East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-01-28
CHANCES AT HISTORY
SOME FRENCH HISTORY

SOalE El6EN0D hISlOh1
Louis XVI. believed to be under
the influence Of Marie Antoinette,
hesitated TO sign the decress aimed at
privilege that had been agreed to by
the nobility The difficulties OF the
situations were heightened by
drought and widespread unemploy-
ment Still the Paris men delayed
to exert forcible pressure upon their
king. But the women acted. They
streamed out Of the capital and along
the roads TO Versailles. shouting for
bread; they even invaded the palace
and threatened TO slay the queen.
They refused to go back TO Paris un-
less the king accompanied them, and
Louis was compelled to go.
The king, virtually a prisoner. tri-
ed TO escape from France. but he was
captured at the frontier and ignomin-
iously brought back. To add to the
internal struggle war was now pro-
voked against Prussia and Austria.
The Prussians captured verdum but
in spite OF the anarchy that was now
prevalent throughout France. they
were driven back and the victorious
French invaded Germany and captur-
ed several towns on the Rhine.
Louis had been steadily growing
In unpopularity and It was generally
believed that he would welcome a
Prussian and Austrian victory as
means to clutch once more the power
that ne had lost. He was tried and
executed in January 1898. He had
not been a vicious monarch, merely
weak man with not ability enough
to retain the power that had been
placed in his hands. 1t was his in
competence rather than a general
desire for a republic that led to the
abolition of the monarchy.
Hardly had the republic been pro-
claimed before Great Britain, Spain
and the Holy Roman Empire Joined
the enemies Of France. Riots had al |
ready led TO massacres in Paris and
to revolts and counter rrevolts in
the provinces. The leaders Of the ar
lstocratic party had been slain or
bounded out OF France. Not even the
plight OF Frederick the Great had
teen 70 seemingly hopeless, for he at
least had governed a united people.
The government was at first in the
hands Of a party called the Girond-
lists. who were moderate republicans;
but they slowly lost their influence
as more radical leaders arose. Finally
the more fanatic group gained such
control and at last executed. Brittany
Marseilles and Bordeaux upheld the
Firondist cause and raised forces
to fight the Partisan leaders OF the
mob,
Yet France survived. While internal
uprisings were being quelled, the
English were defeated at Dunkirk and
the Austrians were driven back. Yet
the guillotine did not cease to claim
its victims. The unhappy and ar
rogant Marie Anoinette soon fell a.
victim, as did the high souled Nine.
Roland. Madness seized upon the lit
tie group headed by Robespierre who
welded despotic power. Guilty and
innocent were alike bundled into the
tumbrills and rolled along the streets
toward the guillotine, until the sight
became so common that the terrible !
women who had shouted for more
blood ceased to look up from their
knitting as the carts passed. Paris
was not the only city where terror
stalked. Thousands were slain at
Nantes; thousands more at Lyons;
hundreds elsewhere througout the
country.
Robespierre fell and passed to the
same gulllotine TO which he had con-
signed so many of his enemies, Ma '
rat, instigator OF terrorism although
by Charlotte Corday. For three years
unbridled horror had possessed France
Yet out OF that horror came equali-
ty for all men, the only reward
worth the frightful price that had
been paid. But the grasp OF
strong man, man strong almost be-
yond any man Europe had ever
known. was needed to restore order
in France. The hand was ready. had
been waiting for the moment to come
Into that intolerable confusion steps
the most audacious adventurer that
the world has known. He raises his
hand and the tumult Is stilled
France. ever quick to recognize geni-
US. sees that this Napoleon Bonaparte
this upstart Corsican. can alone bring
back to the nation the glory that II
had under Louis XVI. Little did even
those who saw that Napoleon was de-
stined for greatness realize how he
was to shake the very foundations
Of Europe, how he was to dream
dreams and make them come true,
as had no conqueror since the dim
da,,s 81 AIaxapder the Great