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！
was by no means based upon any feeling of sympathy for him。 The
dictator filled them with an unspeakable alarm； but beneath the
marks of admiration and enthusiasm which they lavished on him out
of fear was concealed an intense hatred。 We can gather as much
by reading the reports of various deputies inserted in the
Moniteur of August 11； 15； and 29； 1794； and notably that on
‘‘the conspiracy of the triumvirs； Robespierre； Couthon； and
Saint…Just。'' Never did slaves heap such invectives on a fallen
master。
We learn that ‘‘these monsters had for some time been renewing
the most horrible prescriptions of Marius and Sulla。''
Robespierre is represented as a most frightful scoundrel； we are
assured that ‘‘like Caligula； he would soon have asked the French
people to worship his horse 。 。 。 He sought security in
the execution of all who aroused his slightest suspicion。''
These reports forget to add that the power of Robespierre
obtained no support； as did that of the Marius and Sulla to whom
they allude； from a powerful army； but merely from the repeated
adhesion of the members of the Convention。 Without their
extreme timidity the power of the dictator could not have lasted
a single day。
Robespierre was one of the most odious tyrants of history； but he
is distinguished from all others in that he made himself a tyrant
without soldiers。
We may sum up his doctrines by saying that he was the most
perfect incarnation； save perhaps Saint…Just； of the Jacobin
faith； in all its narrow logic； its intense mysticism； and its
inflexible rigidity。 He has admirers even to…day。 M。 Hamel
describes him as ‘‘the martyr of Thermidor。'' There has been
some talk of erecting a monument to him。 I would willingly
subscribe to such a purpose； feeling that it is useful to
preserve proofs of the blindness of the crowd； and of the
extraordinary docility of which an assembly is capable when the
leader knows how to handle it。 His statue would recall the
passionate cries of admiration and enthusiasm with which the
Convention acclaimed the most threatening measures of the
dictator； on the very eve of the day when it was about to cast
him down。
4。 Fouquier…Tinville； Marat； Billaud…Varenne； &c。
I shall devote a paragraph to certain revolutionists who were
famous for the development of their most sanguinary instincts。
Their ferocity was complicated by other sentiments； by
fear and hatred； which could but fortify it。
Fouquier…Tinville； the public prosecutor of the Revolutionary
Tribunal； was one of those who have left the most sinister
memories。 This magistrate； formerly reputed for his kindness；
and who became the bloodthirsty creature whose memory evokes such
repulsion； has already served me as an example in other works；
when I have wished to show the transformation of certain natures
in time of revolution。
Needy in the extreme at the moment of the fall of the monarchy；
he had everything to hope from a social upheaval and nothing to
lose。 He was one of those men whom a period of disorder will
always find ready to sustain it。
The Convention abandoned its powers to him。 He had to pronounce
upon the fate of nearly two thousand accused； among whom were
Marie…Antoinette； the Girondists； Danton； Hebert； &c。 He had
all the suspects brought before him executed； and did not scruple
to betray his former protectors。 As soon as one of them fell
into his powerCamille Desmoulins； Danton； or anotherhe would
plead against him。
Fouquier…Tinville had a very inferior mind； which the Revolution
brought to the top。 Under normal conditions； hedged about by
professional rules； his destiny would have been that of a
peaceable and obscure magistrate。 This was precisely the lot of
his deputy； or substitute； at the Tribunal； Gilbert…Liendon。
‘‘He should；'' writes M。 Durel； ‘‘have inspired the same horror
as his colleague； yet he completed his career in the upper ranks
of the Imperial magistracy。''
One of the great benefits of an organised society is that it does
restrain these dangerous characters； whom nothing but social
restraints can hold。
Fouquier…Tinville died without understanding why he was
condemned； and from the revolutionary point of view his
condemnation was not justifiable。 Had he not merely zealously
executed the orders of his superiors？ It is impossible to class
him with the representatives who were sent into the provinces；
who could not be supervised。 The delegates of the Convention
examined all his sentences and approved of them up to the last。
If his cruelty and his summary fashion of trying the prisoners
before him had not been encouraged by his chiefs； he could not
have remained in power。 In condemning Fouquier…Tinville； the
Convention condemned its own frightful system of government。 It
understood this fact； and sent to the scaffold a number of
Terrorists whom Fouquier…Tinville had merely served as a faithful
agent。
Beside Fouquier…Tinville we may set Dumas； who presided over the
Revolutionary Tribunal； and who also displayed an excessive
cruelty； which was whetted by an intense fear。 He never went out
without two loaded pistols； barricaded himself in his house； and
only spoke to visitors through a wicket。 His distrust of
everybody； including his own wife； was absolute。 He even
imprisoned the latter； and was about to have her executed when
Thermidor arrived。
Among the men whom the Convention brought to light； Billaud…
Varenne was one of the wildest and； most brutal。 He may be
regarded as a perfect type of bestial ferocity。
‘‘In these hours of fruitful anger and heroic anguish he
remained calm； acquitting himself methodically of his taskand
it was a frightful task： he appeared officially at the massacres
of the Abbaye； congratulated the assassins； and promised them
money； upon which he went home as if he had merely been taking a
walk。 We see him as president of the Jacobin Club； president of
the Convention； and member of the Committee of Public Safety； he
drags the Girondists to the scaffold： he drags the queen thither；
and his former patron； Danton； said of him； ‘Billaud has a dagger
under his tongue。' He approves of the cannonades at Lyons； the
drownings at Nantes； the massacres at Arras； he organises the
pitiless commission of Orange； he is concerned in the laws of
Prairial； he eggs on Fouquier…Tinville； on all decrees of death
is his name； often the first； he signs before his colleagues； he
is without pity； without emotion； without enthusiasm； when others
are frightened； hesitate； and draw back； he goes his way；
speaking in turgid sentences； ‘shaking his lion's mane'for to
make his cold and impassive face more in harmony with the
exuberance that surrounds him he now decks himself in a yellow
wig which would make one laugh were it on any but the sinister
head of Billaud…Varenne。 When Robespierre； Saint…Just； and
Couthon are thre