按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
behalf of the princes' property in Alsatia； replies that 〃the
sovereignty of the people is not bound by the treaties of
tyrants。〃＇58＇ As to the gatherings of the émigrés； the Emperor having
yielded on this point； he will yield on the others。＇59＇ Let him
formally renounce all combinations against France。
〃I want war on the 10th of February；〃 says Brissot； 〃unless we have
received his renunciation。〃
No explanations； it is satisfaction we want； 〃to require satisfaction
is to put the Emperor at our mercy。〃＇60＇ The Assembly； so eager to
start the quarrel； usurps the King's right to take the first step and
formally declares war； fixing the date。＇61＇ The die is now cast。
〃They want war；〃 says the Emperor； 〃and they shall have it。〃
Austria immediately forms an alliance with Prussia； threatened； like
herself； with revolutionary propaganda。＇62＇ By sounding the alarm
belles the Jacobins； masters of the Assembly； have succeeded in
bringing about that 〃monstrous alliance；〃 and； from day to day； this
alarm sounds the louder。 One year more； thanks to this policy； and
France will have all Europe for an enemy and as its only friend； the
Regency of Algiers； whose internal system of government is about the
same as her own。
IV。
Secret motives of the leaders。 Their control compromised by peace。
Discontent of the rich and cultivated class。 Formation and
increase of the party of order。 The King and this party reconciled。
Behind their carmagnoles＇63＇ we can detect a design which they will
avow later on。
〃We were always obstructed by the Constitution；〃 Brissot is to say；
〃and nothing but war could destroy the Constitution。〃＇64＇
Diplomatic wrongs； consequently； of which they make parade； are simply
pretexts； if they urge war it is for the purpose of overthrowing the
legal order of things which annoys them； their real object is the
conquests of power； a second internal revolution； the application of
their system and a final state of equality。 Concealed behind them is
the most politic and absolute of theorists； a man 〃whose great art is
the attainment of his ends without showing himself； the preparation of
others for far…sighted views of which they have no suspicion； and that
of speaking but little in public and acting in secret。〃＇65＇ This man
is Sieyès； 〃the leader of everything without seeming to lead
anything。〃＇66＇ As infatuated as Rousseau with his own speculations；
but as unscrupulous and as clear…sighted as Macchiavelli in the
selection of practical means； he was； is； and will be； in decisive
moments； the consulting counsel of radical democracy。
〃His pride tolerates no superiority。 He causes nobility to be
abolished because he is not a noble； because he does not possess all
he will destroy all。 His fundamental doctrine for the consolidation of
the Revolution is； that it is indispensable to change religion and to
change the dynasty。〃
Now； had peace been maintained all this was impossible； moreover the
ascendance of the party was compromised。 Entire classes that had
adhered to the party when it launched insurrection against the
privileged； broke loose from it now that insurrection was directed
against them； among thoughtful men and among those with property； most
were disgusted with anarchy； and likewise disgusted with the abettors
of it。 Many administrators； magistrates and functionaries recently
elected； loudly complained of their authority being subject to the
mob。 Many cultivators； manufacturers and merchants have become
silently exasperated at the fruits of their labor and economy being
surrendered at discretion to robbers and the indigent。 It was hard for
the flour…dealers of Etampes not to dare send away their wheat； to be
obliged to supply customers at night； to tremble in their own houses；
and to know that if they went out…doors they risked their lives。＇67＇
It was hard for wholesale grocers in Paris to see their warehouses
invaded； their windows smashed； their bags of coffee and boxes of
sugar valued at a low price； parceled out and carried away by old hags
or taken gratis by scamps who ran off and sold them at the other end
of the street。＇68＇ It was hard in all places for the families of the
old bourgeoisie； for the formerly prominent men in each town and
village； for the eminent in each art； profession or trade； for
reputable and well…to…do people； in short； for the majority of men who
had a good roof over their heads and a good coat on their backs； to
undergo the illegal domination of a crowd led by a few hundred or
dozens of stump…speakers and firebrands。 Already； in the beginning
of 1792； this dissatisfaction was so great as to be denounced in the
tribune and in the press。 Isnard＇69＇ railed against 〃that multitude of
large property…holders； those opulent merchants； those haughty；
wealthy personages who； advantageously placed in the social
amphitheater； are unwilling to have their seats changed。〃 The
bourgeoisie；〃 wrote Pétion；＇70＇ 〃that numerous class free of any
anxiety； is separating itself from the people； it considers itself
above them； 。 。 。 they are the sole object of its distrust。 It is
everywhere haunted by the one idea that the revolution is a war
between those who have and those who have not。〃 It abstains；
indeed； from the elections； it keeps away from patriotic clubs； it
demands the restoration of order and the reign of law； it rallies to
itself 〃the multitude of conservative； timid people； for whom
tranquility is the prime necessity；〃 and especially； which is still
more serious； it charges the disturbances upon their veritable
authors。 With suppressed indignation and a mass of undisputed
evidence； André Chénier； a man of feeling； starts up in the midst of
the silent crowd and openly tears off the mask from the Jacobins。＇71＇
He brings into full light the daily sophism by which a mob； 〃some
hundreds of idlers gathered in a garden or at a theater； are
impudently called the people。〃 He portrays those 〃three or four
thousand usurpers of national sovereignty whom their orators and
writers daily intoxicate with grosser incense than any adulation
offered to the worst of despots；〃 those assemblies where 〃an
infinitely small number of French appears large； because they are
united and yell；〃 that Paris club from which honest； industrious；
intelligent people had withdrawn one by one to give place to
intriguers in debt； to persons of tarnished reputations； to the
hypocrites of patriotism； to the lovers of uproar； to abortive
talents； to corrupted intellects； to outcasts of every kind and degree
who； unable to manage their own business； indemnify themselves by
managing that of the public。 He shows how； around the central factory
and its twelve hundred branches of insurrection； the twelve hundred
affiliated clubs； which； 〃holding each other's hands； form a sort of
electric chain around all France〃 and giving it a shock at every touch
from the center； their confederation； installed and enthroned； is not
only as a State within the State； but rather as a sovereign State in a
vassal State； summoning their administrative bodies to their bar；
judicial verdicts set aside through their intervention； private
individuals searched； assessed and condemned through their verdicts。
All this constitutes a steady； systematic defense of insubordination
and revolt； as； 〃under the name of hoarding and monopoly； commerce
and industry are described as misdemeanors；〃 property is unsettled and
every rich man rendered suspicious； 〃talent and integrity silenced。〃
In short； a public conspiracy made against society in the very name of
society； 〃while the sacred symbol of liberty is made use of as a seal〃
to exempt a few tyrants from punishment。 Such a protest said aloud
what most Frenchmen muttered to themselves； and from month to month；
graver excesses exited greater censure。
〃Anarchy exists＇72＇ to a degree scarcely to be paralleled； w