Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-07-25

find from the commencement OF the
revolution. Robespierre is moderate In
his means, whereas Marat is violent
writer who does great harm to the Jac-
obins, and besides IL is right to OBJ
serve that Marat does US great injury
with the national convention. The dep
uties imagine we are partisans of Ma
rat We are called MaratiSts. II we
show that we duly appreciate Marat,
then you viii see the deputies draw
nearer to the Mountain where we sit.
You will see the affiliated societies
which have gone astray rally around
the cradle of liberty. If Marat is a pa
triot, he Will accede to the motion |
am about to make. Marat ought to sac
rlfice himself to the cause of liberty. |
move that his name be stricken from
the list of members of this society"
Some members applauded this speech,
while others murmured, and In the
confusion Citizen Dufourny arose to
pour oil upon the troubled waters. Said
he: 81 oppose the motion for eXpelling
Marat from this society. | will not de
Marat and Robespierre. These two
writer's who may resemble one another
In patriotism have very striking diff
ferences. They have both served the
people, but in different ways. Robes
pierre has defended the true principles
with method, with firmness and with
all becoming discretion. Marat, on the
contrary, has frequently passed the
bounds of sound reason and prudence.
Still, though admitting the difference
that exists between Marat and Robes
pierre, | am not in favor of the erasure.
| conclude with proposing that the mo-
ton of Bourbon be rejected and that
merely letter be written to the affil-
lated societies to acquaint them with
the difference that we make between
Marat and Robespierre."
This compromise prevailed, but in
less than 80 days the moderate Robes
pierre was calling for the death of the
king Said he Louis must die that the
country may live" After the death Of
the king he Immediately proposed
committee Of public safety clothed
with power above the convention. 1t
was organized, and Robespierre be-
came the spokesman Of the Mountain.
1t was then that he instituted the reign
of terror and defended the condemna-
ton of the Girondists by the declara-
ton, There are periods in revolution
when to live Is a crime"
Finally In the same year as the death
of the king and the organization of the
committee of public safety Marat was
assaSsinated to avenge the Girondins.
He was the greatest personal force In
the commune, and then began strug-
gle between the commune, with It's rev.
Olutionary army, and the committee,
with Robespierre In power. Danton led
the convention, which was also in the
( way of the committee. RObespierre de-
nounced the feast of reason which the
| convention instituted and afterward
tried to counteract 1t by a festival to
the Supreme Being. Gradually the
breach widened between Robespierre
and the commune, which no longer had
Marat to offset RObespierre.
The first element to go down under
the guillotine were the communists.
The Dantonists applauded at first, but
| within a short time Danton and Des-
moulins were brought to the block by
| their old school fellow, Robespierre,
who at the head Of the governing com
mttees was virtually the dictator Of
! France.
Whatever the cause, the moderate
had become the terrorist. Perhaps Ma