Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/451

 The French Revolution 413 safety ! It is threatened by external movements, commotions within, party divisions, the errors of enthusiasm and of impa- tience, and, above all, by the violent collision of the capital with the provinces. Although Paris is powerful, it contains many causes for disturbance. Its inhabitants, when excited, are irresistible. Winter is approaching and food may be wanting. Bankruptcy may be declared. What will Paris be three months hence? Assuredly a poorhouse, perhaps a theater of horrors. Is it to such a place that the head of the nation should intrust his existence and our only hope? The ministers are without resources. Only one of them enjoys any popularity, and he has always been supported rather by certain enthusiastic admirers than by a party. But his resources are well known, and he has just shown himself in his true light. His empty brain has never con- templated more than to prop up here and there an edifice which is giving away at every point. He is anxious to pro- long the death agony until the moment he has chosen for his political retirement, when, as in 1781, he plans to leave an alleged balance between the receipts and expenditures, and some millions in the royal treasury. What will become of the nation after this useless attempt, which renders bank- ruptcy inevitable? We are only weary and discouraged as yet ; it is the moment of despair which is to be feared. . . . Public strength lies only in public opinion and in the revenues of the state. But every bond of public opinion is severed. Only the direct taxes are paid at all, and these only partially, although the half of our taxes are indirect. Several years will be required to replace what six months have just destroyed, and the impatience of the people, which is increased by their misery, is apparent on every hand. A still more fatal emergency is to be anticipated. The National Assembly, which is so badly constituted in principle, composed as it is of discordant factions laboriously brought together, can see that each day the confidence in its work is diminishing. . . . The respect which an exalted title and a great revolution seen from afar inspires, as well as hope, so essential to the Danger of disorder in Paris. Necker's incapacity. General loss of respect for the National Assembly.