Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/471

 The First FrencJi Republic 433 proportion to their resources, to place the king of France in a position to establish, with the most absolute freedom, the foundations of a monarchical form of government, which shall at once be in harmony with the rights of sovereigns and promote the welfare of the French nation. In that case 1 their said majesties the emperor and the king of Prussia are resolved to act promptly and in common accord with the forces necessary to obtain the desired common end. In the meantime they will give such orders to their troops as are necessary in order that these may be ready to be called into active service. Leopold. Frederick William. Pillnitz, August 27, 1791. II. A Royalist's View of the Achievements Of the National Assembly The views of the more conservative royalists in re- 405. Opinion gard to the work of the National Assembly are expressed servative in the following editorial in the well-known periodical, royalist on ... .. the work of Le Mercure de France. This article was written by Mai- the National let du Pan, the editor, who, although he clearly realized Assembl y- the vices of the Ancien Regime and did not wish it restored, nevertheless held, like many thoughtful men of the time, that the Assembly had been very unwise in its methods. The Constitutional Assembly cannot fail, without denying positive and accepted facts, to recognize that, as a result of its doctrines and action, it leaves every religious principle destroyed, morals in the last stage of degradation, free sway 1 Namely, in case the other powers agreed to join them in checking the Revolution. The signers of the declaration well knew that England would not associate itself with them for such a purpose and that conse- quently their threat would not be executed.