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Taine, Hippolyte, 1828-1893

"The French Revolution - Volume 3"

[45]
It allows Drouet to escape, and lets the trial of the Babouvists drag
along, only two of them being guillotined, Babeuf and Darth?; most of
the others are acquitted or escape. Nevertheless, for its own
salvation, it is led to separate from the fiercest Jacobins and draw
near to peaceable citizens.--Through this internal discord of the
ruling faction, honest people hold on the offices they occupy on the
elections of the year IV.. No decree comes to deprive them of their
legal arms, while, in the Legislative Corps, as in the administrations
and the tribunals, they count on carrying new positions in the
elections of the year V.

V. Actual aim of Jacobin Activities: Power and Wealth.
Elections of year V. - Character and sentiments of the elected. -
The new majority in the Corps Legislatif. - Its principles and
program. - Danger and anxiety of the Jacobin minority. - Indecision,
division, scruples and weakness of the moderate party. - Decision,
want of scruples, force and modes of procedure of the Jacobin faction.
- The 18th of Fructidor. -
"It was a long time," writes a small trader of Evreux, "since so many
people were seen at the elections.


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