按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
What！ Madame Guillin； who was obliged to fly with horror from the
land where monsters have burnt her dwelling； slaughtered and eaten
her husband； and who live with impunity by the side of her home …
shall Madame Guillin see her fortune confiscated for the benefit of
the communities to which she owes her dreadful misfortunes！ Shall M。
de Clarac； under penalty of the same punishment； go and restore the
ruins of his chateau； where an army of scoundrels failed to smother
him！〃 … So much the worse for them if they dare not come back！
They are to undergo civil death； perpetual banishment； and； in case
the ban be violated； they will be given up to the guillotine。 In
the same case with them are others who； with still greater
innocence； have left the territory； magistrates； ordinary rich
people； burgesses； or peasants； Catholics； and particularly one
entire class； the nonjuring clergy； from the cardinal archbishop
down to the simple village vicar； all prosecuted； then despoiled；
then crushed by the same popular oppression and by the same
legislative oppression； each of these two persecutions exciting and
aggravating the other to such an extent that； at last； the populace
and the law； one the accomplice of the other； no longer leave a roof
nor a piece of bread； nor an hour's safety to a gentleman or to a
priest。＇51＇
VIII。
Attitude of the non…juring priests。 … How they become distrusted。
… Illegal arrests by local administrations。 … Violence or
complicity of the National Guards。 … Outrages by the populace。 …
Executive power in the south。 … The sixth jacquerie。 … Its two
causes。 … Isolated outbreaks in the north； east； and west； …
General eruption in the south and in the center。
The ruling passion flings itself on all obstacles； even those placed
by itself across its own track。 Through a vast usurpation the
minority of non…believers； indifferent or lukewarm； has striven to
impose its ecclesiastical forms on the Catholic majority； and the
situation thereby created for the Catholic priest is such that
unless he becomes schismatic； he cannot fail to appear as an enemy。
In vain has he obeyed！ He has allowed his property to be taken； he
has left his parsonage； he has given the keys of the church to his
successor； he has kept aloof； he does not transgress； either by
omission or commission； any article of any decree。 In vain does he
avail himself of his legal right to abstain from taking an oath
repugnant to his conscience。 This alone makes him appear to refuse
the civic oath in which the ecclesiastical oath is included； to
reject the constitution which he accepts in full minus a parasite
chapter； to conspire against the new social and political order of
things which he often approves of； and to which he almost always
submits。＇52＇ In vain does he confine himself to his special and
recognized domain； the spiritual direction of things。 Through this
alone he resists the new legislators who pretend to furnish a
spiritual guidance； for； by virtue of being orthodox； he must
believe that the priest whom they elect is excommunicated； that his
sacraments are vain； and； in his office as pastor； he must prevent
his sheep from going to drink at an impure source。 In vain might he
preach to them moderation and respect。 Through the mere fact that
the schism is effected； its consequences unfold them selves； and the
peasants will not always remain as patient as their pastor。 They
have known him for twenty years； he has baptized them and married
them； they believe that his is the only true mass； they are not
satisfied to be obliged to attend another two or three leagues away；
and to leave the church； their church which their ancestors built；
and where from father to son they have prayed for centuries； in the
hands of a stranger； an intruder and heretic； who officiates before
almost empty benches； and whom gendarmes； with guns in their hands；
have installed。 Assuredly； as he passes through the street； they
will look upon him askance： it is not surprising that the women and
children soon hoot at him； that stones are thrown at night through
his windows； that in the strongly Catholic departments； Upper and
Lower Rhine； Doubs and Jura； Lozère； Deux…Sêvres and Vendée；
Finistère； Morbihan； and C？tes…du…Nord； he is greeted with universal
desertion； and then expelled through public ill…will。 It is not
surprising that his mass is interrupted and that his person is
threatened；＇53＇ that disaffection which thus far had only reached
the upper class； descends to the popular strata； that； from one end
of France to the other； a sullen hostility prevails against the new
institutions； for now the political and social constitution is
joined to the ecclesiastical constitution like an edifice to its
spire； and； through this sharp pinnacle； seeks the storm even within
the darkening clouds of heaven。 The evil all springs out of this
unskillful； gratuitous； compulsory fusion； and； consequently； from
those who effected it。
But never will a victorious party admit that it has made a mistake。
In its eyes the nonjuring priests are alone culpable； it is
irritated against their factious conscience； and； to crush the
rebellion even in the inaccessible sanctuary of personal conviction；
there is no legal or brutal act of violence which it will not allow
itself to commit。
Behold； accordingly； a new sport thrown open； and the game is
immensely plentiful。 For it comprises not only the black or gray
robes； more than forty thousand priests； over thirty thousand nuns；
and several thousand monks； but also the devoted orthodox； that is
to say the women of the low or middle class； and； without counting
provincial nobles； a majority of the serious； steady bourgeoisie； a
majority of the peasantry…almost the whole population of several
provinces； east； west； and in the south。 A name is bestowed on
them； as lately on the nobles； it is that of fanatic； which is
equivalent to aristocrat； for it also designates public enemies
likewise placed by it beyond the pale of the law。
Little does it matter whether the law favors them； for it is
interpreted against them； arbitrarily construed and openly violated
by the partial or intimidated administrative bodies which the
Constitution has withdrawn from the control of the central authority
and subjected to the authority of popular gatherings。 From the
first months of 1791； the hounding begins； the municipalities；
districts； and departments themselves often take the lead in beating
up the game。 Six months later； the Legislative Assembly； by its
decree of November 29；＇54＇ sounds the tally…ho； and； in spite of the
King's veto； the hounds on all sides dash forward。 During the month
of April； 1792； forty…two departments pass against nonjuring priests
〃acts which are neither prescribed nor authorized by the
Constitution；〃 and； before the end of the Legislative Assembly；
forty…three others will have followed in their train。 … Through
this series of illegal acts； without offense； without trial； non…
jurors are everywhere in France expelled from their parishes；
relegated to the principal town of the department or district； in
some places imprisoned； put on the same footing with the emigrants；
and despoiled of their property； real and personal。＇55＇ Nothing
more is wanting against them but the general decree of deportation
which is to come as soon as the Assembly can get rid of the King。
In the meantime； the National Guards； who have extorted the laws；
endeavor to aggravate them in their application； and there is
nothing strange in their animosity。 Commerce is at a standstill；
industry languishes； the artisan and shopkeeper suffer； and； in
order to account for the universal discontent； it is attributed to
the insubordination of the priest。 Were it not for his stubbornness
all would go well； since the Constitution is perfect； and he is the
only one who does not accept it。 But； in not accepting it； he
attacks it。 He； therefore； is the last obstacle in the way of
public happiness； he is the scapegoat； let us drive the obnoxious
creature away！ And the urban militia； sometimes on its own
authority； sometimes instigated by the municipal body its
accomplice； is seen disturbing public worship； dispersing
congregations； seizing priests by the collar； pushing them by the
shoulders out of the town； and threatening them with hanging if they
dare to return。 At Douay；＇56＇ with guns in hand； they force the
directory of the department to order the closing of all the
oratories and chapels in hospitals and convents。 At Caen； with
loaded guns and with a cannon； they march forth against the
neighboring parish of Verson； break into houses； gather up fifteen
persons suspected of orthodoxy … canons； merchants； artisans；
workmen； women； girls； old men； and the infirm … cut off their
hair； strike them with the but…ends of their musket