按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
reflected in a mirror。〃 No individual on the Committee； or in the
Convention； equaled him in promptness and fluency； for the reason that
he was not obliged to think before he spoke： with him； the faculty of
speaking； like an independent organ； acted by itself； the empty brain
or indifferent heart contributing nothing to his loquacity。
Naturally； whatever issues from his mouth comes forth in ready…made
bombast； the current jargon of the Jacobin club； sonorous； nauseous
commonplace； schoolboy metaphors and similes derived from the
shambles。＇77＇ Not an idea is found in all this rhetoric； nothing
acquired； no real mental application。 When Bonaparte； who employed
everybody； even Fouché； were disposed to employ Barère； they could
make nothing out of him for lack of substance； except as a low
newsmonger； common spy； or agent engaged to stir up surviving
Jacobins； later on； a listener at keyholes； and a paid weekly
collector of public rumors； he was not even fit for this vile service；
for his wages were soon stopped Napoleon； who； having no time to
waste； cut short his driveling verbiage。 … It is this verbiage which；
authorized by the Committee of Public Safety； now forms the eloquence
of France； it is this manufacturer of phrases by the dozen； this
future informer and prison…spy under the empire； this frolicking
inventor of the blonde…wig conspiracy； that the government sends into
the tribune to announce victories； trumpet forth military heroism and
proclaim war unto death。 On the 7th of Prairial；＇78＇ Barère； in the
name of the committee； proposes a return to savage law ： 〃No English
or Hanoverian prisoner shall henceforth be made；〃 the decree is
endorsed by Carnot and passes the Convention unanimously。 Had it been
executed； as reprisals； and according to the proportion of prisoners；
there would have been for one Englishman shot； three Frenchmen hung：
honor and humanity would have disappeared from the camps； the
hostilities between Christians would have become as deadly as among
savages。 Happily； French soldiers felt the nobleness of their
profession； on the order being given to shoot the prisoners； a decent
sergeant replied：
〃We will not shoot … send them to the Convention。 If the
representatives delight in killing prisoners … let them do it
themselves； and eat them； too； savages as they are！〃
The sergeant； an ordinary man； is not on a level with the Committee；
or with Barère； and yet Barère did his best in a bill of indictment of
twenty…seven pages； full of grand flourishes； every possible
ritornello； glaring falsehood and silly inflation； explaining how 〃the
Britannic leopard〃 paid assassins to murder the representatives； how
the London cabinet had armed little Cécile Renault； 〃the new Corday；〃
against Robespierre； how the Englishman； naturally barbarous； 〃is
unable to deny his origins； how he descends from the Carthaginians and
Phenicians； and formerly dealt in the skins of wild beasts and slaves；
how his trading occupation is not changed； how Cesar； formerly； on
landing in the country； found nothing but a ferocious tribe battling
with wolves in the forest and threatening to burn every vessel which
would try to land there； and how he still remains like that。〃 A
lecture from a fairground surgeon who； using bombastic words；
recommends extensive amputations； a fairground…prospectus so crude
that it does not even deceive a poor sergeant； … such is the
exposition of motives by a government for the purpose of enforcing a
decree that might have been drawn up by redskins； to horrible acts he
adds debased language； and employs the inept to justify their
atrocities。
VI。 Commissars of the Revolution。
Representatives on Mission。 … Their absolute power。 … Their perils
and their fear。 … Fit for their work。 … Effect of this situation。
A hundred or so representatives of the Committee of Public Safety； are
sent to the provinces； 〃with unlimited power；〃 to establish； enforce
or exacerbate the revolutionary government； and their proclamations at
once explain the nature of this government。＇79＇ … 〃 Brave and vigorous
sans…culottes ！〃 writes a deputy on leaving a mission and announcing
his successor；＇80＇ 〃You seem to have desired a good b。 。 。 of a
representative； who has never swerved from his principles； that is to
say； a regular Montagnard。 I have fulfilled your wishes； and you will
have the same thing in citizen Ingrand。 Remember； brave sans…
culottes； that； with the patriot Ingrand； you can do everything； get
anything； cancel whatever you please； imprison； bring to trial； deport
and guillotine every…body and regenerate society。 Don't try to play
with him； everybody is afraid of him； he overcomes all resistance and
restores at once the most complete order！ 〃 … The representative
arrives at the center of the department by post； and presents his
credentials。 All the authorities at once bow to the ground。 In the
evening； in his saber and plume； he harangues the popular club；
blowing into a flame the smoldering embers of Jacobinism。 Then；
according to his personal acquaintances； if he has any in the place；
or according to the votes of the Committee of General Security； if he
is a new…comer； he selects five or six of the 〃warmest sans…culottes〃
there； and； forming them into a Revolutionary Committee； installs them
permanently at his side； sometimes in the same building； in a room
next to his own； where； on lists or with verbal communications
furnished to him； he works with a will and without stopping。＇81＇
First comes a purification of all the local authorities。 They must
always remember that 〃there can be no exaggeration in behalf of the
people； he who is not imbued with this principle； who has not put it
in practice； cannot remain on an advanced post；〃＇82＇ consequently； at
the popular club； in the department； in the district； in the
municipality； all doubtful men are excluded； discharged； or
incarcerated； if a few weak ones are retained provisionally； or by
favor； they are berated and taught their duty very summarily：
〃They will strive； by a more energetic and assiduous patriotism； to
atone for the evil committed by them in not doing all the good they
could do。〃
Sometimes； through a sudden change of scene； the entire administrative
staff is kicked out so as to give place to a no less complete staff；
which the same kick brings up out of the ground。 Considering that
〃everything stagnates in Vaucluse； and that a frightful moderation
paralyses the most revolutionary measures；〃 Maignet； in one order＇83＇
appoints the administrators and secretary of the department； the
national agent； the administrators and council…general of the
district； the administrators； council…general and national agent of
Avignon； the president； public prosecutor and recorder of the criminal
court； members of the Tribunal de Commerce； the collector of the
district； the post…master and the head of the squadron of gen