In short, to set one half of the French people as spies on the other
half. - These are the conditions which secure the production and
distribution of food, and which suffice for the institution throughout
France of a conscription of labor and the captivity of grain.
Unfortunately, the peasant does not understand this theory, but he
understands business; he makes close calculations, and the positive,
patent, vulgar facts on which he reasons lead to other
conclusions:[91]
"In Messidor last they took all my last years' oats, at fourteen
francs in assignats, and, in Thermidor, they are going to take all
this year's oats, at eleven francs in assignats. At this rate I shall
not sow at all. Besides, I do not need any for myself, as they have
taken my horses for the army wagons. To raise rye and wheat, as much
of it as formerly, is also working at a loss; I will raise no more
than the little I want for myself, and again, I suppose that this will
be put in requisition, even my supplies for the year! I had rather let
my fields lie fallow. Just see now, they are taking all the live
three months' pigs! Luckily, I killed mine be forehand and it is now
in the pork barrel.
Pages:
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851