Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-06-19
Splendid Lecture by Or, Stephens
At Noon Today
AN INCREASED ATTENDANCE
Says Most of the stories of Cruel nor
rors Are the Result OF Morbid
Imagination.

- MkANfAHlt lllNANdtN 10 AAN'AA'AN''sN
was feature Of the lecture by Prof.
II. Morse Stephens at the university
today Interest in the announced sub
ject, "rhe Reign Of Terror" and the
professors very entertaining style and
instructive philosophy brought many
additional auditors, Prof. stephens
prefaced his remarks today with the
statement that his object In present"
Ing the new view Of the history of the
French Revolution was not particular
ly to show how that individual history
is being rewritten, but 10 indlyate the
existence Of the tendency to view all
histories from the point of exactitude
In fact statement rather than the treat
ment OF histories In the imaginary or
POLITICALLY, heroic vein. Most OF the
stories Of cruel horrors which are said
TO have marked the reign Of terror are
the result OF morbid imagination, To-
day historians are out Of tune win
their Predecessors In that they do not
point 10 the gull0tine aud the grue-
some stories attaching thereto as the
most important fact connected with me
French Revolution. The idea to keep
constantly In mind In study uf u.e
history OF the French Revolution Is the
fact thai what is known as the foreign
war was the most important event or
series Of events Of that time.
On account Of the complete disorgan-
ization Of France as a result Of the con-
stitution Of 1891 a terrible attack of
anarchy and hysteria brought the coun-
try and government low In the scale OF
vitality SO desperate was this
moral Contagion that the most
radical remedy was requisite to check
us rayages and II France was to be
fayed AT all It could be done only in
the establishment of a firm, strong,
stern government II IL mathematic-
ally demonstrated fact that 10000 600
OF people could not be terrorized by
1900, 900 unless the majority OF the in
habltants recognized the need of the
terror.
The professor said that he was max
ing no effort whatever to apologize
for the reign OF terror. but to explain u,
The guillotine and its bloody greed for
the mead of plebe or prince was "A mere
incidett ~ the revolution and the num-
Der OF heads appOrtlOned TO each day
found restriction only I'm the number
Of decapitati0ns thought to be neces
sary to maintain the idea and system
of the terror. IN working out the sal
walton Of France the feeling OF terror
inspired In the French breast, and
which induced passive obedience 10 the
tehests of the necessarily strenuous
government. resulted in the idea being
taught that whatever was demanded
Of the citizen by the government must
be delivered. Did the country need
soldiers. horses, cannon guns, am
munition, cattle or other supplies they
must be furnished with perfect ODE
dience and without complaint. This
condition could never have been
brought about We're there no reign Of
terror
In 1898 France seemed to be draw.
ing her last gasp, and yet I'm ono
year from that time the country was
triumphant everywhere. From having
a defense in a disorganized. undisci-
plined mob Of patriots volunteers the
country turned out 10 have the grand
est national army that had up to that
time existed In the world
The reign OF terror was extended over
the army as well as over the people. and
the splendid organization evolved from
the chaotic horde came only under the
heavy hand OF stern, unyielding com
mand and implicit obedience. An illus
tration Of this idea Of the reign OF ter
ror may be shown in the fact that at
Strasburg a French general made a
demand upon the city officials for 5000
pairs Of shoes for his soldiers. TO bs
delivered To him NJ o'clock that even
ing He was met with the statement
mat the delivery at that time would be
impossible and that the shoes would be
sent In a week. Il said ! wanted them
oy O'Clock tonight. said the general.
and not next week Now. II the 5000
pairs OF shoes are not delivered at the
time desired there viii not be sufficient
heads in Strasburg TO supply the exc
buttons. Don't your people wear shoes?
Their shoes would better be- upon the
feet OF my soldiers than that their
heads should be upon their bayonets"
Well asserted Prof. Steuheuy. "the
shoes were delivered on time; and this
Is the exact theory and idea OF the ter.
.or' ana Its result was q national SUI
premacy achieved in the space OF one
year But when this end had been
brought about. how was the terror 90
'top2 Enlightened France would not
tolerate a continuation OF the system ~
arrests and executions that grew from
the terror's idea.
Then came Robespierre. who Is wrongly
described as an enthusiast OF the ter
ron, and rightly understood as a lover
ll flowers and gaudy colored ralment
While other men having governmental
control We're contented with attending
10 the material things Robespierre was
dealistic His aim TO succeed the
'eign Of terror with q reign OF virtue
he attempted TO establish by influencing
legislators by his clnQucuce. Robes
pierre had lived through the period
Nhen eloquence swayed the country and
he now made the mistake Of surprising
hat condition existed az the closing lf
he reign OF terror LEGISLATORS M
onger voted under the Influence Of ora
DRY, but from the force OF absolute
ear Robespierre eventually came to
he guillotluc, misunderstood disgraced |
rs a supposed leader Of the reign of |
error.
In the study OF this period the pro-
essor recommended the view that the
elgn Of terror must not be- treated as !
time Of head hunting. but as per- |
cd OF effective government that result |
d IN organized victory as "A successor
@ disCtEan;led defeat Taken from
his view point the reign Of terror
axes on an entirely new colorinE" said
Prof Stephens. ~ J have ln these lee |
ures succeeded In destroying the IDEAS |
Fhall be delighted. The more Of the |
things We lind In history
he oftcner can we conclude that The |
oct has ben ~ his work We mus, |
earn that history Is not poetry bur |
rose; that II II not a series Of heroics |
'ut a statement OF documentary fact. |
History does not progress by leaps |
POUNDS, Jerks and Jars. hui Is the |
iradual record OF the evolution Of the