CHAPTER XXV 1793-continued DANTON'S IDEAL OF GOVERNMENT-WHY NOT REALISED-RETURN FROM ARCIS-REPLY TO HÉBERTISTS-ANTI-RELIGIOUS QUERADES CONDEMNED 'CLEMENCY' MAS OF RESPONSIBILITY ULTRA-REVOLUTIONARY EXCESS CONDEMNED-SCENES AT THE JACOBINS DANTON'S SPEECH-ROBESPIERRE'S PERFIDIOUS DEFENCE THE system Danton had built up laboriously he nevertheless regarded only as temporary, as the least bad' expedient possible at the moment. With the victories of Wattignies and Cholet the need of it became less pressing, and it might be hoped would soon cease to exist and be succeeded by the government of his dreams. What that was we know from Garat. It was to restore the reign of law and equal justice; to extend clemency to enemies; to pardon and restore to the Convention its expelled members; to give the Constitution practical effect; to offer peace to all foreign nations; to restore commerce by releasing it from all restrictions; to stimulate magnificently arts and science; to break down all barriers separating Department from Department; and to substitute for factitious citizenship of cards and tickets the living citizenship of the members of an honestly ruled republic. For this noble ideal il se montra barbare pour garder toute sa popularité, et il voulait garder toute sa popularité pour ramener avec adresse le peuple au respect du sang et des lois.' |