"
Here, as at Paris, on the 20th of June, 10th of August, 2nd of
September, 3rd of May and 2nd of June, as at every critical moment of
the Revolution in Paris and the provinces, habits of subordination and
of amiability, stamped on a people by a provident monarchy and a time-
honored civilization, have blunted in man the foresight of danger, his
aggressive instinct, his independence and the faculty of depending
upon himself only, the willingness to help one another and of saving
himself. Inevitably, when anarchy brings a nation back to the state
of nature, the tame animals will be eaten by the savage ones, -- these
are now let loose and immediately they show their true nature.
VIII. The Reasons for the Terror.
The last local resistance. -- Political orthodoxy of the insurgent
towns. -- They stipulate but one condition. -- Reasons of State for
granting this. -- Party arguments against it.
If the men of the "Mountain" had been statesmen, or even sensible men,
they would have shown themselves humane, if not for the sake of
humanity, at least through calculation; for in this France, so little
republican, all the republican strength is not too great for the
founding of the Republic, while, through their principles, their
culture, their social position and their number, the Girondins form
the ?lite and the force, the flower and the sap of the party.
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