"Thus," write the
commissioners, "the common-weal is given up to artisans and laborers
whose views are limited to their own existence." - It is,
accordingly, the lower class which rules, and the information upon
which it bases its decrees consists of rumors which it accepts or
manufactures, to hide by an appearance of right the outrages which
are due to its cupidity or to the brutalities of its hunger. At
?tampes, "they have been made to believe that the grain which had
been sold for supplying the departments below the Loire, is shipped
at Paimb?uf and taken out of the kingdom from there to be sold
abroad." In the suburbs of Rouen they imagine that grain is
purposely " engulfed in the swamps, ponds, and clay-pits." At Laon,
imbecile and Jacobin committees attribute the dearness of provisions
to the avidity of the rich and the malevolence of the aristocrats
according to them, "jealous millionaires grow rich at the expense of
the people. They know the popular strength," and, not daring to
measure their forces with it, "in an honorable fight," have recourse
"to treachery.
Pages:
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635