-
Articles/Ads
Article LA FAYETTE's STATEMENT OF HIS OWN CONDUCT. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
La Fayette's Statement Of His Own Conduct.
" they were but noticed . Mere profession being then deemed 3 " sufficient qualification to entitle a man to become a member of " this society , it soon began to swell up with cumbersome com-** bustibles , who though considered as poor harmless expletives , " were deemed an acquisition by some , who through an overfond" ness for themselves , were proud to see the numeration table well filled
" , without well considering the power of numbers , nor " tlie infinite variety of purposes they were liable to produce , nor » yet how far weak men were liable to be duped in to wicked agencies . " After this attack upon the Jacobin Club , M . de la ° Fayette , proceeds as follows : " The vital sparks of Liberty ( physically speaking ) in its infant '
" state , has nothing so much to dread as a snperabundance of idio" tic phlegm , for though it derives its corporeal strength therefrom , " yet when it forces its way into the sacred presence-chamber of " reason , all the charming structures , and scenes of order , are de" molished , and a fulmination of chaotic distractions ensues , which " transforms the whole of the noble system into so dangerous a " monster , that its destruction becomes necessary to the honour " and safetj r of its former species . " Such was the monster which lately broke loose from the chains
" applied by reason , and rushed forth in the open face of da 3 ' , furi" ously overturning all things that bore any appearance of resist" ance , and marked its career with blood and destruction , confound'" ing the innocent with the guilty in one promiscuous ruin . " The legislative body , terrified at the rudeness of such desperate " outrageousness , suffered itself to be dictated into measures , which
" the necessity ofthe moment only could justify , or rather apolo" gize for . " It was my misfortune to oppose the progress of such violence , " with the utmost spirit I was master of , and my overthrow was " the consequence of the contest . Reduced to " the necessity of < c yielding my neck to the murderer ' s knife , or of availing myself
" of the alternative which the law of nature and reason afforded , * ' I preferred a submission to any law , rather than to the blind ven" geance of a fmyr , which was governed by no law . My enemies " rejoiced at my escape—It gave persecution the important ap" pearance of vigilance , and also gave their unjust or pretended " suspicions an apparent justification . " ' Whatever reason M . la Fayette may have to detest that party to whose resentment he fell a sacrifice , 3 ^ et he here declaims against the old government of France , with his accustomed energy .
" In those aristocratic days , the industrious husbandman was not to enjoy the fruits of his honest labours , and the insatiable wants of " a despotic government gaped for a large share of his golden har-( C vest . The refined modes of aristocratic assiduity , were ingeni" ously adapted to collect another share , with all the aggravations " of insolence . Another share fell to sacerdotal drones of all de-« grees , from the haughty prelate , to his pampered eminence th * « cardinal . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
La Fayette's Statement Of His Own Conduct.
" they were but noticed . Mere profession being then deemed 3 " sufficient qualification to entitle a man to become a member of " this society , it soon began to swell up with cumbersome com-** bustibles , who though considered as poor harmless expletives , " were deemed an acquisition by some , who through an overfond" ness for themselves , were proud to see the numeration table well filled
" , without well considering the power of numbers , nor " tlie infinite variety of purposes they were liable to produce , nor » yet how far weak men were liable to be duped in to wicked agencies . " After this attack upon the Jacobin Club , M . de la ° Fayette , proceeds as follows : " The vital sparks of Liberty ( physically speaking ) in its infant '
" state , has nothing so much to dread as a snperabundance of idio" tic phlegm , for though it derives its corporeal strength therefrom , " yet when it forces its way into the sacred presence-chamber of " reason , all the charming structures , and scenes of order , are de" molished , and a fulmination of chaotic distractions ensues , which " transforms the whole of the noble system into so dangerous a " monster , that its destruction becomes necessary to the honour " and safetj r of its former species . " Such was the monster which lately broke loose from the chains
" applied by reason , and rushed forth in the open face of da 3 ' , furi" ously overturning all things that bore any appearance of resist" ance , and marked its career with blood and destruction , confound'" ing the innocent with the guilty in one promiscuous ruin . " The legislative body , terrified at the rudeness of such desperate " outrageousness , suffered itself to be dictated into measures , which
" the necessity ofthe moment only could justify , or rather apolo" gize for . " It was my misfortune to oppose the progress of such violence , " with the utmost spirit I was master of , and my overthrow was " the consequence of the contest . Reduced to " the necessity of < c yielding my neck to the murderer ' s knife , or of availing myself
" of the alternative which the law of nature and reason afforded , * ' I preferred a submission to any law , rather than to the blind ven" geance of a fmyr , which was governed by no law . My enemies " rejoiced at my escape—It gave persecution the important ap" pearance of vigilance , and also gave their unjust or pretended " suspicions an apparent justification . " ' Whatever reason M . la Fayette may have to detest that party to whose resentment he fell a sacrifice , 3 ^ et he here declaims against the old government of France , with his accustomed energy .
" In those aristocratic days , the industrious husbandman was not to enjoy the fruits of his honest labours , and the insatiable wants of " a despotic government gaped for a large share of his golden har-( C vest . The refined modes of aristocratic assiduity , were ingeni" ously adapted to collect another share , with all the aggravations " of insolence . Another share fell to sacerdotal drones of all de-« grees , from the haughty prelate , to his pampered eminence th * « cardinal . "