The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-04-17
Never has history shown q moro dra-

sued. 1t was the 9Th of October, 1895.
In the peril Of the hour the Convention
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-
ferred on Paul Francois Barras, presi.
dent of the Convention. He was intrust-
ed with the fearful responsibility Of
protecting the body and preserving, il
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-
gency was real commander, who had
the courage and skill to extemporize,
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
sourely, in the gallery when his name
was presented for the perilous duty. He
accepted; and Immediately there was
speedy work A young officer, whom
Napoleon knew, Joachim Murat by
naue-whom history will presently re-
cord as the great cavalry general OF the
empire-was sent with all speed out to
the Champ de Sablons. to whirl in the
batteries stationed there In 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 insurreotion rolled itself in
great volumes along the streeta IL
might be seen coming on like the sea.
The Section Lepelletier leads the van.
The insurgents get possession OF the
church of St. Roch, nearby, and then OF
Pont Neuf, and then bristle up face to
face with the guns Of the Corsican.
There is not 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 insurgeno
mob. -Frenchmen-are blown by
hundreds to horrid death. They go back
before the hail Of destruction. The Ma
tional Convention is saved. General
Bonaparte has the honor Of suppressing
the last mob Of the French Revolutionl
Strange to note what the effect OF oil
this was on the man himself. lie was
in nowise jubilant. Indeed he had hesi-
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 1t 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
tional Convention and General Barras |
Ever through life, moreover, he looked
, back with regret to this hour aud event
of his career Doubtless, at bottom, no
| was Jacobin himself; but he was an
, Imperial Jacobin. Tho two elements 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
0 blotted from the record. No doubt he
s was at heart at ono with insurrection;
r but he was also the friend Of order.
\ His success in restoring order in the
0 capital may be said to have made Napo'
+ leon famous Flo had already become an
Il adviser of the Committee Of Public
J. Safety. Indeed he held that relation be-
J. fore his name was stricken from the Hs'
Q of generals in active service Eleven
X days after the suppression OF the Sec
d lions, he was made professionally Gen
% eral of Division, and four days after
:, wards the professionally" was struol
j. out, and he was appointed commands
10 of the Army of the Interior, having a
its central field Of operations Paris Il
l. self.
a Destiny reserved for the winter o
l. 1795-06 another capital fact in the III
a Of her devotee. Napoleon found JOSE
4 phine. He first met her at the house q
At Barras. She belonged to the Sooiete de
sr yictimes-" Society Of the Victims.
at To enter this band Of the new elis
y Parisiennes, one must have lost recentl
ar near relative by the guillotinel Jost
t. phine had lost one-her husband. TIL
I'd Vicomte Alexandra do Beauharnais ha.
t. married Marie Josephe Rose Taschel
to the beautiful Creole Of Martinique.
a. December Of 1870. She was then In hs
as seventeenth yoar. In 1880 the Vioomt
Of came to America with Rochambeas
st Afterwards he was deputy in II
States General, and was twice presidel
q. of the National Convention. He CON
I'D manded, under Custine. at Ments,
O. 1898, when that place was surrendert
lg to the Germans. To surrender vi
be death. He. was hailed to trial, co.
On demned and guillotined only five da.
n before the collapse Of the Terror. Whs
Mt Robespierre fell, the Sooiete des VI
ar times was formed. The light oreatur
on took wing like butterflies from Il
to blood pools Of the Place de la Reyol
's- ton. They still wore crepe on the
an arms when they began to dance ane
nd in Greek sandals and ohignons and cla
70. steal scarfs girdled at the waist. Nap
1t. Icon saw one Of them, aud admired al
'pt loved.
" Sohe told Bourrienne, while pointil