Symbol and satire in the French Revolution . tales of their experiences.^ Who, in especial, perpetrated these massacres?It is safe to infer that it was the same band of menwho had successfully plotted to overthrow LouisXVI about three weeks before. Among them now,as then, were many federes of the kind that hadmarched from Marseilles. But they were merelyinstruments of a higher will. The chief responsi-bility rested with the Commune, and it is indeedstrange to witness the spectacle of a recognized citygovernment, lending its countenance to suchmurderous orgies. We have the protocol of the proce
Symbol and satire in the French Revolution . tales of their experiences.^ Who, in especial, perpetrated these massacres?It is safe to infer that it was the same band of menwho had successfully plotted to overthrow LouisXVI about three weeks before. Among them now,as then, were many federes of the kind that hadmarched from Marseilles. But they were merelyinstruments of a higher will. The chief responsi-bility rested with the Commune, and it is indeedstrange to witness the spectacle of a recognized citygovernment, lending its countenance to suchmurderous orgies. We have the protocol of the proceedings of theCommune during the critical days.^ It requires Many original documents are contained in the Memoires de Sep-tembre (Paris, 1823). ^ Riouffes narrative went through countless Memoires de Septembre, 166 ff. Massacre 291 little astuteness to be able to read between thelines. In the very midst of the massacres it sendsto the different prisons to protect those incarceratedfor debt. So the others it considers fair prey! On. Plate 124. A gruesome cartoon making fun of the priests who were massacred on September 3, 1792. They are represented as having had their noses pulled. September 3d, indeed, the Commune expressesitself as greatly alarmed and touched by therigorous measures being employed against theprisoners. It even appointed delegates to calmthe effervescence and bring back to right principlesthose who may have gone astray. This from abody of men ready to surround the hall of theNational Assembly at a moments notice and put 292 The French Revolution through some decree at the point of the bayonet!How different the language employed when theCommune was really distressed or alarmed! Andhow sympathetically now it listens to every argu-ment in favour of the murderers, to every allegedproof of a vast conspiracy on the part of the pris-oners to elude their jailors and massacre all thepatriots! There are strange entries in the financial accountsof the Commune: F
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectcaricat, bookyear1912
