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There he stands on a colossal stage； in the presence of a hundred
thousand spectators； on the 8th of June； 1794； the most glorious day
of his life； at that fête in honor of the Supreme Being； which is the
glorious triumph of his doctrine and the official consecration of his
papacy。 Two characters are found in Robespierre； as in the Revolution
which he represents： one； apparent； paraded； external； and the other
hidden； dissembled； inward； the latter being overlaid by the former。
… The first one all for show； fashioned out of purely cerebral
cogitations； is as artificial as the solemn farce going on around him。
According to David's programme； the cavalcade of supernumeraries who
file in front of an allegorical mountain； gesticulate and shout at the
command； and under the eyes； of Henriot and his gendarmes；＇163＇
manifesting at the appointed time the emotions which are prescribed
for them。 At five o'clock in the morning
〃friends； husbands； wives； relations and children will embrace 。 。 。
。 The old man； his eyes streaming with tears of joy； feels himself
rejuvenated。〃
At two o'clock； on the turf…laid terraces of the sacred mountain；
〃all will show a state of commotion and excitement： mothers here
press to their bosoms the infants they suckle； and there offer them up
in homage to the author of Nature； while youths； aglow with the ardor
of battle； simultaneously draw their swords and hand them to their
venerable fathers。 Sharing in the enthusiasm of their sons； the
deported old men embrace them and bestow on them the paternal
benediction。 。 。 。 。 All the men distributed around the 'Field of
Reunion' sing in chorus the （first） refrain。 。 。 。 All the Women
distributed around the 'Field of Reunion' sing in unison the （second）
refrain 。 。 。 。 All Frenchmen partake of each other's sentiments
in one grand fraternal embrace。〃
What could better than such an idyll； ruled with an iron hand； in the
presence of moral symbols and colored pasteboard divinities； could
better please the counterfeit moralist； unable to distinguish the
false from the true； and whose skin…deep sensibility is borrowed from
sentimental authors！ 〃For the first time〃 his glowing countenance
beams with joy； while 〃the enthusiasm〃＇164＇ of the scribe overflows；
as usual； in book phraseology。
〃Behold！〃 he exclaims； 〃that which is most interesting in humanity！
The Universe is here assembled！ O； Nature； how sublime； how exquisite
is thy power！ How tyrants must quail at the contemplation of this
festival ！〃
Is not he himself its most dazzling ornament？ Was not he unanimously
chosen to preside over the Convention and conduct the ceremonies？ Is
he not the founder of the new cult； the only pure worship on the face
of the earth； approved of by morality and reason？ Wearing the uniform
of a representative； nankeen breeches； blue coat； tri…colored sash and
plumed hat；＇165＇ holding in his hand a bouquet of flowers and grain；
he marches at the head of the Convention and officiates on the
platform； he sets fire to the veil which hides from view the idol
representing 〃Atheism；〃 and suddenly； through an ingenious
contrivance； the majestic statue of 〃Wisdom〃 appears in its place。 He
then addresses the crowd； over and over again； exhorting；
apostrophizing； preaching； elevating his soul to the Supreme Being；
and with what oratorical combinations！ What an academic swell of
bombastic cadences； strung together to enforce his tirades！ How
cunning the even balance of adjective and substantive！＇166＇ From these
faded rhetorical flowers； arranged as if for a prize distribution or a
funeral oration； exhales a sanctimonious； collegiate odor which he
complacently breathes； and which intoxicates him。 At this moment； he
must certainly be in earnest； there is no hesitation or reserve in his
self…admiration； he is not only in his own eyes a great writer and
great orator； but a great statesman and great citizen his artificial；
philosophic conscience awards him only praise。 … But look underneath；
or rather wait a moment。 Signs of impatience and antipathy appear
behind his back： Lecointre has braved him openly； numerous insults；
and； worse than these； sarcasms； reach his ears。 On such an occasion；
and in such a place！ Against the pontiff of Truth； the apostle of
Virtue！ The miscreants； how dare they！ Silent and pale； he suppresses
his rage； and；＇167＇ losing his balance； closing his eyes； he plunges
headlong on the path of murder： cost what it will； the miscreants must
perish and without loss of time。 To expedite matters； he must get
their heads off quietly； and as 〃up to this time things have been
managed confidentially in the Committee of Public Safety；〃 he； alone
with Couthon； two days after； without informing his colleagues；＇168＇
draws up； brings to the Convention； and has passed the terrible act of
Prairial which places everybody's life at his disposal。 … In his
crafty； blundering haste； he has demanded too much； each one； on
reflection； becomes alarmed for himself； he is compelled to back out；
to protest that he is misunderstood； admit that representatives are
excepted； and； accordingly； to sheathe the knife he has already
applied to his adversaries throats。 But he still holds it in his
grasp。 He watches them； and； pretending to retreat； affects a
renunciation； crouched in his corner；＇169＇ waiting until they
discredit themselves； so as to spring upon them a second time。 He
has not to wait long； for the exterminating machine he set up on the
22nd of Prairial； is in their hands； and it has to work as he planned
it； namely； by making rapid turns and almost haphazard： the odium of a
blind sweeping massacre rests with them； he not only makes no
opposition to this； but； while pretending to abstain from it； he urges
it on。 Secluded in the private office of his secret police； he orders
arrests；＇170＇ he sends out his principal bloodhound； Herman； he first
signs and then dispatches the resolution by which it is supposed that
there are conspirators among those in confinement and which；
authorizing spies or paid informers； is to provide the guillotine with
those vast batches which purge and clean prisons out in a trice。〃＇171＇
… 〃I am not responsible；〃 he states later on 。 。 。 。〃 My lack of
power to do any good； to arrest the evil； forced me for more than six
weeks to abandon my post on the Committee of Public Safety。〃＇172＇ To
ruin his adversaries by murders committed by him； by those which he
makes them commit and which he imputes to them； to whitewash himself
and blacken them with the same stroke of the brush； what intense
delight！ If the natural conscience murmurs in whispers at moments； the
acquired superposed conscience immediately imposes silence； concealing
personal hatreds under public pretexts： the guillotined； after all；
were aristocrats； and whoever comes under the guillotine is immoral。
Thus； the means are good and the end better； in employi