64] 
merce. But the calm voice of rea- 
son was but little regarded amidst 
the general uproar. All his efforts 
were exhausted in reports, plans, 
pathetic addresses, and prayers for 
the public good. The executive 
power was everborne by the violent 
spirit of insubordination that raged 
in all places and among all parties. 
Roland himself was abundantly sen- 
sible of ‘this. | While he endea- 
voured by compliments and caresses 
to moderate the rage and conduct 
the passions of his countrymen,—in 
all his addresses, he confesses how 
little he expects from the mild mede 
of moral persuasion, In his report 
(23d September) given in to the 
National Convention, and which 
being printed, was sent to the eigh- 
ty-three departments, and the ar- 
mies, he says, ‘ Paris has ever 
given the signal of action to the re- 
mainder of the empire on all great 
occasions: its inhabitants have trod- 
den down despotism, prevented its 
blind fury, and disconcerted its 
plans. It has, indeed, been self- 
destructive ; and despotism and its 
project must end together. But, 
should the fermentation it has ex- 
cited survive the foe, this fermen- 
tation will be equally ruinous. 
France is rending herself, and all is 
disorder. The danger is extreme. 
Can Paris, which has done so much 
for the general good, become the 
cause of misery? No. The Na- 
tional Convention will soon give a 
new face to affairs. The present 
law is truly the law of the people, 
who ought at least provisionally to 
acknowledge their own work, by 
obeying the decrees which shall be 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 17092. 
passed by the National Convention 
No plea of suspicion can now ex- 
cuse disobedience tothe law. Mi- 
nisters can no longer be suspected ; 
for they and the people have but 
one common cause: whoever shall 
refuse obedience to the law, must 
be either a mistaken or a perfidi-— 
‘ous man; and in either -case, his 
resistance may be destructive to the 
state. Reason will certainly'direet 
the great majority; and to their 
force the minority ought to cede.”’. 
But, after all these expressions of 
confidence in the reason of a great 
majority and the clearness of what 
they ought to do, he immediately 
adds, ‘* A vigorous government 
only can secure’ the existence of 
free states. This truth is particu- 
larly applicable to a people consist-_ 
ing of 25,000,000 of * men, in 
times of public danger, This idea 
leads to another. Confidence is the 
strongest of political springs; and 
the only one which ought to actuate 
a free people on ordinary occa- 
sions. But the present is none of 
that class. Brunswick extends his 
influence round the National Con- 
vention. Confidence singly, is im- 
potent; force is necessary :—force 
alone can overthrow treachery. 
It is my opinion, therefore, that the 
National Convention should be 
guarded by an armed force, capable 
of inspiring awe ; and that this force 
ought to consist of men wholly de- 
voted to military service; which 
should be their profession :—Regu- 
lar troops only can effect this pur- 
pose.”’ 
It might appear astonishing to 
those who did not reflect on the 
* Under which designation, Roland, it may be thought also, comprehended wo- 
men: and not with great impropriety. The French women had displayed manly 
courage, and more than manly ferocity. 
nature 
