Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/486

 44 8 Readings in Europea?i History they dream of retaining a form of government branded by fourteen centuries of crime. But it is not royalty alone that must be eliminated from our constitution, but every kind of individual power which tends to restrict the rights of the people and violate the principles of equality. . . . M. Philippeaux. There is a still more pressing subject ; that is, to furnish the organs of the law the necessary power to maintain public tranquillity. I move that you maintain provisionally in power all the authorities now in existence. . . . M. Camus. The most essential thing is to order that the taxes continue to be collected, for you know that they have to be voted at the opening of every new legislature. The motions of Messieurs Philippeaux and Camus were unanimously passed. . . . M. Collot d'Herbois. You have just taken a wise resolu- tion, but there is one which you cannot postpone until the morrow, or even until this evening, or indeed for a single instant, without being faithless to the wish of the nation, — that is the abolition of royalty. [ Unanimous applause. , ] M. Qiiinette. We are not the judges of royalty; that be- longs to the people. Our business is to make a concrete government, and the people will then choose between the old form where there was royalty and that which we shall submit to them. . . . M. Gregoire. Assuredly no one of us would ever propose to retain in France the fatal race of kings ; we all know but too well that dynasties have never been anything else than rapacious tribes who lived on nothing but human flesh. It is necessary completely to reassure the friends of liberty. We must destroy this talisman, whose magic power is still sufficient to stupefy many a man. I move accordingly that you sanction by a solemn law the abolition of royalty. The entire Assembly rose by a spontaneous movement and passed the motion of Monsieur Gre'goire by acclamation. M. Bazire. I rise to a point of order. ... It would be a frightful example for the people to see an Assembly com- missioned with its dearest interests voting in a moment of enthusiasm. I move that the question be discussed.