The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-10

who had a strain of Irish blood in his
veins, received his primary education. At
school he had for his fellows Camille Des-
mouths and Stanislas Freron-names not
unknown to the Revolution.
Maximilien, who was the eldest Of the
children, was devoted by his father to the
profession of law. So he was sent to Paris,
where he pursued his studies in the Col
lege of Louis lie Grand. Before graduation.
however, his younger brother Augustin
had become of college age, and the strictly
conscientious Maximilien gave up his schol-
arship at the university in order that Au-
gustin might come in his place; for Maxi
milien was a youth both good and gener-
Gus!
Back to his home at Arras went the
young man Robespierre. and began the
practice of law. Meanwhile a philosophi-
cal American, not unknown in human an
nails. named Benjamin Franklin, had, in the
language of the French academy, "snatched
the lightning from heaven and the scep-
ter from tyrants"-which is figura-
tive way Of saying that he had invented
the lightning rod-had thrust up his sharp
metallic point at the clouds and brought
down their charge harmless to the earth.
as much distrust as Jenper's vaccination
or Koch's lymph. In France, they who
would sell Franklin's rods were arrested.
1t was SO at Arras, where a cause came on
about the setting up of lightning rod,
and Robespierre made his first great plea
we are not sure but his first plea of any
kind-''in favor of the Franklin thunder
rod"
Thus he gained some reputation, and the
Bishop of Arras made him judge of the
diocese Not an unlearned young judge
he was-certainly not unjust-until man
under trial for his life was brought into
court. Hereupon, Judge Maximilien, con
scientiously opposed to capital punishment,
resigned his place rather than risk the con
tingency of condemning human being to
the gallows. Aye. more than this, the leg
end runs that Judge Robespierre had such
horror of the sight of blood that he would
not permit the cook to behead chicken in
his presence.
Here we may note the beginning of one
of the greatest of human paradoxes-the
conversion of a tender hearted timid
young advocate, pervaded as he was with
all humanitarian principles, into rabid
killer Of men. IL Is a transformation
which we cannot understand until we re-
member that personal cowardice and an
inhamed conscience are the natural ante
cedents of the greatest crimes.
Meanwhile, after descending from the
bench, Maximilien becomes member of
the Arras Academy of Science. lie writes
many prize essays, but does not gain the
prizes. Then he writes others, all of them
streaked more or less with the gospel ac-
cording to ST. Jean jacques Rousseau; for
Rousseau has now become she one intel
lectual fountain in whose humanities and
projections Robespierre, to the day of his
death, continued to find his elements of
truth and motives of action. The doc
trines of the Contrat Social entered into
the very fiber of the future revolutionist,
and from these principles he never swerved
from first to last. They became sort OF
formula into which the whole future life
of Robespierre was cast, and by which he
was directed even in the revolutionary
tribunal.
The year 17SS finds Robespierre a dele
gate elect to the states general at Yer
sailles. He is democrat, last of list of
five members from his department. So in
the great procession we see him-a small
man, slight of form, with his obscure eyes
under spectacles; timid in manner, with
an upturned face; generally shifting, as
though he would smell something; very
neat in his person, painfully virtuous in
morals; having, as Nine. de Sta6l de-
clares, a sallow complexion, a mean look
and green Ueins. History must needs take
note of a man with green yeinsl for le
healthy color is blue.
No one making an inventory OF probable
titles from the gallery of the states general,
or afterward from the upper seats Of the
national assembly. would have chosen
Robespierre a coming leader. 1t is con
coded that he was a man of no personal
courage. He did not even believe in him
self He was suspicious, timid and easily
excited. Some qualities, however, be pos
sessed which might make him q man Of
note. He was az orator OF cogent reason
ing powers and voice full OF sympathy.
Besides this he had formula, an infiarned
conscience and the gospel according 70
Rousseau
In the national assembly Robes pierre
went TO the extreme Left, and took his seat
with the profoundest radicals OF the age
with those audacious democrats who al
ready scented the destruction Of the mon
archy and the rise of the people. OF these
delegates there were only thirty, and they
were held In contempt. Mirabea1 was
wont TO refer TO them as thirty Uoaces, as X
they were sound and nothing nore-paere
human noise, not 70 be regarded BIT
Mirabeau bad not failed 20 discover n
Robespierre a possibility which none other
had yet perceived tie said OF hun one
day, That young man believes what be
says, therefore be viii 20 far" Perhaps
he would not have gone far If Airabeaa
had lived: but with the death Q. the giant
strange shapes arose from the earth and
began to reign-among the rest this Ajax
milien Robespierre-
II was in the cluD Of the Jsco5.ns that
the future King Of the Terror first gained
an sscendancy. During the year 1871 be
often put up ifs head, but Is often drew
back, being afraid TIE student Of hla
tory VIII remember that as the monarchy
oegan TO reel an alliance was attempted
between IL and the Gsrondias-an alliance i
which proved tatal 20 both il the mean 4
time Robespierre's residence lad besn I
finally transferred 70 PARIS. Here he be 4
came a Journalist. p&mpaIetesr. and a.
asst a delegate from the commune OF Paris 4
% tie national convertson- As&n~ails 4
re despised Left bad become The Aountr 4
lin TIE monarchy goes 70 pseses- King
AID queen are gailIottned- hoo~spssrrs
-ises TO leadership. Already AZ tss kings
rial his voice had BEEN heard Tor death:
,ut il was death Or Sasu1<tEy- he sad
1t y with rezrp. thas J pronounce tie
z;al truth. Joais ought 70 perish rather
kAa 4 hundred thousand sITtEozs c.t-
zeas LOUIS must de TIA. tbs co2atEy
nay live
Eot-syisrre's actual accession 70 ss5Esr
zsy be dated from JaIy. isSS. Shea lie to-
,Als member Of the COMMITTEES 81 public