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perfected Liberty it is no longer the small class of regular soldiers
whose evasion is punished with death； but an entire generation。 An
extreme penalty no longer suffices for these legislative
philanthropists： they add confiscation； they despoil parents for the
misdemeanors of their children； and render even women responsible for
a military and personal offence。〃
Such is the admirable calculation of the Directory … that； if it
loses a soldier it gains a patrimony； and if the patrimony fails； it
recovers the soldier： in any event； it fills its coffers and its
ranks； while the faction； well supplied with men； may continue turning
all Europe to account； wasting； in the operation； as many French lives
as it pleases； requiring more than one hundred thousand men per annum；
which； including those which the Convention has squandered； makes
nearly nine hundred thousand in eight years。＇128＇ At this moment the
five Directors and their minions are completing the mowing down of the
virile； adult strength of the nation；＇129＇ and we have seen through
what motives and for what object。 I do not believe that any civilized
nation was ever sacrificed in the same way； for such a purpose and by
such rulers： the crippled remnant of a faction and sect； some
hundreds of preachers no longer believing in their creed； usurpers as
despised as they are detested； second…rate parvenus raised their heads
not through their capacity or merit； but through the blind upheavals
of a revolution； swimming on the surface for lack of weight； and； like
foul scum； borne along to the crest of the wave…such are the wretches
who strangle France under the pretence of setting her free； who bleed
her under the pretence of making her strong； who conquer populations
under the pretence of emancipating them； who despoil people under the
pretence of regenerating them； and who； from Brest to Lucerne； from
Amsterdam to Naples； slay and rob wholesale； systematically； to
strengthen the incoherent dictatorship of their brutality； folly and
corruption。
IX。 National Disgust。
National antipathy to the established order of things。 … Paralysis of
the State。 … Internal discords of the Jacobin party。 … Coup d'état
of Floréal 22； year VI。 … Coup d'état of Prairial 30； year VII。 …
Impossibility of establishing a viable government。 … Plans of Barras
and Siéyès。
Once again has triumphant Jacobinism shown its anti…social nature； its
capacity for destruction； its impotence to re…construct。 … The
nation； vanquished and discouraged； no longer resists； but； if it
submits it is as to a pestilence； while its transportations； its
administrative purifications； its decrees placing towns in a state of
siege； its daily violence； only exasperate the mute antipathy。
〃Everything has been done；〃 says an honest Jacobin；＇130＇ 〃to alienate
the immense majority of citizens from the Revolution and the Republic；
even those who had contributed to the downfall of the monarchy。 。 。
Instead of seeing the friends of the Revolution increase as we have
advanced on the revolutionary path 。 。 。 。 we see our ranks
thinning out and the early defenders of liberty deserting our cause。〃
It is impossible for the Jacobins to rally France and reconcile her to
their ways and dogmas； and on this point their own agents leave no
illusion。
〃Here；〃 writes the Troyes agent；＇131＇ 〃public spirit not only needs to
be revived； but it needs to be re…created。 Scarcely one…fifth of the
citizens side with the government； and this fifth is hated and
despised by the majority。 。 。 。 Who attend upon and celebrate the
national fêtes？ Public functionaries whom the law summons to them； and
many of these fêtes often dispense with them。 It is the same public
spirit which does not allow honest folks to take part in them and in
the addresses made at them； and which keeps those women away who ought
to be their principal ornament。 。 。 。 The same public spirit looks
only with indifference and contempt on the republican； heroic actions
given on the stage； and welcomes with transport all that bears any
allusion to royalty and the ancient régime。 The parvenus themselves
of the Revolution； the generals； the deputies； dislike Jacobin
institutions；＇132＇ they place children in the chapel schools and send
them to the confessional； while the deputies who； in '92 and '93；
showed the most animosity to priests； do not consider their daughter
well brought up unless she has made her first communion。 〃 …
The little are still more hostile than the great。
〃A fact unfortunately too true；〃 writes the commissary of a rural
canton；＇133＇ 〃is that the people en masse seem not to want any of our
institutions。 。 。 。 It is considered well…bred； even among country
folks； to show disdain for everything characteristic of republican
usages。 。 。 Our rich farmers； who have profited most by the
Revolution； are the bitterest enemies of its forms： any citizen who
depended on them for the slightest favor and thought it well to
address them as citizen； would be turned out of their houses。〃
To call someone Citizen is an insult； and patriot a still greater
one； for this term signifies Jacobin； partisan； murderer； robber＇134＇
and； as they were then styled； 〃man…eaters。〃 What is worse is that a
falsification of the word has brought discredit on the thing。 …
Nobody； say the reports； troubles himself about the general
interest；＇135＇ nobody will serve as national guard or mayor。
〃Public spirit has fallen into such a lethargic slumber as to make
one fear its complete collapse。 Our successes or our failures excite
neither uneasiness nor pleasure。＇136＇ It seems； on reading the
accounts of battles； as if it were the history of another people。 The
changes that take place within our borders no longer excite any
emotion； one asks out of curiosity； one is answered without any
interest； one learns with indifference。〃
〃The pleasures of Paris＇137＇ are not disturbed a moment by any the
Crises which succeed each other； nor by those which are feared。 Never
were the theatres and public entertainments more frequented。 At the
'Tivoli；' it is said that it is going to be worse than ever； the
country （patrie） is called la patraque； and dancing goes on。〃
This is understandable enough； how can one interest one's self in the
public weal when there is none； when the common patrimony of all has
become the private property of a gang； when this gang is devouring or
wasting all in the interior and outside the frontier； where it is
playing heads or tails？ The Jacobins； through their final victory；
have dried patriotism up； that is to say； the deep inward spring which
supplies the substance； the vitality and the force of the State。 … In
vain do they multiply rigorous decrees and imperious prescriptions；
each energetic blow is absorbed by the general and mute resistance of
intentional passivity and of insurmountable disgust。