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are not of doubtful quality。 Such a church is not sound； and we have
only to give it a push to knock it down。 We will do all we can to
discredit constitutional priests： we will prohibit them from wearing
the ecclesiastical costume； and force them by law to bestow the
nuptial benediction on their apostate brethren； we will employ terror
and imprisonment to constrain them to marry； we will given them no
respite until they return to civil life； some admitting themselves to
be impostors； many by surrendering their priestly credentials； and
most of them by resigning their places。＇32＇ Deprived of leaders by
these voluntary or forced desertions； the Catholic flock will allow
itself to be easily led out of the fold； while； to remove all
temptation to go back； we will tear the enclosure down。 In the
communes in which we are masters we will make the Jacobins of the
place demand the abolition of worship； while； in other communes； we
will get rid of this authoritatively through our missionary
representatives。 We will close the churches； demolish the steeples；
melt down the bells； send all sacred vessels to the Mint； smash the
images of the saints； desecrate relics； prohibit religious burials；
impose the civil burial； prescribe rest during the décadi＇33＇ and
labor on Sundays。 No exception whatever。 Since all positive
religions deal in error； we will outlaw them all： we will exact from
Protestant clergymen a public abjuration； we will not let the Jews
practice their ceremonies； we will have 〃an 'auto…da…fé；' of all the
books and symbols of the faith of Moses。〃＇34＇ But； of all these
various juggling machines； the worst is the Catholic； the most hostile
to nature due to the celibacy of its priesthood； the most opposed to
reason in the absurdity of its dogmas； the most opposed to democracy；
since its powers are delegated from above downwards； the best
protected from civil authority because its head is outside of
France。＇35＇ Accordingly； we must be most furious against it； even
after Thermidor；＇36＇ we will keep up constant persecution； great and
small； up to the Consulate； we will deport and shoot the priests； we
will revive against fanatics the laws of the Reign of Terror； we will
hamper their movements； we will exhaust their patience； we will keep
them anxious during the day and restless at night； we will not give
them a moment's repose。＇37＇ We will restrict the population to the
decadal cult only； we will change the market…days； so that no believer
shall be able to buy fish on a fast…day。＇38＇ … We have nothing more at
heart than this war against Catholicism； no article on our program
will be carried out with more determination and perseverance。 The
question involved is truth。 We are its guardians； its champions； its
ministers； and never did the servants of truth apply force with such
minute detail and such effect to the extirpation of error。
V。 Equality and Inequality。
Social inequality。 … Malice of the aristocratic race。 … Measures
against the King and Nobles。 … Malice of the aristocracy of wealth。
… Measures against landowners； capitalists and people with incomes。 …
Destruction of large fortunes。 … Measures taken to prevent the large
fortunes in reconstituting themselves。
Next to superstition there is another monster to be destroyed； and；
also here it was the Constituent Assembly that had begun the assault。
But it had also； through lack of courage or of logic； it stopped；
after two or three feeble blows：
* Banning of heraldic insignia； titles of nobility and territorial
names；
* abolition； without indemnity； of all the dues belonging to the
seigneur by right of his former proprietorship over persons；
* abolition of the permission to purchase other feudal rights at a
price agreed upon；
* limitation of royal power。
This was little enough。 When it concerns usurpers and tyrants they
must be treated in another fashion； for their privilege is； of itself；
an outrage on the rights of man。 Consequently；
* we （the Jacobins） have dethroned the King and cut off his head；＇39＇
* we have suppressed； without indemnity； the entire feudal debt；
comprising the rights vested in the seigneurs by virtue of their being
owners of real…estate； and merely lessors；
* we have abandoned their persons and possessions to the claims and
rancor of local jacqueries；
* we have reduced them to emigration；
* we imprison them if they stay at home；
* we guillotine them if they return。
（As the aristocrats are）Reared in habits of supremacy； and convinced
that they are of a different species from other men； the prejudices of
their race are incorrigible； they are incapable of companionship with
their social equals； we cannot too carefully crush them out； or； at
the very least； hold them firmly down。＇40＇ Besides； they are guilty
from the fact of having existed； for； they have taken both the lead
and the command without any right to do so； and； in violation of all
right； they have misused mankind； having enjoyed their rank； it is but
just that they should pay for it。 Privileged in reverse； they must be
treated the same as vagabonds were treated under their reign；
* stopped by the police and sent off with their families into the
interior；
*
* crowded into prisons；
*
* executed in a mass； or； at least；
*
* expelled from Paris； the seaports and fortified towns； put on the
limits；
*
* compelled to present themselves daily at the municipality；
*
* deprived of their political rights；
*
* excluded from public offices； 〃popular clubs； committees of
supervision and from communal and section assemblages。〃＇41＇
*
Even this is indulgence； branded with infamy； we ought to class them
with galley…slaves； and set them to work on the public highways。＇42＇
〃Justice condemns the people's enemies and the partisans of tyranny
to eternal slavery。〃＇43＇
But that is not enough； because； apart from the aristocracy of rank；
there are other aristocracies which the Constituent Assembly has left
untouched；＇44＇ especially the aristocracy of wealth。 Of all the
sovereignties； that of the rich man over the poor one is the most
burdensome。 In effect； not only； in contempt of equality； does he
consume more than his share of the common products of labor； and
without producing anything himself； but again； in contempt of liberty；
he may fix wages as he pleases； and； in contempt of humanity； he
always fixes them at the lowest point。 Between himself and the needy
he never makes other than the most unjust contracts。 Sole possessor
of land； capital and the necessities of life； he imposes conditions
which others； deprived of means； are forced to accept at the risk of
starvation； he speculates at his discretion on wants which cannot be
put off； and makes the most of his monopoly by maintaining the poor in
their destitute situations。 That is why； writes Saint Just：＇45＇
〃Opulence is a disgrace； for every thousand livres