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1793。
Such is the hardship in France at the moment when the Jacobin conquest
has been completed； a misery of which the Jacobins are the cause due
to the systematic war they have waged against property during the
preceding four years。
From below； they have provoked； excused； amnestied； or tolerated and
authorized all the popular attacks on property；＇3＇ countless
insurrections； seven successive jacqueries； some of them so extensive
as to cover eight or ten departments at the same time。 The last one
let loose on all France a universal and lasting brigandage； the
arbitrary rule of paupers； vagabonds and ruffians； every species of
robbery； from a refusal to pay rents and leases to the sacking of
chateaux and ordinary domiciles； even to the pillage of markets and
granaries。 Free scope was given to mobs which； under a political
pretext； tax and ransom the 〃suspects 〃 of all classes at pleasure；
not alone the noble and the rich but the peaceable farmer and well…to…
do artisan。 In short； the country reverted back to a natural state；
the sovereignty of appetites； greed and lust； to mankind's return to a
savage； primitive life in the forests。 Only a short time before； in
the month of February； 1793； through Marat's recommendation； and with
the connivance of the Jacobin municipality； the Paris riff…raff had
broken into twelve hundred groceries and divided on the spot； either
gratis or at the price it fixed； sugar； soap； brandy and coffee。
From above； they had undertaken； carried out and multiplied the worst
assaults on property； vast spoliations of every sort； the suppression
of hundreds of millions of incomes and the confiscation of billions of
capital； the abolition without indemnity of tithes and quitrents； the
expropriation of the property of the clergy； of emigrés； that of the
order of Malta； that of the pious； charitable and educational
associations and endowments； even laic； seizures of plate； of the
sacred vessels and precious ornaments of the churches。 And； because
they have the power； others still more vast。 After August 10； their
newspapers in Paris and their commissioners in the departments；＇4＇
have preached
〃the agrarian law； the holding of all property in common； the
leveling of fortunes； the right of each fraction of the sovereign
people〃 to help itself by force to all food and stores at the expense
of the owner； to hunt down the rich； proscribe 〃land…owners； leading
merchants； financiers and all men in possession of whatever is
superfluous。〃
Rousseau's dogma that 〃the fruit belongs to everybody and the soil to
no one〃 is established at an early date as a maxim of State in the
Convention； while in the deliberations of the sovereign assembly
socialism； openly avowed； becomes ascendant； and； afterwards； supreme。
According to Robespierre；＇5＇
〃whatever is essential to preserve life is common property to society
at large。 It is only the excess which may be given up to individuals
and surrendered to commercial enterprise。〃
With still greater solemnity； the pontiff of the sect； in the
Declaration of Rights which； unanimously adopted by the all…powerful
Jacobin club； is to serve as the corner…stone of the new institutions；
pens the following formula heavy with their consequences：＇6＇
〃Society must provide for the support of all its members。 The aid
required by indigence is a debt of the rich to the poor。 The right of
property is limited； and applies only to that portion which the law
guarantees。 Every ownership； any trade； which bears prejudicially on
the existence of our fellow…creatures is necessarily illicit and
immoral。〃
The meaning of this is more than clear： the Jacobin populace； having
decided that the possession of； and trade in； groceries was
prejudicial to its existence； the grocers' monopoly is； therefore；
immoral and illicit； and consequently； it pillages their shops。 Under
the rule of the populace and of the 〃Mountain；〃 the Convention applies
the theory； seizes capital wherever it can be found； and notifies the
poor； in its name；
〃that they will find in the pocket…books of the rich whatever they
need to supply their wants。〃＇7＇
Over and above these striking and direct attacks； an indirect and
hidden attack； even more significant； which slowly undermines the
basis of all present and future property。 State affairs are
everybody's affairs； and； when the State ruins itself； everybody is
ruined along with it。 For； it is the country's greatest debtor and
its greatest creditor； while there is no debtor so free of seizure and
no creditor so absorbing； since； making the laws and possessing the
force； it can； firstly； repudiate indebtedness and send away the fund…
holder with empty hands； and next； increase taxation and empty the
taxpayer's pocket of his last penny。 There is no greater menace to
private fortunes than the bad administration of the public fortune。
Now； under the pressure of Jacobin principles and of the Jacobin
faction； the trustees of France have administered the country as if
they purposely meant to ruin their ward； every known means for wasting
a fortune have been brought into play by them。 … In the first place；
they have deprived him of three…fourths of his income。 To please the
people and enforce the theory； the taxes on articles consumed； on
salt； with the excise subsidies and the octroi duties on liquors；
meat； tobacco； leather and gunpowder； have been abolished； while the
new imposts substituted for the old ones； slowly fixed； badly
apportioned and raised with difficulty have brought in no returns。 On
the 1st of February； 1793；＇8＇ the Treasury had received on the real
and personal taxation of 1791； but one hundred and fifty millions
instead of three hundred millions。 On the same taxes for 1792；
instead of three hundred millions it had obtained nothing at all。 At
this date； and during the four years of the Revolution； the total
arrears of taxation amounted to six hundred and thirty…two millions …
a bad debt that can hardly be recovered； and； in fact； it is already
reduced one…half； since； even if the debtor could and was disposed to
pay； he would pay in assignats； which； at this time； were at a discount
of fifty per cent。 … In the second place； the new managers had
quadrupled the public expenditure。＇9＇ What with the equipment and
excursions of the National Guards federations； patriotic festivals
and parades； the writing； printing and publication of innumerable
documents； reimbursements for suppressed offices； the installation
of new administrations； aid to the indigent and to its charity
workshops； purchases of grain； indemnities to millers and bakers；
it was under the necessity of providing for the cost of the
universal demolition and reconstruction。 Now； the State had； for the
most part； defrayed all these expenses。 At the end of April； 1793； it
had already advanced to the city of Paris alone； one hundred and ten
million fra