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latest； unless they should be on duty。 。 。 。 All citizens are
invited to communicate whatever they may learn or discover in
relation to the abominable plots which are secretly going on in the
capital。〃
＇53＇ Letter of M。 de Guillermy； July 31； 1790 （〃Actes des Ap？tres；〃
V。 56）。 〃During these two nights （July 13th and 14th； 1789） that we
remained in session I heard one deputy try to get it believed that
an artillery corps had been ordered to point its guns against our
hall； another； that it was undermined； and that it was to be blown
up； another went so far as to declare that he smelt powder； upon
which M。 le Comte de Virieu replied that power had no odor until it
was burnt。〃
＇54＇ Dumont； 351。 〃Each constitutional law was a party triumph。〃
＇55＇ Here Taine indicates how subversive parties may proceed to
weaken a nation prior to their take…over。（SR。）
CHAPTER II。 DESTRUCTION。
I。
Two principal vices of the ancient régime。 … Two principal reforms
proposed by the King and the privileged classes。 … They suffice for
actual needs。 … Impracticable if carried further。
In the structure of the old society there were two fundamental vices
which called for two reforms of corresponding importance。＇1＇
In the first place； those who were privileged having ceased to
render the services for which the advantages they enjoyed
constituted their compensation and their privileges were no longer
anything but a gratuitous charge imposed on one portion of the
nation for the benefit of the other。 Hence the necessity for
suppressing them。
In the second place； the Government； being absolute； made use of
public resources as if they were its own private property；
arbitrarily and wastefully；＇2＇ it was therefore necessary to impose
upon it some effective and regular restraints。
To render all citizens equal before taxation； to put the purse of
the tax…payers into the hands of their representatives； such was the
twofold operation to be carried out in 1789； and the privileged
class as well as the King willingly lent themselves to it。 Not
only； in this respect； were the memorials of nobles and clergy in
perfect harmony； but the monarch himself； in his declaration of the
23rd of June； 1789； decreed the two articles。 Henceforth； every tax
or loan was to obtain the consent of the States…General； this
consent was to be renewed at each new meeting of the States； the
public estimates were to be annually published； discussed；
specified； apportioned； voted on and verified by the States； there
were to be no arbitrary assessments or use of public funds；
allowances were to be specially assigned for all separate services；
the household of the King included。 In each province or district…
general； there was to be an elected Provincial Assembly； one…half
composed of ecclesiastics and nobles； and the other half of members
of the Third…Estate； to apportion general taxes； to manage local
affairs； to decree and direct public works； to administer hospitals；
prisons； workhouses； and to continue its function； in the interval
of the sessions； through an intermediary commission chosen by
itself； so that； besides the principal control of the center； there
were to be thirty subordinate controlling powers at the extremities。
There was to be no more exemption or distinction in the matter of
taxation； the roadtax （covée） was to be abolished； also the right of
franc…fief＇3＇ imposed on plebeians； the rights of mortmain；＇4＇
subject to indemnity； and internal customs duties。 There was to be
a reduction of the captaincies； a modification of the salt…tax and
of the excise； the transformation of civil justice； too costly for
the poor； and of criminal justice； too severe for the humbler
classes。 Here we have； besides the principal reform； equalization
of taxes； the beginning and inducement of the more complete
operation which is to strike off the last of the feudal manacles。
Moreover； six weeks later； on the 4th of August； the privileged； in
an outburst of generosity； come forward of their own accord to cut
off or undo the whole of them。 This double reform thus encountered
no obstacles； and； as Arthur Young reported to his friends； it
merely required one vote to have it adopted。＇5＇
This was enough； for all real necessities were now satisfied。 On
the one hand； through the abolition of privileges in the matter of
taxation； the burden of the peasant and； in general； on the small
tax…payer was diminished one…half； and perhaps two thirds； instead
of paying fifty…three francs on one hundred francs of net income； he
paid no more than twenty…five or even sixteen；＇6＇ an enormous
relief； and one which； with the proposed revision of the excise and
salt duties； made a complete change in his condition。 Add to this
the gradual redemption of ecclesiastical and feudal dues： and after
twenty years the peasant； already proprietor of a fifth of the soil；
would； without the violent events of the Revolution； in any case
have attained the same degree of independence and well…being which
he was to achieve by passing through it。 On the other hand； through
the annual vote on the taxes； not only were waste and arbitrariness
in the employment of the public funds put a stop to； but also the
foundations of the parliamentary system of government were laid：
whoever holds the purse…strings is； or becomes； master of the rest；
henceforth in the maintenance or establishment of any service； the
assent of the States was to be necessary。 Now； in the three
Chambers which the three orders were thenceforward to form； there
were two in which the plebeians predominated。 Public opinion；
moreover； was on their side； while the King； the true constitutional
monarch； far from possessing the imperious inflexibility of a
despot； did not now possess the initiative of an ordinary person。
Thus the preponderance fell to the communes； and they could legally；
without any collision； execute multiply； and complete； with the aid
of the prince and through him； all useful reforms。＇7＇ This was
enough； for human society； like a living body； is seized with
convulsions when it is subjected to operations on too great a scale；
and these； although restricted； were probably all that France in
1789 could endure。 To equitably reorganize afresh the whole system
of direct and indirect taxation； to revise； recast； and transfer to
the frontiers the customs…tariffs； to suppress； through negotiations
and with indemnity； feudal and ecclesiastical claims； was an
operation of the greatest magnitude； and as complex as it was
delicate。 Things could be satisfactorily arranged only through
minute inquiries； verified calculations； prolonged essays； and
mutual concessions。 In England； in our day； a quarter of a century
has been required to bring about a lesser reform； the transformation
of tithes and manorial…rights； and time likewise was necessary for
our Assemblies to perfect their poli