doubt that he was generally honest in his
implacableness. The frantic extremists, Of
whom he was one of the principals, got their
me-Hebertists-from him, and wero also
styled by the less radical, tho Enraged EN-
rageS. He was not, as has been alleged, OF
vilo parentage, his father being a master
jeweler, and he himself having studied at the
college Of his native town, Alencon. Nor
was he at any time engaged in swindlng.
From his boyhood he seems to have been a
! passionate lover OF Justice, and to have
shown marked democratic tendencies. The
capture Of the Bastile took him to Paris,
whero he began writing pamphlets on tho
popular side. He quickly issued n small
newspaper, Le Pere Duchesne, Of violent,
inflammatory kind, which gained an i'm
mense circulation among the lower classes,
After August, l7g1, he was very active
and virulent member OF tho revolutionary
commune. The Girondists, TO whom he was
II l.