As the French Revolution Swells, Violence Baguettes Violence

PARIS, FRANCE — Accusations of murder fill Le Comité de Salut Public, France’s Committee of Public Safety, as revolutionaries vie for power and progress. With the revolution roiling just outside, Minister of the Navy Jean Dalbarade said that Jean-Paul Marat, Editor-in-Chief of L’Ami du Peuple, is plotting his execution.

Dalbarade claims he intercepted a note which outlined Marat’s plans to murder the minister. “He wants to kill me and it says he has the plans ready for it,” Dalbarade said.

Other revolutionaries, including author of the Cult of Reason Jacques René Hébert have sided with him, denouncing Marat and accusing him of “dishonorable actions.” Hébert went on to recruit others to form a coalition against the editor.

Publicly, Marat denies these allegations.

“[The allegations are] bogus and unsubstantiated,” he said in a speech to his fellow Frenchmen. He stressed he is not engaged in any covert operations targeting other committee members

However, later, in a private conversation with Robespierre, Marat acknowledged that the assertions were true.

“Basically no one likes him, and he’s Christian,” Marat said, “We’re going to kill him.”

Marat plans to execute the minister by guillotine, citing the war he initiated as the primary reason. With these operation’s specifics hidden from the eyes of the rest of the committee, allegations are the most that others can bring to the table.

Currently, Dalbarade is prepared to seek refuge on the French colony of Saint-Domingue in Caribbean if he feels his life is in danger. Seeking revenge, Dalbarade said, “I might bribe some pirates and see if I can convince them to kill Marat and Robespierre for me.”

Under the leadership of Hébert, individuals formed a coalition against Marat and Robespierre, and passed “Shut Up Marat,” a proposal wherein Marat is censored from the committee and restricted from his full role as an editor.

This passed in a 16-3 vote, followed by applause from the majority of the committee.