CHAPITRE III. LA RÉVOLUTION

resque et Tesprit religieux, les deux couronnes de la nature humaine, pour les plonger avec la science dan«3 la bourbe populaire et les fouler « sous les sabots « d'une multitude bestiale *• » Nous avons horreur de ce nivellement systématique qui, désorganisant la société civile, amène au gouvernement « des avocats « chicaniers, des usuriers poussés par une tourbe de « femmes éhontées, d'hôteliers, de clercs, de garçons « de boutique, de perruquiers, de danseurs de théâ- «tre*, » et qui finira, « si la monarchie reprend « jamais l'ascendant en France, par livrer la nation au « pouvoir le plus arbitraire qui ait jamais paru sous « le ciel*. »

1. Learning with its nalural protectors and guardians will be cast into the mire and trodden down under the hoofs of a swicish multitude.

2. 1 am satisfied beyond a doubt that the project of turning a great empire into a vestry or into a collection of vestries, and of governing it in tbe spirit of a parochial administration is senseless and absurd, in any mode, or withany qualifications. I can neverbe convinced that the scheme of placing the highest powers of the state in cburch-wardens and constables and other such officers, guided by the prudence of litiglous attornies and jew- brokers, and set in aciion by shameless women of the lowest condition, by keepers of hôtels, tavernsandbrothels, by pert apprentices, byclerks, shop-boys, hairdressers, fiddlers and dancers of ihe stage (who in such a commonwealth as yours will in future overbear, as already they bave overborne, the sober incapacity of dull uninstructed men, of useful but laborious occupations) can never be put into any shape, that might not be both disgraceful and destructive.

3. If monarchy should ever obtain an entire ascendancy in France, it will probably be.... the most completely arbitrary power that has

î ever appeared on earth. ■

j France will be governed by the agi'.ators in corporations, by se-

j cicties in the towns formed of directors of assignats.... attornies,

money-jobbers, speculators and adventurers, composing an ignoble

35^ aVRE III. L'ÂGE CLASSIQUE.

Voilà ce que Barke écrivait dès 1790 à Taurore de la Révolution française*. L'année d'après, le peuple de Birmingham allait détruire les maisons des jacobins anglais, et les mineurs de Wednesbury sortaient en corps de leurs houillères pour venir aussi au secours «du roi et de l'Église «.Croisade contre croisade ; l'Angleterre effarouchée était aussi fanatique que la France enthousiaste. Pitt déclarait qu'on ne pouvait « traiter avec une nation d'athées •. » Burke disait que la guerre était non entre un peuple et un peuple, mais « entre la propriété et la force. » La fureur de

oligarchy founded on the destruction of the crown, the church, the nobility, and the people.

1. The effect of liberly to individuals is that they may do what they please.... We ought to see what it will please them to do, before we risk congratulations which may be soon turned into complaints.... Strange chaos of levity and ferocity, monstrous tragicomic scène.... After I bave read the list of the persons and descriptions elected into the Tiers-Etat, nothing which they afterwards did could appear astonishing. Of any practical expérience in the state, not one man was to be found. The best were only men of theory. The majority was composed of practitioners in the law.... active chicaners.... obscure provincial advocates, stewards of petty local juridictions, country attomies, notariés, etc.

Ce qui choque et inquiète Burke au plus haut degré, c'est qu'on n*y voyait pas de représentants du natural landed interest.

Encore une phrase, car véritablement cette clairvoyance politique

uche au génie.

Men are qualifîed for civil liberty in exact proportion to their ilispositîon to put moral chains upon their own appetites.... Society cannot exist unless a controUing power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere, and the less of it there is within, the more thero must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters.

2. ** The leading features of this government are the abolition of religion and the abolition of property. " (Tome II, 17. Viscwirs de