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Taine, Hippolyte, 1828-1893

"The French Revolution - Volume 3"

[149] - Let him manage the
transitions, let him avoid the ill-sounding name of dictator, let him
assume a modest and yet classic revolutionary Roman title, let him
along with two others be simple consuls; the soldiers, who have
neither time nor leisure to be publicists and who are only skin-deep
republicans, will ask nothing more. They regard their system as a
very good one for the French people, the despotic system without which
there can be no army, that which places the absolute command in the
hands of one individual. - Let him put down other Jacobins, let him
revoke their late decrees on hostages and the forced loan, let him
restore safety and security to persons, property and consciences; let
him bring back order, economy and efficiency to the administrations;
let him provide for public services, hospitals, roads and schools, the
whole of civil France will welcome its liberator, protector and
restorer.[150] - In his own words, the system he brings is that of
"the alliance of Philosophy with the Sword," philosophy meaning, as
it was then understood, the application of abstract principles to
politics, the logical construction of a State according to general
and simple notices with a social plan, uniform and rectilinear.


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