The people have in
the end prevailed, and on the 1st of May, 1791, the day of the
application of the decree, the National Guard of Paris parades
around the walls playing patriotic airs. The cannon of the
Invalides and those on the Pont-Neuf thunder out as if for an
important victory. There is an illumination in the evening, there
is drinking all night, a universal revel. Beer, indeed, is to be
had at three sous the pot, and wine at six sous a pint, which is a
reduction of one-half; no conquest could be more popular, since it
brings intoxication within easy reach of the thirsty.[46]
The object, now, is to provide for the expenses which have been
defrayed by the suppressed octrois. In 1790, the octroi of Paris
had produced 35,910,859 francs, of which 25,059,446 went to the
State, and 10,851,413 went to the city. How is the city going to
pay for its watch, the lighting and cleaning of its streets, and the
support of its hospitals? What are the twelve hundred other cities
and boroughs going to do which are brought by the same stroke to the
same situation? What will the State do, which, in abolishing the
general revenue from all entrance-dues and excise, is suddenly
deprived of two-fifths of its revenue? - In the month of March,
1790, when the Assembly suppressed the salt and other duties, it
established in the place of these a tax of fifty millions, to be
divided between the direct imposts and dues on entrance to the
towns.
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