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The French Revolution； Volume 3
The Origins of Contemporary France； Volume 4
by Hippolyte A。 Taine
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION VOLUME III。
PREFACE。
BOOK FIRST。 The Establishment of the Revolutionary Government。
CHAPTER I。
BOOK SECOND。 The Jacobin Program。
CHAPTER I。
CHAPTER II。
BOOK THIRD。 The Governors。
CHAPTER I。 Psychology of the Jacobin Leaders。
CHAPTER II。 The Rulers of the Country。
CHAPTER III。 The Rulers。 （continued）。
BOOK FOURTH。 The Governed。
CHAPTER I。 The Oppressed。
CHAPTER II。 Food and Provisions。
BOOK FIFTH。 The End of the Revolutionary Government。
CHAPTER I。
PREFACE。
〃In Egypt；〃 says Clement of Alexandria；＇1＇ 〃the sanctuaries of the
temples are shaded by curtains of golden tissue。 But on going
further into the interior in quest of the statue； a priest of grave
aspect； advancing to meet you and chanting a hymn in the Egyptian
tongue； slightly raises a veil to show you the god。 And what do you
behold？ A crocodile； or some indigenous serpent； or other dangerous
animal； the Egyptian god being a beast sprawling on a purple carpet。〃
We need not visit Egypt or go so far back in history to encounter
crocodile worship； as this can be readily found in France at the end
of the last century。 Unfortunately； a hundred years is too long
an interval； too far away； for an imaginative retrospect of the past。
At the present time； standing where we do and regarding the horizon
behind us； we see only forms which the intervening atmosphere
embellishes； shimmering contours which each spectator may interpret in
his own fashion； no distinct； animated figure； but merely a mass of
moving points； forming and dissolving in the midst of picturesque
architecture。 I was anxious to take a closer view of these vague
points； and； accordingly； deported myself back to the last half of the
eighteenth century。 I have now been living with them for twelve
years； and； like Clement of Alexandria； examined； first； the temple；
and next the god。 A passing glance at these is not sufficient； it
was also necessary to understand the theology on which this cult is
founded。 This one； explained by a very specious theology； like most
others； is composed of dogmas called the principles of 1789； they were
proclaimed； indeed； at that date； having been previously formulated by
Jean…Jacques Rousseau：
* The well known sovereignty of the people。
* The rights of Man。
* The social contract。
Once adopted； their practical results unfolded themselves naturally。
In three years these dogmas installed the crocodile on the purple
carpet insides the sanctuary behind the golden veil。 He was selected
for the place on account of the energy of his jaws and the capacity of
his stomach； he became a god through his qualities as a destructive
brute and man…eater。 Comprehending this； the rites which
consecrate him and the pomp which surrounds him need not give us any
further concern。 We can observe him； like any ordinary animal； and
study his various attitudes； as he lies in wait for his prey； springs
upon it； tears it to pieces； swallows it； and digests it。 I have
studied the details of his structure； the play of his organs； his
habits； his mode of living； his instincts； his faculties； and his
appetites。 Specimens abounded。 I have handled thousands of them；
and have dissected hundreds of every species and variety； always
preserving the most valuable and characteristic examples； but for lack
of room I have been compelled to let many of them go because my
collections was too large。 Those that I was able to bring back with
me will be found here； and； among others； about twenty individuals of
different dimensions； which a difficult undertaking I have kept
alive with great pains。 At all events； they are intact and perfect；
and particularly the three largest。 These seem to me； of their kind；
truly remarkable； and those in which the divinity of the day might
well incarnate himself。 … Authentic and rather well kept cookbooks
inform us about the cost of the cult： We can more or less estimate how
much the sacred crocodiles consumed in ten years； we know their bills
of daily fare； their favorite morsels。 Naturally； the god selected
the fattest victims； but his voracity was so great that he likewise
bolted down； and blindly； the lean ones； and in much greater number
than the fattest。 Moreover； by virtue of his instincts； and an
unfailing effect of the situation； he ate his equals once or twice a
year； except when they succeeded in eating him。 This cult
certainly is instructive； at least to historians and men of pure
science。 If any believers in it still remain I do not aim to convert
them； one cannot argue with a devotee on matters of faith。 This
volume； accordingly； like the others that have gone before it； is
written solely for amateurs of moral zoology； for naturalists of the
understanding； for seekers of truth； of texts； and of proofs for
these alone and not for the public； whose mind is made up and which
has its own opinion on the Revolution。 This opinion began to be
formed between 1825 and 1830； after the retirement or withdrawal of
eye witnesses。 When they disappeared it was easy to convince a
credulous public that crocodiles were philanthropists； that many
possessed genius； that they scarcely ate others than the guilty； and
that if they sometimes ate too many it was unconsciously and in spite
of themselves； or through devotion and self…sacrifice for the common
good。
H。 A。 Taine； Menthon Saint Bernard； July 1884。
___________________________________________________________________
BOOK FIRST。 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT。
CHAPTER I。
I。
Weakness of former governments。 … Energy of the new government。 …
The despotic creed and instincts of the Jacobin。
So far； the weakness of the legal government is extreme。 During four
years； whatever its kind； it has constantly and everywhere been
disobeyed。 For four years it never dared enforce obedience。
Recruited among the cultivated and refined class； the rulers of the
country have brought with them into power the prejudices and
sensibilities of the epoch。 Under the influence of the prevailing
dogma they have submitted to the will of the multitude and； with too
much faith in the rights of Man； they have had too little in the
authority of the magistrate。 Moreover； through humanity； they have
abhorred bloodshed and； unwilling to repress； they have allowed
themselves to be repressed。 Thus from the 1st of May； 1789； to June
2； 1793； they have administrated or legislated； escaping countless
insurrections； almost all of them going unpunished ； while their
constitution； an unhealthy product of theory and fear； have done no
more than transform spontaneous anarchy into legal anarchy。
Deliberately and through distrust of authority they have undermined
the principle of command； reduced the King to the post of a decorative
puppet； and almost annihilated the central power： from the top to the
bottom of the hierarchy the superior has lost his hold on the
inferior； the minister on the departments； the departments on the
districts； and the districts on the communes。 Throughout all branches
of the service； the chief； elected on the spot and by his
subordinates； has come to depend on them。 Thenceforth； each post in
which authority is vested is found isolated； dismantled and preyed
upon； while； to crown all； the Declaration of Rights； proclaiming 〃the
jurisdiction of constituents over their clerks；〃＇2＇ has invited the
assailants to make the assault。 On the strength of this a faction
arises which ends in becoming an organized band ； under its clamor；
its menaces and its pikes； at Paris and in the provinces； at the polls
and in the parliament； the majorities are all silenced； while the
minorities vote； decree and govern； the Legislative Assembly is
purged； the King is dethroned； and the Convention is mutilated。 Of
all the garrisons of the central citadel； whether royalists；
Constitutionalists； or Girondins； not one has been able to defend
itself； to re…fashion the executive instrument； to draw the sword and
use it in the streets： on the first attack； often at the first
summons； all have surrendered； and now the citadel； with every other
public fortress； is in the hands of the Jacobins。
This time； its occupants are of a different stamp。 Aside from the
great mass of well…disposed people fond of a quiet life； the
Revolution has sifted out and separated from the rest all who are
fanatical； brutal or perverse enough to have lost respect for others；
these form the new garrison sectarians blinded by their creed； the
roughs （assommeurs） who are hardened by their calling； and those who
make all they can out of thei