New-York tribune., 1900-01-28

milan Company
Every new historian Of the French Revolution
has some new facts TO offer. In nine cases out
Of ten, however he uses these for the ilIustra-
ton Of an hypothesis Of his own. He is a stanch
republican, or is an anti-repubican, and even
when he aims al escaping both appelIations, his
desire 10 be impartial only makes him the more
philosophical" Alr Jephson has no phiIoso-
ply; We doubt if be would even call himself an
historian He has a point Of view, Of course
which Ee suppose might at first blush be classi-
ted as ant-republican. But he is really with
cut prejudice OF preoccupation. All that he
seeks TO do IS TO reproduce some Of the data
dealing with the Revolution which Of late years
have been collected from contemporary s -urces
Els book is not an argument, il is not an anaIy-
Es, II is catalogUe-a catalogue Of infamous
srmes-a panorama Of Unspeakable things. The
facts stated in the works from which he has
traWn his material must, he says. profoundly
modify The views generally held on the subject
T the Revolution. There is no dogmatism in
bis statement Of the case. No one who has
kaned up01 favorable estimate Of the salient
Caits Of most Of the revolutionists could after
perusing these pages. retain the sympathy he
has felt for them He Is bound 10 relinquish the
book with q Guivering emotion Of horror
Nj Jephson confines his survey almost en-
trely 10 the Vendee, but he takes pains to
exhibit the indUbltabLe fact that what went on
u the Provinces had the sanction Of Paris. As
he well says. Splendid speeches might be de-
hvered in the Convention upon the beauties Of
tusrice particularly Of French justice: the
Courts might laud the impartiaIity of the JUS
ice they administered. and the fairness of their
proceedings. bur the grim horrors Of these years
contrast facts with theories contrast deeds with
professions tell II fact how justice was assas-
Enated even by the highest officials of the State
and 0y every Court iu IT, from the revolutionary
Clouna- II Paris TO the worst Of the rowing mill
aJ commissions il the country" In the midst
q MS exploits a. Nantes. the Infamous Carrier
wrote 10 The Convention 10 report that some
H!-eght individuals had arrived from Angers
os hao Immediately confined them in a vessel
sn the Loire. and that night they were care
l1y drowned What e revolutionary torrent
the Loire" wrote Carrier. concluding his let
Ter and MERCER reports that the reading Of
Ne document was covered by immortal plaud-
Is This IS only one proof among a thousand
u The sympathy and support with which the
tsnagogues Of Paris watched the brutaIities in
ue provinces 5rgJaIities in fact instigated by
/ u eentral government II anarchy had Dre-
Fa-ed IN Pa--s for some years prior 10 the fall
v he basJlie. IL vas only continued under the
regime which superseded that Of the monarchy
Inaer the agls Of democracy the scum rose 10
ne surface. By some extraordinary perversion
'" iOslc ne balefUl Influences Of this scum did
-O' oeseeno merely upon the arist0crats but
ap0n al and sundry, high and low who hap
p-Aeo 10 lnfarne the murderous procIivities Of
1e true republicans" A CONTEMPORARY In
IO1ralne has left q description Of the prodi-
1'os abuses that went On in his Province. THE
'Ofo liberty Iuns the old record. meets one
''Ss "-eIe- One sees II written in gigantic
-@'acleFs on al monuments. it displays itself
/ : ne mead of al public documents. The men
government from the excuticner TO the min
lsf' nave il always II their mouths; every
Jung e done and ordered in the nan7a of T.ir-
l1| But Il is nothing but an abouinabIe niece
3osglery, nothing but an Infamous mockerv."
g. ne ancient evils Of the monarchicaI rule
we're revived under an aggravated form. In the
S"y foT example, no military experience or
knowledge was required q the officer He was
Nppolntec through favoritsm, and was often
so ron the lowest class to command brlItes
- himself Some apOlOgists for revolutionary
'7Ses nave sought TO demonstrate that the
! e0- procedure Of the Government was often
1 - 0h that Of the fallen system but as 2
/ 80 ei fact, If they did sometimes taLa +be
/ -. were careful 10 throw away the
O' under the worst Of French kings
-, Di'lerer despotsm established than that
- "@s PRESIDED over by the Partisan rulers
-4 %- @1 murder with the mantle of the law "
Il - 'iSions between the Vendeans and the
II A. 90 UPS are scarcely TO be described