But when the ice melts skilful pilots can escape
in the breaking up. A falling government does not always imperil
those at the head of it."
[144] Tacitus, "Annales," book VI., ยง 50. "Macro, intrepidus,
opprimi senem injectu mu1t? vestis discedique a limine."
[145] Mallet-Dupan," Mercure Britannique." (Nos. for December 25,
1798 and December 1799.) "From the very beginning of the Revolution,
there never was, in the uproar of patriotic protestations, amidst so
many popular effusions of devotion to the popular cause to Liberty in
the different parties, but one fundamental conception, that of
grasping power after having instituted it, of using every means of
strengthening themselves, and of excluding the largest number from it,
in order to center themselves in a privileged committee. As soon as
they had hurried through the articles of their constitution and seized
the reins of government, the dominant party conjured the nation to
trust to it, notwithstanding that the farce of their reasoning would
not bring about obedience, . . . Power and money and money and
power, all projects for guaranteeing their own heads and disposing of
those of their competitors, end in that.
Pages:
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080