The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-15
THE NAPOLEONIC REVIVAL.

We observe in America and Europe
now a great revival Of interest in al
that relates to the history OF France
century ago, and from that down
through the Napoleonic era.
What is the cause of this wonderful
and apparently spontaneous exhibition
of public interest?
One hundred years ago the French
reign OF terror came to an end, and the
forces that made NAPOLEON possible be-
gan TO show themselves. On July a,
1904, RoBsPmrRE was executed, and
with his death liberty becams possible
for France.
The previous October witnessed the
most shameful example of political
crime in the his5Jry of France-one OF
the blacklist crimes ever perpetrated In
the history of the world. Then %
Girondists--the brightest flowers OF
French genius, learning, patriotism,
chivalry and ef0quence-were exc
cuted. One of them, on re-
ceiving sentence, exclaimed to the
bloody man who SO soon after followed
them: I've die on the day when the
people have lost their reason you will
die on the day when they recover it,"
These martyrs shouted "Long live the
Republic" and sang the Marseillaise"
as they filed out of the court. One OF
them stabbed himself to the heart as
the shout for the republic died away.
The 81 remaining sat down to "a feast
like that of the Last Sacrament
of the early Christians" drank
their first toast to " the Republic, one
indivhible and eternal! T. Then they
talked Of the future of France, of liberty,
of science, philosophy and reform, of the
immortality of the soul, of the abolition
of slavery, of PLATo's philosophy, of the
future life. Some one proposed a post
ponement. But DUPRAT demurred.
after tonight" said he, Eve shall
have no heads with which to discuss any
question"
1t was at this banquet of death that
NAPOLEON was brought forward, as
possible savior OF France. One of the
doomed deputies quoted some words the
young artillery officer had spoken to him.
Another predicted that some great SOL
der would arise "to demand account
for the innocent blood now being she'd"
Yet another said: "This young captain
may be the chosen one. He will be a
MARcELLUs" A fourth declared: 81
have seen him. He is Corsican, with
deep glance, flaming black eyes and
pallid complexion. His name is BONA
PARTE."
Then the 81 went to the scaffold in
FIVE carts, one had long carried subtle
poison concealed in his watch, but as it
would only serve for himself he threw it
away. Another was offered freedom by
his jailer, but refused lo leave his coinpan-
ions. They all struck up the "Marseil-
laise," aud kept on singing:
"Allons, enfsns de la pa,rie
lie jour de glorle est arrive"
The volume of song grew smaller and
smaller, as one head after another fell
into the basket, until only one voice re-
mained, but it kept on without tremor,
until the headsman came; then it was
silenced.
Thus was the spirit of NAPOLEON
thrust into the destinies of France.
The Little Corporal was for a long
time the personifc tion Of the French
sentiment that avenged the deeds OF
RoBEsPIERRE. When hs turned autocra
the horrors of the reign of terror were
dulled and the effulgent sun Of Frahc-'s
greatest glory seemed Abou 70 enghlf
Europe. Tne natural stniiment Of the
Frenca people who beheld their country
arise and cast n the horrors Of ROBES