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of further progress； with the assurance that there would be no lack
of opportunity for them to obtain still more。
〃This was all；〃 he continues； 〃that I thought your countrymen able
to bear soberly and usefully。〃
Arthur Young； who studies the moral life of France so
conscientiously； and who is so severe in depicting old abuses；
cannot comprehend the conduct of the Commons。
〃To set aside practice for theory 。 。 。 in establishing the
interests of a great kingdom； in securing freedom to 25；000；000 of
people； seems to me the very acme of imprudence； the very
quintessence of insanity。〃
Undoubtedly； now that the Assembly is all…powerful； it is to be
hoped that it will be reasonable：
〃I will not allow myself to believe for a moment that the
representatives of the people can ever so far forget their duty to
the French nation； to humanity； and their own fame； as to suffer any
inordinate and impracticable views … any visionary or theoretic
systems … 。 。 。 to turn aside their exertions from that security
which is in their hands； to place on the chance and hazard of public
commotion and civil war the invaluable blessings which are certainly
in their power。 I will not conceive it possible that men who have
eternal fame within their grasp will place the rich inheritance on
the cast of a die； and； losing the venture； be damned among the
worst and most profligate adventurers that ever disgraced humanity。〃
As their plan becomes more definite the remonstrances become more
decided； and all the expert judges point out to them the importance
of the wheels which they are willfully breaking。
〃As they have＇21＇ hitherto felt severely the authority exercised
over them in the name of their princes； every limitation of that
authority seems to them desirable。 Never having felt the evils of
too weak an executive； the disorders to be apprehended from anarchy
make as yet no impression〃 〃They want an American
Constitution；＇22＇ but with a King instead of a President； without
reflecting they have no American citizens to support that
Constitution。 。 。 If they have the good sense to give the nobles；
as nobles； some portion of the national power； this free
constitution will probably last； But otherwise it will degenerate
either into a pure monarchy； or a vast republic； or a democracy。
Will the latter last？ I doubt it。 I am sure that it will not；
unless the whole nation is changed。〃
A little later； when they renounce a parliamentary monarchy to put
in its place 〃a royal democracy；〃 it is at once explained to them
that such an institution applied to France can produce nothing but
anarchy； and finally end in despotism。
〃Nowhere＇23＇ has liberty proved to be stable without a sacrifice
of its excesses； without some barrier to its own omnipotence。 。 。 。
Under this miserable government 。 。 。 the people； soon weary of
storms； and abandoned without legal protection to their seducers or
to their oppressors； will shatter the helm； or hand it over to some
audacious hand that stands ready to seize it。〃
Events occur from month to month in fulfillment of these
predictions； and the predictions grow gloomier and more gloomy。 It
is a flock of wild birds：＇24＇
〃It is very difficult to guess whereabouts the flock will settle
when it flies so wild。 。 。 。 This unhappy country； bewildered in
the pursuit of metaphysical whims； presents to our moral view a
mighty ruin。 The Assembly； at once master and slave； new in power；
wild in theory； raw in practice； engrossing all functions without
being able to exercise any； has freed that fierce； ferocious people
from every restraint of religion and respect。 。 。 。 Such a state
of things cannot last 。 。 。 The glorious opportunity is lost and
for this time； at least； the Revolution has failed。〃
We see； from the replies of Washington； that he is of the same
opinion。 On the other side of the Channel； Pitt； the ablest
practician； and Burke； the ablest theorist； of political liberty；
express the same judgment。 Pitt； after 1789； declares that the
French have overleaped freedom。 After 1790； Burke； in a work which
is a prophecy as well as a masterpiece； points to military
dictatorship as the termination of the Revolution； 〃the most
completely arbitrary power that has ever appeared on earth。〃 Nothing
is of any effect。 With the exception of the small powerless group
around Malouet and Mounier； the warnings of Morris； Jefferson；
Romilly； Dumont； Mallet du Pan； Arthur Young； Pitt and Burke； all of
them men who have experience of free institutions； are received with
indifference or repelled with disdain。 Not only are our new
politicians incapable； but they think themselves the contrary； and
their incompetence is aggravated by their infatuation。
〃I often used to say； 〃writes Dumont；＇25＇ 〃that if a hundred
persons were stopped at haphazard in the streets of London； and a
hundred in the streets of Paris； and a proposal were made to them to
take charge of the Government； ninety…nine would accept it in Paris
and ninety…nine would refuse it in London 。 。 。 The Frenchman
thinks that all difficulties can be overcome by a little quickness
of wit。 Mirabeau accepted the post of reporter to the Committee on
Mines without having the slightest tincture of knowledge on the
subject。〃
In short； most of them enter politics 〃like the gentleman who； on
being asked if he knew how to play on the harpsichord； replied； 'I
cannot tell； I never tried； but I will see。' 〃
〃The Assembly had so high an opinion of itself； especially the
left side of it； that it would willingly have undertaken the framing
of the Code of Laws for all nations。 。 。 Never has so many men been
seen together； fancying that they were all legislators； and that
they were there to correct all the errors of the past； to remedy all
mistakes of the human mind； and ensure the happiness of all ages to
come。 Doubt had no place in their minds； and infallibility always
presided over their contradictory decrees。〃
This is because they have a theory and because； according to their
notion； this theory renders special knowledge unnecessary。 Herein
they are thoroughly sincere； and it is of set purpose that they
reverse all ordinary modes of procedure。 Up to this time a
constitution used to be organized or repaired like a ship。
Experiments were made from time to time； or a model was taken from
vessels in the neighborhood； the first aim was to make the ship
sail； its construction was subordinated to its work； it was
fashioned in this or that way according to the materials on hand； a
beginning was made by examining these materials； and trying to
estimate their rigidity； weight； and strength。 … All this is
reactionary； the age of Reason has come and the Assembly is too
enlightened to drag on in a rut。 In conformity with the fashion of
the time it works by deduction； after the method of Rousseau；
according to an abstract notion of right； of the State and of the
social compact。＇26＇ According to this process； by virtue of
political geometry alone； they shall have the perfect vessel and
since it perfect it follows that it will sail； and that much better
than any empirical craft。 … They legislate according to this
principle； and one may imagine the nature of their discussions。
There are no convincing facts； no pointed arguments； nobody would
ever imagine that the speakers were gathered together to conduct
real business。 Through speech after speech； strings of hollow
abstractions are endlessly renewed as in a meeting of students in
rhetoric for the purpose of practice； or in a society of old
bookworms for their own amusement。 On the question of the veto
〃each orator in turn； armed with his portfolio； reads a dissertation
which has no bearing whatever〃 on the preceding one； which makes a
〃sort of academical session；〃＇27＇ a succession of pamphlets fresh
every morning for several days。 On the question of the Rights of
Man fifty…four speakers are placed on the list。
〃I remember；〃 says Dumont； 〃that long discussion； which lasted for
weeks； as a period of deadly boredom； vain disputes over words； a
metaphysical jumble； and most tedious babble； the Assembly was
turned into a Sorbonne lecture…room；〃
and all this while chateaux were burning； while town…halls were
being sacked； and courts dared no longer hold assize； while the
distribution of wheat was stopped； and while society was in course
of dissolution。 In the same manner the theologians of the Easter
Roman Empire kept up their wrangles about the uncreated light of
Mount Tabor while Mahomet II was battering the walls of
Constantinople with his cannon。 … Ours； of course； are another
sort of men； juvenile in feeling； sincere； enthusiastic； even
generous； and further； more devoted； laborious； and in some cases
endowed with rare talent。 But ne