The
imagination of the people requires to be impressed." This doctrine has
not been neglected. Listen to Robespierre:--
"The principle of the Republican Government is virtue, and the
means to be adopted, during its establishment, is terror. We want
to substitute, in our country, morality for egotism, probity for
honour, principles for customs, duties for decorum, the empire of
reason for the tyranny of fashion, contempt of vice for contempt of
misfortune, pride for insolence, greatness of soul for vanity,
love of glory for love of money, good people for good company,
merit for intrigue, genius for wit, truth for glitter, the charm of
happiness for the weariness of pleasure, the greatness of man for
the littleness of the great, a magnanimous, powerful, happy people,
for one that is easy, frivolous, degraded; that is to say, we would
substitute all the virtues and miracles of a republic for all the
vices and absurdities of monarchy."
At what a vast height above the rest of mankind does Robespierre place
himself here! And observe the arrogance with which he speaks. He is not
content with expressing a desire for a great renovation of the human
heart, he does not even expect such a result from a regular Government.
No; he intends to effect it himself, and by means of terror.
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