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there was no fear of their armed intervention。 In France it is not
the King who urges a rupture； he knows too well that the hazards of
war will place him and his dependents in mortal danger。 Secretly as
well as publicly； in writing to the émigrés； his wishes are to bring
them back or to restrain them。 In his private correspondence he asks
of the European powers not physical but moral aid； the external
support of a congress which will permit moderate men； the partisans of
order； all owners of property； to raise their heads and rally around
the throne and the laws against anarchy。 In his ministerial
correspondence every precaution is taken not to touch off or let
someone touch off an explosion。 At the critical moment of the
discussion＇44＇ he entreats the deputies； through M。 Delessart； his
Minister of Foreign Affairs； to weigh their words and especially not
to send a demand containing a 〃dead line。〃 He resists； as far as his
passive nature allows him； to the very last。 On being forced to
declare war he requires beforehand the signed advice of all his
ministers。 He does not utter the fatal words； until he； 〃with tears in
his eyes〃 and in the most dire straits； is dragged on by an Assembly
qualifying all caution as treason and which has just dispatched M。
Delessart to appear； under a capital charge； before the supreme court
at Orléans。
It is the Assembly then which launches the disabled ship on the
roaring abysses of an unknown sea； without a rudder and leaking at
every seam。 It alone slips the cable which held it in port and which
the foreign powers neither dared nor desired to sever。 Here； again；
the Girondists are the leaders and hold the axe； since the last of
October they have grasped it and struck repeated blows。＇45＇ As an
exception； the extreme Jacobins； Couthon； Collot d'Herbois； Danton；
Robespierre； do not side with them。 Robespierre； who at first proposed
to confine the Emperor 〃within the circle of Popilius；〃＇46＇ fears the
placing of too great a power in the King's hands； and； growing
mistrustful； preaches distrust。 But the great mass of the party；
led by clamorous public opinion； impels on the timid marching in
front。 Of the many things of which knowledge is necessary to conduct
successfully such a complex and delicate affair； they know nothing。
They are ignorant about cabinets； courts； populations； treaties；
precedents； timely forms and requisite style。 Their guide and
counselor in foreign relations is Brissot whose pre…eminence is based
on their ignorance and who； exalted into a statesman； becomes for a
few months the most conspicuous figure in Europe。＇47＇ To whatever
extent a European calamity may be attributed to any one man； this one
is to be attributed to him。 It is this wretch； born in a pastry…cook's
shop； brought up in an attorney's office； formerly a police agent at
150 francs per month； once in league with scandal…mongers and black…
mailers；＇48＇ a penny…a…liner； busybody； and meddler； who； with the
half…information of a nomad； scraps of newspaper ideas and reading…
room lore；＇49＇ added to his scribblings as a writer and his club
declamation； directs the destinies of France and starts a war in
Europe which is to destroy six millions of lives。 In the attic where
his wife is washing his shirts； he enjoys rebuking rulers and； on the
20th of October； in the tribune；＇50＇ he begins by insulting thirty
foreign sovereigns。 Such keen； intense enjoyment is the stuff on which
the new fanaticism daily feeds itself。 Madame Roland herself delights；
with evident complacency； in it； something which can be seen in the
two famous letters in which； with a supercilious tone； she first
instructs the King and next the Pope。＇51＇ Brissot； at bottom； regards
himself as a Louis XIV； and expressly invites the Jacobins to imitate
the haughty ways of the Great Monarch。＇52＇ To the tactlessness of
the intruder； and the touchiness of the parvenu； we can add the
rigidity of the sectarian。 The Jacobins； in the name of abstract
rights； deny historic rights； they impose from above； and by force；
that truth of which they are the apostles； and allow themselves every
provocation which they prohibit to others。
〃Let us tell Europe；〃 cries Isnard；＇53＇ 〃that ten millions of
Frenchmen； armed with the sword； with the pen； with reason； with
eloquence； might； if provoked； change the face of the world and make
tyrants tremble on their thrones of clay。〃
〃Wherever a throne exists；〃 says Hérault de Séchelles； 〃there is an
enemy。〃＇54＇
〃An honest peace between tyranny and liberty；〃 says Brissot； 〃is
impossible。 Our Constitution is an eternal anathema to absolute
monarchs 。 。 。 It places them on trial； it pronounces judgment on
them； it seems to say to each： to…morrow thou have ceased to be or
shalt be king only through the people。 。 。 War is now a national
benefit； and not to have war is the only calamity to be dreaded。〃 ＇55＇
〃 Tell the king；〃 says Gensonné； 〃that the war is a must； that public
opinion demands it； that the safety of the empire makes it a law。〃＇56＇
〃The state we are in；〃 concludes Vergniaud； 〃is a veritable state of
destruction that may lead us to disgrace and death。 So then to arms！
to arms！ Citizens； freemen； defend your liberty； confirm the hopes of
that of the human race。 。 。 Lose not the advantage of your position。
Attack now that there is every sign of complete success。 。 。 The
spirits of past generations seem to me crowding into this temple to
conjure you； in the name of the evils which slavery had compelled them
to endure； to protect the future generations whose destinies are in
your hands！ Let this prayer be granted！ Be for the future a new
Providence！ Ally yourselves with eternal justice！〃＇57＇
Among the Marseilles speakers there is no longer any room for serious
discussion。 Brissot； in reply to the claim made by the Emperor on
behalf of the princes' property in Alsatia； replies that 〃the
sovereignty of the people is not bound by the treaties of
tyrants。〃＇58＇ As to the gatherings of the émigrés； the Emperor having
yielded on this point； he will yield on the others。＇59＇ Let him
formally renounce all combinations against France。
〃I want war on the 10th of February；〃 says Brissot； 〃unless we have
received his renunciation。〃
No explanations； it is satisfaction we want； 〃to require satisfaction
is to put the Emperor at our mercy。〃＇60＇ The Assembly； so eager to
start the quarrel； usurps the King's right to take the first step and
formally declares war； fixing the date。＇61＇ The die is now cast。
〃They want war；〃 says the Emperor； 〃and they shall have it。〃
Austria immediately forms an alliance with Prussia； threatened； like
herself； with revolutionary propaganda。＇62＇ By sounding the alarm
belles the Jacobins； masters of the Assembly； have succeeded in
bringing about that 〃monstrous alliance；〃 and； from day to day； this
alarm sounds the louder。 One year more； than