The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-05-02
nourishcd in the hearts OF such Dtpu-
ties as Robespicrre AMI Marat.
Ia ETTE AND TILE NEW IIRERALISM.

LA
Among the mobiles there were many
OF a strong liberal tendency. though
none who dreamed Of anything more
advanced than a constitutional mon
archy and the abolition of privileges.
The Marquis de Lafayette was the
representative of this class. AS a
Young man lie had carried his sword
TO the service of the American rebels.
He had been in the councils of Wash
ington. and lad brcathcd the atmos-
pherc OF republican ideals Gallant
soldier and gallant gentleman he lad
returned to France covered with mar
tial glory, and had become a favolitc
of the court, who as yet counted liber-
alism no sin. as well as the idol Of the
people who looked upon liberalism as
very solid virtue.
But the liberal mobiles were naturally
in decided minority. A vast major
ity were jealous Of their privileges,
suspicious of the new liberalism which
was very good as a drawing-room fad,
but dangerous in practical politics;
above all, scornful Of the Third Estate,
which gave itself, so they thought,
such airs and impudence. The clergy
as whole were on the side of the peo-
pie. The priests knew more of the
peoples sufferings than the mobiles did.
The duties of their vocation brought
them in contact with tie misery which
hid in dark places, and they had COM
passion and used their own privileges
mercifully. Yet they also knew some
thing of the wild beasts in those same
dark places, which were as yet chained,
but which one day perhaps might
| break loosc-and then GOO help those
WHO had kept them hungry. So tie
majority of the clergy were literal in
tendency but consel vative from pru-
,lrnce.
| Among the minority were those
society sNcophants who shamed their
cloth, and others who hated the new
liberalism with fierccness that knew
no charity nor political insight. Out
of these diverse elements was the
States General formed, and with these
| various ideals in antagonism it would
have bee a miracle if they had not
| clashed with violent effect.
CLASS AGAINST CLASS.
Tie miracle did not happen. From
the Fl st hour of assembling there was
a friction that gradually smoldercd,
and finally burst into general erup
ton. The nobl,s irritated the third
estate by hundred petty Sights that
goadcl the deputies, proud of their
office and stubbornly independent, INTO
suilen rage. The Court, ruled by
NeckeT, invented innumerable causes
of delay and supported the mobiles in
Their arrogance. The clergy as yet
were afraid of throwing in their lot
with the third order, and wavered be-
tween both parties. Days and weeks
went by and nothing was accomplished
except futile discussion and antago-
nistic displays between class and class.
Meanwhile the people clamorcd for
action, and the popular deputies grew
tired Of inaction AS yet they could
do nothing, for the two privileged Or
ders were still obstructing, and would
not act in union with them, owing to
d if renccs of etiquette that seemed in
soluble.
1t was the Marquis 'e Lafayette
who suggested the solution. Let
those" he said. ho have been elected
to the States General and who wish to
do their duty to the nation form them
selves INTO NallOnai Assembly.
Those who will not j,n may remain
outside The advice was taken and
the 600 deputies of the third estate,
with the liberal mobiles and clergy, con-
stitutcd themselves into the famous
National \ Assembly, and swore never
to dissolve until the nation grievances
had been redressed. They proclaimed
their inviolability against arrest, and
when the Marquis de Br,z. came 10y
| the Kings command to the Assembly
and ordered them to disperse he was
answered 10y Mraheau, who splang to
bis feet and in a trumpet voice that
rang through the hal! and echoed
through the kingdom spoke the words
that will he forever famous:
"lf you have orders to remove us
from this hall, you must also get a,l-
| thority to use force. for we shall yiril
to nothing but to bayonets."
TIE GREAT OATH.
In that tennis court, where the
National Assembly had taken refuge,
barred from the Hall Of Deputies 10y
royal troops, the men who defcd the
tyranny of a privileged order raised
their right hands to heaven and swore
with one voice to remain faithful to
the people they represented and to
establish liberty and justice through
out the land. Their courage and spirit
were successful, and the court, with
poor amlahle, weak King Louis at the
head Of it, knew not how to crush this
hydra head which spoke with a thou
sand tongues, hus in one voice, and
that bold one. Large holies of