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cares for its own honor it will select reporters of bills that are not
unworthy； and instruct them to support these with available arguments；
as closely reasoned out as possible； the bill； discussed and adopted
in full council； will show the measure of its capacity； the
information it possesses and its common…sense。
To estimate all this； read the bills put forth in the name of the
Committee； weigh the preambles； remark the tone； listen to the two
reporters usually chosen； Saint…Just； who draws up the acts of
proscription； special or general； and Barère； who draws up all acts
indifferently； but particularly military announcements and decrees
against the foreigner； never did public personages； addressing France
and posterity； use such irrational arguments and state falsehoods with
greater impudence。＇65＇
The former； stiff in his starched cravat； posing 〃like the Holy
Ghost；〃 more didactic and more absolute than Robespierre himself；
comes and proclaims to Frenchmen from the tribune； equality； probity；
frugality； Spartan habits； and a rural cot with all the voluptuousness
of virtue；＇66＇ this suits admirably the chevalier Saint…Just； a former
applicant for a place in the Count d'Artois' body…guard； a domestic
thief； a purloiner of silver plate which he takes to Paris； sells and
spends on prostitutes； imprisoned for six months on complaint of his
own mother；＇67＇ and author of a lewd poem which he succeeds in
rendering filthy by trying to render it fanciful。 … Now； indeed； he
is grave； he no longer leers； he kills … but with what arguments； and
what a style！＇68＇ The young Laubardemont as well as the paid informers
and prosecutors of imperial Rome； have less disgraced the human
intellect； for these creatures of a Tiberius or a Richelieu still used
plausible arguments in their reasoning； and with more or less
adroitness。 With Saint…Just； there is no connection of ideas； there
is no sequence or march in his rhapsody； like an instrument strained
to the utmost； his mind plays only false notes in violent fits and
starts； logical continuity； the art then so common of regularly
developing a theme； has disappeared； he stumbles over the ground；
piling up telling aphorisms and dogmatic axioms。 In dealing with
facts there is nothing in his speech but a perversion of the truth；
impostures abound in it of pure invention； palpable； as brazen as
those of a charlatan in his booth；＇69＇ he does not even deign to
disguise them with a shadow of probability； as to the Girondists； and
as to Danton； Fabre d'Eglantine and his other adversaries； whoever
they may be； old or new； any rope to hang them with suffices for him；
any rough； knotted； badly…twisted cord he can lay his hands on； no
matter what； provided it strangles； is good enough； there is no need
of a finer one for confirmed conspirators； with the gossip of the club
and an Inquisition catechism； he can frame his bill of indictment。 …
Accordingly； his intellect grasps nothing and yields him nothing； he
is a sententious and overexcited declaimer； an artificial spirit
always on the stretch； full of affectations；＇70＇ his talent reducing
itself down to the rare flashes of a somber imagination； a pupil of
Robespierre； as Robespierre himself is a pupil of Rousseau； the
exaggerated scholar of a plodding scholar； always rabidly ultra；
furious through calculation； deliberately violating both language and
ideas；＇71＇ confining himself to theatrical and funereal paradoxes； a
sort of 〃grand vizier〃＇72＇ with the airs of an exalted moralist and
the bearing of the sentimental shepherd。＇73＇ Were one of a mocking
humor one might shrug one's shoulders； but； in the present state of
the Convention； there is no room for anything but fear。 Launched in
imperious tones； his phrases fall upon their ears in monotonous
strokes； on bowed heads； and； after five or six blows from this leaden
hammer； the stoutest are stretched out stupefied on the ground；
discussion is out of the question； when Saint…Just； in the name of the
Convention； affirms anything； it must be believed； his dissertation is
a peremptory injunction and not an effort of reason； it commands
obedience； it is not open to examination； it is not a report which he
draws from his coat pocket； but a bludgeon。
The other reporter； Barère； is of quite another stamp； a 〃patent…
right〃 haranguer； an amusing Gascon； alert； 〃free and easy；〃 fond of a
joke； even on the Committee of Public Safety；＇74＇ unconcerned in the
midst of assassinations； and； to the very last； speaking of the reign
of Terror as 〃the simplest and most innocent thing in the world。〃＇75＇
No man was ever less trammeled by a conscience； in truth； he has
several； that of two days ago； that of the previous day； that of the
present day； that of the morrow； of the following day； and still
others； as many as you like； all equally pliant and supple； at the
service of the strongest against the weakest； ready to swing round at
once on the wind changing； but all joined together and working to one
common end through physical instinct； the only one that lasts in the
immoral； adroit and volatile being who circulates nimbly about； with
no other aim than self…preservation； and to amuse himself。＇76＇ … In
his dressing…gown； early in the morning； he receives a crowd of
solicitors； and； with the ways of a 〃dandified minister；〃 graciously
accepts the petitions handed to him； first； those of ladies；
〃distributing gallantries among the prettiest；〃 he makes promises； and
smiles； and then； returning to his cabinet； throws the papers in the
fire： 〃There；〃 he says； my correspondence is done。〃 … He sups twice
every decade in his fine house at Clichy； along with three more than
accommodating pretty women； he is gay； awarding flatteries and
attentions quite becoming to an amiable protector： he enters into
their professional rivalries； their spites against the reigning
beauty； their jealousy of another who wears a blonde wig and pretends
〃to set the fashion。〃 He sends immediately for the National Agent and
gravely informs him that this head…dress； borrowed from the
guillotined； is a rallying point for anti…revolutionaries； whereupon；
the next day； wigs are denounced at the Commune…council； and
suppressed； 〃Barère roared with laughter on alluding to this piece of
fun。〃 The humor of an undertaker and the dexterity of a commercial
drummer： he plays with Terror。 … In like manner he plays with his
reports； and at this latter exercise； he improvises； he is never
embarrassed； it is simply necessary to turn the faucet and the water
runs。 〃 Had he any subject to treat； he would fasten himself on
Robespierre； Hérault； Saint…Just； or somebody else； and draw them out；
he would then rush off to the tribune and spin out their ideas； 〃they
were all astonished at hearing their thoughts expressed as fully as if
reflected in a mirror。〃 No individual on the Committee； or in the
Convention； equaled him in promptness and fluency； for the