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hoarders or spendthrifts； their display and effrontery； their
dissipations； their courtiers and their prostitutes。 How can they
renounce all this？ … And all the more because this is all they have。
These jaded consciences are wholly indifferent to abstract principles；
to popular sovereignty； to the common weal； to public security； the
thin and brittle coating of sonorous phrases under which they formerly
tried to hide the selfishness and perversity of their lusts； scales
off and falls to the ground。 They themselves confess that it is not
the Republic for which they are concerned； but for themselves above
everything else； and for themselves alone。 So much the worse for the
Republic if its interest is opposed to their interest； as Siéyès will
soon express it； the object is not to save the Revolution but the
revolutionaries。 … Thus disabused； unscrupulous； knowing that they
are staking their all； and resolute； like their colleagues of August
10； September 2 and May31 and like the Committee of Public Safety；
they are determined to win； no matter at what cost or by what means。
For this time again； the Moderates do not want to comprehend that the
war has been declared； and that it is war to the knife。 They do not
agree amongst themselves； they want to gain time； they hesitate and
take refuge in constitutional forms … they do not act。 The strong
measures which the eighty decided and clear…sighted deputies propose；
are weakened or suspended by the precautions of the three hundred
others； short…sighted； unreliable or timid。＇63＇ They dare not even
avail themselves of their legal arms：
* annul the military division of the interior；
* suppress Augereau's commission；
* and break the sword presented at their throats by the three
conspiring Directors。
In the Directory； they have only passive or neutral allies；
Barthélémy； who had rather be assassinated than murder； Carnot； the
servant of his legal pass…word； fearing to risk his Republic； and；
moreover； calling to mind that he had voted for the King's death。
Among the 〃Five Hundred〃 and the 〃Ancients；〃 Thibaudeau and Tron？on…
Ducoudray； the two leaders 〃du ventre；〃 arrest the arms of Pichegru
and other energetic men； prevent them from striking； allow them only
to ward off the blow； and always too late。 Three days after the 10th
of Fructidor； when； as everybody knew and saw； the final blow was to
be struck； the eighty deputies； who change their quarters so as not to
be seized in their beds； cannot yet make up their minds to take the
offensive。 On that day； an eye…witness＇64＇ came to Mathieu Dumas and
told him that； the evening before； in Barras' house； they discussed
the slaughter or transportation to Cayenne of about forty members of
the two Councils； and that the second measure was adopted。 On which a
commandant of the National Guard； having led Dumas at night into the
Tuileries garden； showed him his men concealed behind the trees； armed
and ready to march at the first signal。 He is to possess himself at
once of the Luxembourg （palace）＇65＇ which is badly guarded； and put an
end to Barras and Reubell on the spot： in war one kills so as not to
be killed； and； when the enemy takes aim； you have the right to fire
without waiting。 〃Only；〃 says the commandant； 〃promise me that you
will state in the tribune that you ordered this attack； and give me
your word of honor。〃＇66＇ Mathieu Dumas refuses； simply because he is
a man of honor。 〃You were a fool；〃 Napoleon afterwards said to him in
this connection； 〃you know nothing about revolutions。〃 … In effect；
honor； loyalty； horror of blood； respect for the law； such are the
weak points of the party。
The opposite sentiments form the strong points of the other party。 On
the side of the triumvirs nobody knows twinges of conscience； neither
Barras； a condottiere open to the highest bidder； and who understands
the value of blows； nor Reubell； a sort of bull； who； becoming
excited； sees red； nor Merlin de Douai； the terrible legist； lay
inquisitor and executioner in private。＇67＇ As usual with the Jacobins；
these men have unsheathed the sword and brandished it。 In contempt of
the constitution； they provoked discussions in the army and let the
Legislative Corps see that； if it did not yield； it would be put out
at the point of the bayonet。 They let loose against it； 〃 as in the
good old times；〃＇68＇ their executive riff…raff； and line the avenues
and tribunes with 〃their bandits of both sexes。〃 They collect together
their gangs of roughs； five or six thousand terrorists from Paris and
the departments； and two thousand officers awaiting orders or on half…
pay。 In default of Hoche； whose unconstitutional approach was
reported and then prevented； they have Augereau； arrived expressly
from Italy； and who states publicly； 〃I am sent for to kill the
royalists。〃 It is impossible to find a more narrow…minded and greater
military bully； Reubell； himself； on seeing him； could not help but
exclaim： What a sturdy brigand！〃 … On the 18th of Fructidor this
official swordsman； with eight or ten thousand troops； surrounds and
invades the Tuileries。 The representatives are arrested in their
committee…rooms or domiciles； or pursued； tracked and hunted down；
while the rest of their opponents； notables； officers； heads of
bureaux； journalists； former ministers and directors； Barthélémy and
Carnot； are treated in the same way。 Barbé…Marbois； on demanding by
virtue of what law they were arrested；＇69＇ is told； 〃by the law of the
saber；〃 while Sotin； Minister of the Police； adds with a smile； 〃You
may be sure that after what I have taken on myself； it matters little
whether one is more or less compromised。〃 … Thus purged； the two
Councils complete themselves their purgation； they cancel； in forty…
nine departments； the election of their colleagues； through this
decree and transportation； through forced and voluntary resignations；
two hundred and fourteen representatives are withdrawn from the
Legislative Corps； while one hundred and eighty others； through fear
or disgust； cease to attend its meetings。＇70＇ Nothing remains of the
two Councils； except； as in the English Parliament under Cromwell； a
〃rump；〃 which rump does business under drawn swords。 In the Council
of the Ancients； which； on the 18th of Fructidor； discussed at
midnight＇71＇ the decree of transportation； 〃groups of grenadiers； with
a haggard look； in brusque language； with threatening gestures〃 and
fixed bayonets； surround the amphitheatre； and； mingled with the
soldiers and civil cut…throats； shout out their orders。 Such are the
supporters of the slanderous tale cooked up by the Directory。 The
voters need such arguments to make themselves believe in the grand
conspiracy which it denounces； to associate Barthélemy； Carnot；
Siméon； Barbé…Marbois； Boissy d'Anglas； Mathieu Dumas； Pastoret；
Tronson du Coudray as accomplices with a knot of subordinate
intriguers； contempt