Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-30


drew to itself the troops that were still
faithful to the established order A
commander was necessary. By hasty
decree this dangerous honor was con-
fe-red on Paul Francois Barras, presi-
dent CT the Convention. He was intrust-
cd with the fearful responsibility Of
protecting the body and preserving. -
possible, the half-ripe-but ripening-
fruits of six years of legislative toll and
travail. He had already shown himself
capable in two preceding riots. This
one, however, was more formidable
What he most of all needed in the emer-
gsncy was real commander, who had
the courage and skill to oxtemporize,
with all haste, division of troops for
the defense OF the government. Barras
arose in his place, and nominated as his
lieutenant and second in command Ma
poleon Bonaparte. He had seen that
officer at his guns before Toulon.
Napoleon himself was sitting, OBJ
securely, in the gallery when his name
was presented for the perilous duty. He
accepted; and Immediately there was
speedy work A young officer, whom
name-whom history will presently re-
cord as the great cavalry general of the
empire-was sent with all speed out to
the Champ dc Sablons. to whirl in the
batteries stationed there. In a few hours
guns were planted around the Conven-
ton Hall, and at the nearby bridges of
the Seine, commanding all lines of ap-
proach; and at the brooches stood grim
gunners with lighted matches.
Here, then, was business for life or
death The instruction rolled itself in
great volumes along the streets. 1t
might be seen coming On like the sea.
The Section Lepelletier leads the van.
The Insurgents get possession of the
church of ST. Roct, nearby, and then of
Pont Neuf, and then bristle up face to
face with the guns of the Corsican.
There is not "a moments hesitation. The
order to fire is quick and sharp. The
Convention Hall is suddenly shaken to
foundation stones with the roar of ar
tillery. The guns are loaded with grape
and canister. Horrid gaps are cut in
long bloody alleys through the irsurgent
mob. Men-Frenchmen- blown by
hundreds 20 horrid death. They go back
before the hail of destruction. The Ma
tional Convention is saved. General
Bonaparto has the honor Of suppressing
the last mob of the French Revolution!
Strange to note what the effect of all
this was on the man himself. He was
in nowise jubilant. Indeed he had hest
tated for half hour before accepting
the place of general against the revolt
ed Sections. In his report he covered up
his own responsibilities the facts gave
him opportunity to do-making it ap-
pear, contrary to his wont, that not he,
but others, had put down the mob. He
had acted only under orders of the Ma
tionai Convention and General Barras!
Ever through life, moreover. he looked
back with regret to this hour and event
of his career. Doubtless, at bottom, he
was Jacobin himself; but he was an
Imperial Jacobin. Tho two clements in
his character did not consist; the one
was at war with the other.
Thus much only is certain, that Ma
poleon would gladly have had his great
triumph over the Partisan insurgents
blotted from the record. No doubt he
was at heart at one with instruction;
but he was also the friend Of order.
His success in restoring order in the
capital may be said to have made Napo-
leon famous. He had already become an
adviser of the Committee of Public
Safety. Indeed he held that relation be-
| fore his name was stricken from the list
of generals in active service. Eleven
| days after the suppression of the Sec
| tons, he was made professionally Gen.
eral of Division. and four days after
| wards the Professionally" was struck
ont, and he was appointed commander
OF the Army of the Interior, having as
its central field of operations Paris it.
self.
Destiny reserved for the winter of
17o5-96 another capital fact in the life
Of her devotee. Napoleon found jose
phine. He first met her at tho house of
Barras. She belonged to the Societe DIES
Society of the Victims.
To enter this band of the new elite
| Parisiernes, one must have lost recently
a near relative by the guillotine! jose
phine had lost One-her husband. The
Vicomte Alexandra de Beauharnais had
the beautiful Creole of Martinique, in
December of 1879. She was then in her
seventeenth year. In 1880 the Vicomte
came to America with Rochambeau.
| Afterwards he was a deputy in the
States General, and was twice president
| of the National Convention. He COM
! manded, under Custine, at Mentz, in
1893, when that place was surrendered
to the Germans. To surrender was
death. he was hailed to trial, con-
| demned and guillotined only five days
before the collapse of the Terror. When
| Robespierre fell, the Societe DIES Vic
times was formed. The light creatures
| took wing like butterflies from the
blood-pools of the Place de Ia Revolu-
| ton. They still wore crepe On their
arms when they began to dance anew
in Greek sandals and chignons and clas-
steal scarfs girdled at the waist. Napo-
! leon saw one Of them, and admired and
, loved.