condorcet: a biography. 221 



that it is considered desirable to compose the national convention always 

 of rich men or of those with good prospects for the future. The elections, 

 too indirect, are a premium for intrigues and mediocrity. It is an insult 

 to the people to suppose them incapable of making good immediate elec- 

 tions. To compose the executive power of twenty-four persons is to 

 throw affairs into hopeless stagnation. A constitution which does not 

 guarantee civil liberty is radically defective. There is in some minds a 

 tendency toward federalism, toward the rupture of French unity, but the 

 greatest mistake is to have rendered the means of reform illusory." 



A critic so quick, so accurate, so just, moreover, could not have been 

 welcome to the authors of the project, but what followed irritated them 

 still more, for self-love is always the weak side of our species, even with 

 those who call themselves statesmen. 



"All that is good in the second project of a constitution is copied 

 from the first, — which has only been perverted and corrupted by the 

 attempt to correct and improve." Chabot denounced the letter of Con- 

 dorcet to the convention in the session of the 8th of July, 1793. The 

 ex- Capuchin called the new constitution of Ucrault de Sechelles a siih- 

 lime icorlc. He spoke of the criticism as an infamous article which only 

 villains could tolerate, and after the use of these abusive terms, adds: 

 "Condorcet pretends that his constitution is better; that the primary 

 assemblies ought to accept it. I propose, therefore, that he be placed 

 under arrest, and compelled to plead his cause at the bar." 



The assembly accordingly decreed without further accusation that 

 the illustrious deputy from Aisne should be arrested and the state seal 

 placed upon his papers. 



Condorcet, although generally, but erroneously, considered a Girondist, 

 was not among the number of the twenty-four deputies arrested on the 

 31st of May. On the 3d of October, 1793, however, his name is found 

 with those of Brissot, Yergniaud, Gensonne, Yalaze, in the list of the 

 conventionals brought before the revolutionary tribunal, accused of 

 conspiracy against the unity of the republic and condemned to death. 



Condorcet, condemned as^ contumacious, was outlawed; was placed 

 upon the list of exiles and all his possessions were confiscated. 



"Honor took refuge in the camp." In this short sentence historians 

 pretend to give an idea of the terrible years 1793 and 1791 of our 

 revolution. But the great epochs of history can be described in so few 

 words, only at the expense of truth. It is true the armies of the repub- 

 lic manifested a devotion, a patience, and a courage really admirable; 

 it is true the soldiers, badly armed, badly clothed, barefooted, strangers 

 to the most simple military evolutions, hardly knowing how to use their 

 guns, overcame by force of patriotism the best troops of Europe, and 

 drove them disorganized beyond the frontiers; yes, from the bosom of 

 the people, whose intelligence had been dwarfed by the aristocratic 

 pride and prejudices of our ancestors, sprang as if by enchantment im- 

 mortal leaders ; yes, when the welfare ortionor of the country required 



