The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-21
VICTIMS OF PARTY BIGOTRY.
1gnhE NOTABLE INSTANCES WITHIN
THE PRESENT CENTURE


Lives OF the GIrondIsts were ut Static
Roscoe ConhIinE's Great Mistake when
his Party Friends wero Stealing the
Presidency benjamin. Dutterworth's
Hesitation whom tho People were Being
uobbed OF Their Liberties and Rights.
!.-DANToN.
lam Danton. tolernbly known in tho revo-
,utJnn. IshAll soon pass to nothinRness, but
INV nnne will live In the Pantheon OF history"
This VIVA tho proud answer OF George james
Danton whom asked his namo by the Rovolu-
tIonary Tribunal which condemned him. He
vas tho qrandest figure In the French revolu-
tiop He had giant figure and furious
look. His voice was voco OF thunder 1t
voiced the revolution. II was tho most terrible
voice IN all TINT great upheavaL He was born
with tho revolution: he ran with It: he re-
.oiced In its strength; he fostered 1t. It was his
Idol he was It's soul. He was charged with one
AZ its greatest crimes-with It's street tribunals
and executions. Notwithstanding all. he had q
Tendon heart His eyes Instantly overlooked at
any tale OF cruelty or WOO. Ho also had quick
sense OF justice. The revolution had his full
sanction. apparently, until the arrest OF the
Girondists This no did not favor Nor did
he resist it. In an interview with one OF their
WAS not readily acceded TO- Looking their
messenger full In the face al moment. he
said: You have no confidence"
Dissatisfied with tho situation. hc obtained
,eaye OF absence. He did not como back until
VergnIaud and his associates were executed.
When reproached by q friend OF VerGniaud for
not doing what he could. no exclaimed rs tho
tears rolled down his checks. 1 could not save
them"
From that moment he became an object Of
suspicIon TO tho extremo Terrorlsts. He was
less active In tho revolution. He Numbered
no longer from the Mountain. lie excited the
suspicion OF Robesplerre and his intimates.
They had now become the soul OF !he revo!u-
ton, remorseless and cruel They went
from one act OF violence TO another still
moro appalling. Danton had become sick OF
blood He sat In the Mountain silent and con-
templatiye. his massive brow broodinE over
tho Asse mbly. He saw the crisis approaching.
He had the mental power to stop 1t. He had
the personal orce to avert It. His oratory in
the Convention was resistless. But he hes
Itated. and By his hesitation lost his life,
His conduct became an object OF comment
among the Terrorists.
What is Dan;on doinG?" they inquired OF
each other.
Then they alluded to the fact that he was
absent at the condemnation Of the Girondists.
Danton had created the r evolutionary Tr-
bunal as n substitute for the summary street
trials and executions. He had organized it in
the interests OF Justice. But they had made 1t.
like Tom Reeds rules, an instrument for do
ing business without delay or debate. Scores
were tried and condemned in n single day. 4
trial sometimes consisted OF n single question.
Amnn's occupation was enough TO determine
,.la,, l. Tp,.
had created the tribunal for different purposes.
But he had declined to become member Of
the Committee OF Public Welfare, 80 he now
had no power to control the tribunal.
His absence at the trial OF the Girondist5.
and his silence when he returned fixed
his fate The Terrorists dared no longer
trust him. Not only that. they absolutely
feared him. When arrested, he said that he
had organized the tribunal In the interests Of
humanity, but whom he saw tho uses to which
1t was perverted he asked pardon Of God and
man for what he had done.
Affairs moved rapidly In those days. Robes
pierre said truly that the events Of q century
were crowded into a single year.
One day Marat's sister appeared at the door
OF the Convention and called Danton out. She
warned him Of his impending arrest and con-
Jured him 10 strike at once. He promised to do
orntorcal blow. While he might be powerless
In the hands OF the conspirators. he knew that
he was still all powerful In the Convention. He
returned to the hall full OF determination. He
felt that his own life. as we'll as the purposes OF
the Revolution. were at stake. Yet he was
weak. When he entered the hall he met Robes
pierre In conversation with Camille Desmoulins.
Camille was one OF DRntOn's most intimate
friends. Danton himself Joined In the conversa-
ton. 1t was un usually frlendly-s friendly that
his apprehensions were removed. He wavered
In his resolve. and failed In his duty to himself,
his party. and his country. and was destroyed.
He was only "a years old when executed. The
last Of the twenty-three whom Ropespierre
had sent to the Ruillotine that morning, he
looked aloft as II he would extract heavens
secrets. Turning to the executioner he said:
SHOW my head TO the people. It's worth the
showing"
None Of his enemies made SO grand an exit.
II-CoNRLING.
The central figure In the great electoral con-
Spiracy OF 1S77was Roscoe Conklng Although
not 30 grand figure as Danton. he was more
elegant, more accomplished, more humane. and
had full as much influence with his party. Like
Danton. however. he was unconscious OF the
conspiracy. He thought honest ends were
aimed at OF all men Conkling ought to have
been placed on the Electoral Commission. He
had framed the measure. and his eloquence
mad secured Its passage. To him 1t had an
honest purpose. But he was known to have
conscience even In party matters. and George
+. Edmunds was preferred.
When the doings Of the Louisiana Returning
Board were fully disclosed he was appalled, at
the proposition OF counting that State for
Hayes or all his party ho alono determined
never to consent to It He regarded 1t rs too
monstrous a wrong. He felt within himself
the power to prevent it. Danton had some
doubt as TO his ability to saya the Girondists.
and he left Them to their fatc Conkling had
NO doubt of his ability to defeat the schemes OF
the greatest as well as the meanest gang OF
political freebooters that ooZed from the bow
oils OF our civil strife. Bu: he hes!tated.
The great party o: which he was an illustri-
Gus chief selfishly clamored for the preparation
OF tho outrage. His was not the only dormant
sentiment aroused against it. Enough Sena.
tors hal agreed to follow his lead to prevent
tho Louisiana steal But the party hal hon