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Taine, Hippolyte, 1828-1893

"The French Revolution - Volume 3"

They are "government men," also "revolutionaries"
or "the people in total control;"[44] they are in actual fact men with
an overall concept of things, also direct these. The creation,
organization and application of Terror belongs wholly to them; they
are the constructors, regulators and engineers of the machine,[45] the
recognized heads of the party, of the sect and of the government,
especially Billaud and Robespierre, who never serve on missions,[46]
nor relax their hold for a moment on the central motor. The former,
an active politician, with Collot for his second, is charged with
urging on the constituted authorities, the districts, the
municipalities, the national agents, the revolutionary committees, and
the representatives on mission in the interior.[47] The latter, a
theologian, moralist, titular doctor and preacher, is charged with
ruling the Convention and indoctrinating the Jacobins with sound
principles; behind him stands Couthon, his lieutenant, with Saint-
Just, his disciple and executor of works of great importance; in their
midst, Bar?re, the Committee's mouthpiece, is merely a tool, but
indispensable, conveniently at hand and always ready to start whatever
drum-beating is required on any given theme in honor of the party
which stuffs his brain.


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