the origins of contemporary france-4-第42章

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Tarquins；　permitting　every　citizen　to　kill　any　man　convicted　of　having

expressed　opinions　opposed　to　the　law　of　the　State；　except　in　case　of

proof　of　the　crime。〃　（Ibid。；　Nos。　　230　and　231；　July　13；　1792。）　Danton

induces　the　federals　present　〃to　swear　that　they　will　not　leave　the

capital　until　liberty　is　established；　and　before　the　will　of　the

department　is　made　known　on　the　fate　of　the　executive　power。〃　Such　are

the　principles　and　the　instruments；　of　〃August　10th〃　　and　〃September

2nd。〃



＇68＇　Garat；　314。　　〃He　was　present　for　a　moment　on　the　committee　of

Public　Safety。　　The　outbreaks　of　May　31st　and　June　2nd　occurred；　he

was　the　author　of　both　these　days。〃



＇69＇　Decrees　of　April　6　and　7；　1793。



＇70＇　Decree　of　September　5；　1793。



＇71＇　Decree　of　March　10；　1793。



＇72＇　August　1　and　12；　1793。



＇73＇　See　〃The　Revolution；〃　vol。　　III。；　ch。　　I。…Buchez　et　Roux；　XXV。；

285。　　（Meeting　of　Nov。26；　1793。）　…　Moniteur；　XIX。；　726。　　Danton　（March

16；　1794）　secures　the　passing　of　a　decree　that　〃hereafter　prose　only

shall　be　heard　at　the　rostrum　of　the　house。〃



＇74＇　Archives　Nationales；　Papers　of　the　committee　of　General　Security；

No　134。　　…　Letter　of　Delacroix　to　Danton；　Lille；　March　25；　1793；　on

the　situation　in　Belgium；　and　the　retreat　of　Dumouriez。　　。　　。　　。　　〃My

letter　is　so　long　I　fear　that　you　will　not　read　it　to　the　end。　　。　　。

。Oblige　me　by　forgetting　your　usual　indolence。〃　　Letter　of　Chabot　to

Danton；　Frimaire　12；　year　II。　　〃　I　know　your　genius；　my　dear

colleague；　and　consequently　your　natural　indolent　disposition。　　I　was

afraid　that　you　would　not　read　me　through　if　I　wrote　a　long　letter。

Nevertheless　I　rely　on　your　friendship　to　make　an　exception　in　my

favor。〃



＇75＇　Lagrange；　the　mathematician；　and　senator　under　the　empire；　was

asked　how　it　was　that　he　voted　for　the　terrible　annual　conscriptions。

〃It　had　no　sensible　effect　on　the　tables　of　mortality；〃　he　replied。



＇76＇　Garat；　305；　310；　313。　　〃　His　friends　almost　worshipped　him。〃



＇77＇　Ibid。；　317。　　…　Thibeaudeau；　〃Mémoires；〃　I。；　59。



＇78＇　Quinet；　〃La　Révolution；〃　II。；　304。　　（According　to　the　unpublished

memoirs　of　Baudot。）　These　expressions　by　Danton's　friends　all　bear　the

mark　of　Danton　himself。　　At　all　events　they　express　exactly　his　ideas。



＇79＇　Riouffe；　67。



＇80＇　Miot　de　Melito；　〃　Mémoires；〃　I。；　40；　42。　　…　Michelet；　〃　Histoire

de　la　Révolution　Fran？aise；〃　VI。；　34；　V。　　178；　184。　　（On　the　second

marriage　of　Danton　in　June；　1793；　to　a　young　girl　of　sixteen。　　On　his

journey　to　Arcis；　March；　1794。）　…　Riouffe；　68。　　In　prison　〃He　talked

constantly　about　trees；　the　country　and　nature。〃



＇81＇　We　can　trace　the　effect　of　his　attitude　on　the　public　in　the

police　reports；　especially　at　the　end　of　1793；　and　beginning　of　the

year　1794。　　（Archives　Nationales；　F　7；　31167　report　of　Charmont；

Niv？se　6；　year　II。）　〃Robespierre　gains　singularly　in　public

estimation；　especially　since　his　speech　in　the　Convention；　calling　on

his　colleagues　to　rally　and　crush　out　the　monsters　in　the　interior；

also　in　which　he　calls　on　all　to　support　the　new　revolutionary

government　with　their　intelligence　and　talents。　　。　　。　　。　　I　have　to

state　that　I　have　everywhere　heard　his　name　mentioned　with　admiration。

They　wound　up　by　saying　that　it　would　be　well　for　all　members　of　the

Convention　to　adopt　the　measures　presented　by　Robespierre。〃　…　（Report

of　Robin；　Niv？se　8。）　〃Citizen　Robespierre　is　honored　everywhere；　in

all　groupes　and　in　the　cafe's。　　At　the　Café　Manouri　it　was　given　out

that　his　views　of　the　government　were　the　only　ones　which；　like　the

magnet；　would　attract　all　citizens　to　the　Revolution。　　It　is　not　the

same　with　citizen　Billaud…Varennes。〃　（Report　of　the　Purveyor；　Niv？se

9。）　〃　In　certain　clubs　and　groups　there　is　a　rumor　that　Robespierre　is

to　be　appointed　dictator。。　　。　　。　　。　　The　people　do　justice　to　his

austere　virtues；　it　is　noticed　that　he　has　never　changed　his　opinions

since　the　Revolution　began。〃



＇82＇　〃Souvenirs　d'un　déporté。〃　by　P。　　Villiers；　（Robespierre's

secretary　for　seven　months　in　1790；）　p。　　2。　　〃Of　painstaking

cleanliness。〃　…　Buchez　et　Roux；　XXXIV。；　94。　　Description　of

Robespierre；　published　in　the　newspapers　after　his　death：　〃His　clothes

were　exquisitely　clean　and　his　hair　always　carefully　brushed。〃



＇83＇　D'Hericault；　〃La　Revolution　du　9　Thermidor；〃　（as　stated　by

Daunou）。　　…　Meillan；　〃Mémoires；〃　p。4。　　〃His　eloquence　was　nothing　but

diffusive　declamation　without　order　or　method；　and　especially　with　no

conclusions。　　Every　time　he　spoke　we　were　obliged　to　ask　him　what　he

was　driving　at。。。。。　　Never　did　he　propose　any　remedy。　　He　left　the

task　of　finding　expedients　to　others；　and　especially　to　Danton。〃



＇84＇　Buchez　et　Roux；　XXXIII。；　437；　438；　440；　442。　　（Speech　by

Robespierre；　Thermidor　8；　year　II。）



＇85＇　Ibid。；　XXX。；　225；　226；　227；　228　（Speech；　Nov。　　17；　1793）；　and

XXXI。；　255　（Speech；　Jan。26；　'794）。　　〃The　policy　of　the　London　Cabinet

largely　contributed　to　the　first　movement　of　our　Revolution。。。。

Taking　advantage　of　political　tempests　（the　cabinet）　aimed　to　effect

in　exhausted　and　dismembered　France　a　change　of　dynasty　and　to　place

tke　Duke　of　York　on　the　throne　of　Louis　XVI。　　。。　　。　　Pitt。。。。is　an

imbecile；　whatever　may　be　said　of　a　reputation　that　has　been　much　too

greatly　puffed　up。　　A　man　who；　abusing　the　influence　acquired　by　him

on　an　island　placed　haphazard　in　the　ocean；　is　desirous　of　contending

with　the　French　people；　could　not　have　conceived　of　such　an　absurd

plan　elsewhere　than　in　a　madhouse。〃　…　Cf。　　Ibid。；　XXX。；　465。



＇86＇　Ibid。；　XXVI。；　433；　441；　（Speech　on　the　Constitution；　May　10；

1793）；　XXXI。；　275。　　〃Goodness　consists　in　the　people　preferring　itself

to　what　is　not　itself；　the　magistrate；　to　be　good；　must　sacrifice

himself　to　the　people。〃。　　。　　。　　。　　〃Let　this　maxim　be　first　adopted

that　the　people　are　good　and　that　its　delegates　are　corruptible。〃。　　。

。　　XXX。；　464。　　（Speech；　Dec。25；　1793）：　〃The　virtues　are　the　appanages

of　the　unfortunate　and　the　patrimony　of　the　people。〃



＇87＇　Cf。　　passim；　Hamel；　〃Histoire　de　Robespierre；〃　3　vols。　　An

elaborate　panegyric　full　of　details。　　Although　eighty　years　have

elapsed；　Robespierre　still　makes　dupes　of　people　through　his　attitudes

and　rhetorical　flourishes。　　M。　Hamel　twice　intimates　his　resemblance

to　Jesus　Christ。　　The　resemblance；　indeed；　is　that　of　Pascal's　Jesuits

to　the　Jesus　of　the　Gospel。



＇88＇　〃The　Ancient　Regime；〃　p。262。



＇89＇　Garat；　〃Mémoires；〃　84。　　Garat　who　is　himself　an　ideologist；　notes

〃his　eternal　twadle　about　the　rights　of　man；　the　sovereignty　of　the

people；　and　other　principles　which　he　was　always　talking　about；　and　on

which　he　never　gave　utterance　to　one　precise　or　fresh　idea。〃



＇90＇　Read　especially　his　speech　on　the　constitution；　（May　10；　1793）；

his　report　on　the　principles　of　Republican　Government；　（Dec。15；　1793）；

his　speech　on　the　relationship　between　religious　and　national　ideas

and　republican　principles　（May　7；　1794）　and　speech　of　Thermidor　8。…

Carnot：　〃Memoires；〃　II。；　512。　　〃In　all　deliberations　on　affairs　he

contributed　nothing　but　vague　generalities。〃



＇91＇　During　this　century　all　important　Jacobin　leaders；　Hitler；

Mussolini；　Lenin；　Stalin；　Castro　etc。　　have　in　their　turn　followed

robespierre's　example　and　bored　their　captive　audiences　with　their

interminable　speeches。　　（SR）。



＇92＇　Buchez　et　Roux；　XXXIII。；　406。　　（Speech　delivered　Thermidor　8th。）

The　printed　copy　of　the　manuscript　with　corrections　and　erasures。



＇93＇　Ibid。；　420；　422；　427。



＇94＇　Ibid。；　428；　435；　436。　　〃O　day　forever　blessed！　What　a　sight　to

behold；　the　entire　French　people　assembled　together　and　rendering　to

the　author　of　nature　the　only　homage　worthy　of　him！　How　affecting　each

object　that　enchants　the　eye　and　touches　the　heart　of　man！　O　honored

old　age！　O　generous　ardor　of　the　young　of　our　country！　O　the　innocent；

pure　joy　of　youthful　citizens！　O　the　exquisite　tears　of　tender

mothers！　O　the　divine　charms　of　innocence　and　beauty！　What　majesty　in

a　great　people　happy　in　its　strength；　power　and　virtue！〃　…　〃No；

Charmette；　No；　death　is　not　the　sleep　of　eternity！〃　…　〃Remember；　O；

People；　that　in　a　republic；　etc。〃　…　〃If　such　truths　must　be　dissembled

then　bring　me　the　hemlock！〃



＇95＇　Speech；　May　7；　1794。　　（On　moral　and　religious　ideas　in　relation

to　republican　principles。）



＇96＇　Personifications。　　From　Greek　to　make　persons。　　（SR）。



＇97＇　Buchez　et　Roux；　XXXIII。；　436。　　〃The　verres　and　Catilines　of　our

country。〃　（Speech　of　Thermidor　8th。）　…　Note　especially　the　speech

delivered　March　7；　1794；　crammed　full　of　classical　reminiscences。



＇98＇　Ibid。；　XXXIII。；　421。　　〃Truth　has　touching　and　terrible　accents

which　reverberate　powerfully　in　pure　hearts　as　in　guilty　consciences；

and　which　falsehood　can　no　more　counterfeit　than　Salome　can

counterfeit　the　thunders　of　heaven。〃　…　437：　〃Why　do　those　who

yesterday　predicted　such　frightful　tempests　now　gaze　only　on　the

fleeciest　clouds？　Why　do　those　who　but　lately　exclaimed　'I　affirm　that

we　are　treading　on　a　volcano'　now　behold　themselves　sleeping　on　a　bed

of　roses？〃



＇99＇　Ibid。；　XXXII。；　360；　361。　　（Portraits　of　the　encyclopaedists　and

Hébertists。）



＇100＇　Ibid。；　XXXIII。；　408。　　〃Here；　I　have　to　open　my　heart。〃　…　XXXII。；

475…478；　the　concluding　part。



＇101＇　Hamel：　〃Histoire　de　Robespierre；〃　I。；　34…76。　　An　attorney　at　23；

a　member　of　the　Rosati　club　at　Arras　at　24；　a　member　of　the　Arras

Academy　at　25。　　The　Royal　Society　of　Metz　awarded　him　a　second　prize

for　his　discourse　against　the　prejudice　which　regards　the　relatives　of

condemned　criminals　as　infamous。　　His　eulogy　of　Gresset　is　not　crowned

by　the　Amiens　Academy。　　He　reads　before　the　Academy　of　Arras　a

discourse　against　the　civil　incapacities　of　illegitimate　children；　and

then　another　on　reforms　in　criminal　jurisprudence。　　In　1789；　he　is

president　of　the　Arras　Academy；　and　publishes　an　eulogy　of　Dupaty　and

an　address　to　the　people　from　Artois　on　the　qualities　necessary　for

future　deputies。



＇102＇　See　his　eulogy　of　Rousseau　in　the　speech　of　May　7；　1794。

（Buchez　et　Roux；　XXXII。；　369。　　…　Garat；　85。　　〃I　hoped　that　his

selection　of　Rousseau　for　a　model　of　style　and　the　constant　reading　of

his　works　would　exert　some　good　influence　on　his　character。〃



＇103＇　Fievée；　〃correspondance〃　（introduction）。　　Fievée；　who　heard　him

at　the　Jacobin　Club；　said　that　he　resembled　a　〃tailor　of　the　ancient

regime。〃　La　Réeveillère…Lepeaux；　′〃Mmoires。〃　…　Buchez　et　Roux；　XXXIV。；

94。　　…　Malouet；　〃Mémoires；〃　II。；　135。　　（Session　of　May　31；　1791；　after

the　delivery　of　Abbé　Raynal's　address。）　〃This　is　the　first　and　only

time　I　found　Robespierre　clear　and　even　eloquent。　　。　　。　　。　　He　spun

out　his　opening　phrases　as　usual；　which　contained　the　spirit　of　his

discourse；　and　which；　in　spite　of　his　accustomed　rigmarole；　produced

the　effect　he　intended。〃



＇104＇　Courrier　de　Provence；　III。；　No。　　52；　（Oct。　　7　and　8；　1789）。　　…