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the origins of contemporary france-2-第36章

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of further progress; with the assurance that there would be no lack

of opportunity for them to obtain still more。



 〃This was all;〃 he continues; 〃that I thought your countrymen able

to bear soberly and usefully。〃



 Arthur Young; who studies the moral life of France so

conscientiously; and who is so severe in depicting old abuses;

cannot comprehend the conduct of the Commons。



  〃To set aside practice for theory 。 。 。  in establishing the

interests of a great kingdom; in securing freedom to 25;000;000 of

people; seems to me the very acme of imprudence; the very

quintessence of insanity。〃



 Undoubtedly; now that the Assembly is all…powerful; it is to be

hoped that it will be reasonable:



 〃I will not allow myself to believe for a moment that the

representatives of the people can ever so far forget their duty to

the French nation; to humanity; and their own fame; as to suffer any

inordinate and impracticable views … any visionary or theoretic

systems … 。 。 。  to turn aside their exertions from that security

which is in their hands; to place on the chance and hazard of public

commotion and civil war the invaluable blessings which are certainly

in their power。   I will not conceive it possible that men who have

eternal fame within their grasp will place the rich inheritance on

the cast of a die; and; losing the venture; be damned among the

worst and most profligate adventurers that ever disgraced humanity。〃



 As their plan becomes more definite the remonstrances become more

decided; and all the expert judges point out to them the importance

of the wheels which they are willfully breaking。



  〃As they have'21' hitherto felt severely the authority exercised

over them in the name of their princes; every limitation of that

authority seems to them desirable。   Never having felt the evils of

too weak an executive; the disorders to be apprehended from anarchy

make as yet no impression〃  〃They want an American

Constitution;'22' but with a King instead of a President; without

reflecting they have no American citizens to support that

Constitution。 。 。  If they have the good sense to give the nobles;

as nobles; some portion of the national power; this free

constitution will probably last; But otherwise it will degenerate

either into a pure monarchy; or a vast republic; or a democracy。

Will the latter last? I doubt it。   I am sure that it will not;

unless the whole nation is changed。〃



  A little later; when they renounce a parliamentary monarchy to put

in its place 〃a royal democracy;〃 it is at once explained to them

that such an institution applied to France can produce nothing but

anarchy; and finally end in despotism。



  〃Nowhere'23' has liberty proved to be stable without a sacrifice

of its excesses; without some barrier to its own omnipotence。 。 。  。

Under this miserable government 。 。 。  the people; soon weary of

storms; and abandoned without legal protection to their seducers or

to their oppressors; will shatter the helm; or hand it over to some

audacious hand that stands ready to seize it。〃



 Events occur from month to month in fulfillment of these

predictions; and the predictions grow gloomier and more gloomy。   It

is a flock of wild birds:'24'



  〃It is very difficult to guess whereabouts the flock will settle

when it flies so wild。 。 。  。 This unhappy country; bewildered in

the pursuit of metaphysical whims; presents to our moral view a

mighty ruin。   The Assembly; at once master and slave; new in power;

wild in theory; raw in practice; engrossing all functions without

being able to exercise any; has freed that fierce; ferocious people

from every restraint of religion and respect。 。 。  。  Such a state

of things cannot last 。 。 。  The glorious opportunity is lost and

for this time; at least; the Revolution has failed。〃



 We see; from the replies of Washington; that he is of the same

opinion。   On the other side of the Channel; Pitt; the ablest

practician; and Burke; the ablest theorist; of political liberty;

express the same judgment。   Pitt; after 1789; declares that the

French have overleaped freedom。   After 1790; Burke; in a work which

is a prophecy as well as a masterpiece; points to military

dictatorship as the termination of the Revolution; 〃the most

completely arbitrary power that has ever appeared on earth。〃 Nothing

is of any effect。   With the exception of the small powerless group

around Malouet and Mounier; the warnings of Morris; Jefferson;

Romilly; Dumont; Mallet du Pan; Arthur Young; Pitt and Burke; all of

them men who have experience of free institutions; are received with

indifference or repelled with disdain。   Not only are our new

politicians incapable; but they think themselves the contrary; and

their incompetence is aggravated by their infatuation。



  〃I often used to say; 〃writes Dumont;'25' 〃that if a hundred

persons were stopped at haphazard in the streets of London; and a

hundred in the streets of Paris; and a proposal were made to them to

take charge of the Government; ninety…nine would accept it in Paris

and ninety…nine would refuse it in London 。 。 。  The Frenchman

thinks that all difficulties can be overcome by a little quickness

of wit。   Mirabeau accepted the post of reporter to the Committee on

Mines without having the slightest tincture of knowledge on the

subject。〃



 In short; most of them enter politics 〃like the gentleman who; on

being asked if he knew how to play on the harpsichord; replied; 'I

cannot tell; I never tried; but I will see。' 〃



  〃The Assembly had so high an opinion of itself; especially the

left side of it; that it would willingly have undertaken the framing

of the Code of Laws for all nations。 。 。  Never has so many men been

seen together; fancying that they were all legislators; and that

they were there to correct all the errors of the past; to remedy all

mistakes of the human mind; and ensure the happiness of all ages to

come。   Doubt had no place in their minds; and infallibility always

presided over their contradictory decrees。〃  



 This is because they have a theory and because; according to their

notion; this theory renders special knowledge unnecessary。   Herein

they are thoroughly sincere; and it is of set purpose that they

reverse all ordinary modes of procedure。   Up to this time a

constitution used to be organized or repaired like a ship。

Experiments were made from time to time; or a model was taken from

vessels in the neighborhood; the first aim was to make the ship

sail; its construction was subordinated to its work; it was

fashioned in this or that way according to the materials on hand; a

beginning was made by examining these materials; and trying to

estimate their rigidity; weight; and strength。  …   All this is

reactionary; the age of Reason has come and the Assembly is too

enlightened to drag on in a rut。   In conformity with the fashion of

the time it works by deduction; after the method of Rousseau;

according to an abstract notion of right; of the State and of the

social compact。'26'  According to this process; by virtue of

political geometry alone; they shall have the perfect vessel and

since it perfect it follows that it will sail; and that much better

than any empirical craft。  …  They legislate according to this

principle; and one may imagine the nature of their discussions。

There are no convincing facts; no pointed arguments; nobody would

ever imagine that the speakers were gathered together to conduct

real business。   Through speech after speech; strings of hollow

abstractions are endlessly renewed as in a meeting of students in

rhetoric for the purpose of practice; or in a society of old

bookworms for their own amusement。   On the question of the veto

〃each orator in turn; armed with his portfolio; reads a dissertation

which has no bearing whatever〃 on the preceding one; which makes a

〃sort of academical session;〃'27' a succession of pamphlets fresh

every morning for several days。   On the question of the Rights of

Man fifty…four speakers are placed on the list。



 〃I remember;〃 says Dumont; 〃that long discussion; which lasted for

weeks; as a period of deadly boredom;  vain disputes over words; a

metaphysical jumble; and most tedious babble; the Assembly was

turned into a Sorbonne lecture…room;〃



 and all this while chateaux were burning; while town…halls were

being sacked; and courts dared no longer hold assize; while the

distribution of wheat was stopped; and while society was in course

of dissolution。   In the same manner the theologians of the Easter

Roman Empire kept up their wrangles about the uncreated light of

Mount Tabor while Mahomet II was battering the walls of

Constantinople with his cannon。  …  Ours; of course; are another

sort of men; juvenile in feeling; sincere; enthusiastic; even

generous; and further; more devoted; laborious; and in some cases

endowed with rare talent。   But ne
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