tenlittlebullets: Since yesterday unexpectedly turned into Charles Jeanne Appreciation Day (yessssss
tenlittlebullets:Since yesterday unexpectedly turned into Charles Jeanne Appreciation Day (yesssssss), here, have a portrait of the fierce little bastard in prison and an excerpt of his trial. The government the rebels were trying to overthrow in June 1832 had come to power just two years earlier, in July 1830, when Paris rose up in three wildly successful days of revolution against an increasigly-autocratic “constitutional” monarchy dominated by the old aristocracy. The new regime, a slightly-less-autocratic constitutional monarchy dominated by the capitalist elite, glorified the July Revolution it had ridden to power and was quick to bestow medals and honors on revolutionaries who’d distinguished themselves in combat. Including Charles Jeanne. YEAH. So “unimpressed” doesn’t even begin to describe Jeanne’s reaction when, on the second day of the trial, one of his former comrades stood up to testify against him for doing the exact same thing in 1832 as they both did in 1830.Monsieur Simon the elder, recipient of the July Cross, takes the stand in full veterans’ uniform; he states that he was admitted to the veterans’ retirement home at the Hôtel des Invalides a month ago: “I was,” he says, “a victim of the June revolution due to misinterpreted zeal; I was incarcerated for forty days, but I emerged, I should hope, white as snow. Anyway, to stop talking about myself now, I’ll tell you that on June 5th I saw people going back and forth from the street in the Café Fournier; whenever a victim fell, they applauded in the café; I saw Madame Alexandre bringing down broth with wine in it for the men at the barricade.[…]Jeanne: And I, Monsieur le Président, ask to speak. (In a focused tone of voice): A man who’s compromised in criminal proceedings using any and all means to get off, that I understand; but what I don’t understand, what overwhelms my thinking and takes away even the ability to express myself, is seeing this man, this man right here, this man who fought with us on the 5th, who fought with us on the 6th, come forward like a coward to make accusations against men whose misfortune he should at least respect.The defendant is deeply upset; for several moments he stays silent, then he adds: “Monsieur le Président, interview the whole neighborhood, and you’ll find that on the 5th this Simon helped construct the barricade; you’ll find that until eleven o’clock at night on the 5th, he fought with us…. right there beside me. The next day, at five in the morning, he came back; he fought by my side again, and I implore him to declare it here; while he was firing with me, he said, ’Come on, old boy! (he’d known me ever since the July Days) come on, old boy…! (Forgive me the expression) We’re going to f—— those loudmouths right up… Look, old boy! my son… he’s the one over to the side fighting hard; and my old lady, she’s there too making cartridges; the whole family’s joining in….’ That’s what he said… This man left at eleven in the morning; he took fright… he’s a coward…!”These words, uttered by Jeanne with rare energy, raise a stir in the whole audience that defies description; applause breaks out and is immediately suppressed. But Jeanne’s efforts have drained his strength, he’s shaking, his legs can barely support him, his eyes are wet with tears. Several of his co-defendants and a few members of the bar surround him, and provide aid. His teeth are chattering hard against each other. He sits down. “Monsieur le président,” he says, his voice weakened by the emotion that’s agitating him, “I ask for a moment to rest.”The session is suspended for a few minutes.[…]Simon is called back to the stand.President: It’s been claimed that you weren’t at home on the 6th? Response: I was at my son’s place; that’s where I learned that the Polish Jew Grimbert had showed up at my home to take my gun.Grimbert: That’s possible.Conilleau: On the 6th, I came down the Rue Saint-Martin; I saw M. Simon firing, around ten or eleven o’clock, in the Rue Saint-Martin.Simon: These men are relentless on my account.(During this part of the debate, Jeanne tears his July Revolution medal off his chest, and hurls it at his feet with a forceful gesture of marked rage and contempt.)…which I think kind of speaks for itself, but if you’re interested in hearing more about the trial and Jeanne as a public figure, follow the read-more for details.Read MoreThe Read More is where the funny/interesting stuff is, I Promise. THIS GUY IS MY EVERYTHING!???!??!!!??!?HE RIPS OFF HIS MEDAL, CALLS THE GUY OUT, AND IS BASICALLY LIKE “YEAH, I LED THE REBELLION. LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC.”MY BAMF KING IS BAMF PASS IT ON. -- source link
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