Prev | Current Page 182 | Next

Taine, Hippolyte, 1828-1893

"The French Revolution - Volume 3"

Meeting of the Jacobin Club, Brumaire 13,
year II., speech by Baudot.
[24] Buchez et Roux, XXIX, 142. (Speech by Jean Bon St. Andr? in the
Convention, Sep. 25, 1793.) "We are said to exercise arbitrary power,
we are charged with being despots. We, despots! . . . Ah, no
doubt, if despotism is to secure the triumph of liberty, such a
despotism is political regeneration." (Applause.) - Ibid, XXXI., 276.
(Report by Robespierre, Pluviose 17, year, II.) "It has been said that
terror is the incentive of despotic government. Does yours, then,
resemble despotism? Yes, as the sword which flashes in the hands of
the heroes of liberty, resembles that with which the satellites of
tyranny are armed..... The government of the Revolution is the
despotism of freedom against tyranny."
[25] Ibid., XXXII, 353. Decree of April 1791. "The Convention
declares, that, supported by the virtues of the French people, it will
insure the triumph of the democratic revolution and show no pity in
punishing its enemies."
[26] In the following portrayal of the ancient r?gime, the bombast and
credulity of the day overflows in the most extravagant exaggerations
(Buchez et Roux, XXXI.


Pages:
170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194