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Taine, Hippolyte, 1828-1893

"The French Revolution - Volume 3"

The perils, mutilation and suppression of
property diminish available securities as well as the courage that
risks them, that is to say, the mode of, and disposition to, make
advances. Through a lack of funds, useful enterprises languish, die
out or are not undertaken. Consequently, the production, supply, and
sale of indispensable articles slacken, become interrupted and cease
altogether. There is less soap and sugar and fewer candles at the
grocery, less wood and coal in the wood-yard, fewer oxen and sheep in
the markets, less meat at the butcher's, less grain and flour at the
corn-exchange, and less bread at the bakeries. As articles of prime
necessity are scarce they become dear; as people contend for them
their dearness increases; the rich man ruins himself in the struggle
to get hold of them, while the poor man never gets any, and the bare
necessities become unattainable.
II. Conditions in 1793. A Lesson in Market Economics.
Economical effect of the Jacobin policy from 1789 to 1793. - Attacks
on property. - Direct attacks. - Jacqueries, effective confiscations
and proclamation of the socialist creed. - Indirect attacks. - Bad
administration of the public funds.


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