396 INTRODUCTION. 



of the business was charged to its customers. Everywhere 

 and in every department corruption was apparent. Thus 

 the French labored under a despotism to which the horrors 

 of Hindoo servitude were comparative freedom. A vol- 

 ume would scarcely suffice to describe all the oppression 

 to which the French subject was exposed. Debauchery 

 and blasphemy, selfishness and disregard of right, in the 

 high places, had done their worst. Nothing short of 

 miraculous interposition could have saved France from the 

 legitimate consequences of her own infamy. Revolution 

 was sure to follow. And such a revolution! It is, per- 

 haps, without a parallel in the annals of history. That 

 it failed of its purpose, is not the fault of the revolution, 

 but in the preparation of the public mind to receive it. 

 The festering sores of corruption in high places had per- 

 meated the whole social structure of the people. 



France was in turmoil. Her morals were no better 

 than her government. She was able to tear down because 

 to do so only required courage and physical strength; but 

 to build required unity, wisdom, and a due regard for the 

 rights and opinions of others. But the people were not 

 properly educated. Every faction hated the king, but 

 every faction despised every other faction, and the revolu- 

 tion failed because the people were not prepared to accept 

 its results. Revolution itself is horrible; no great revolution 

 can be accomplished without excesses and miseries at which 

 humanity revolts. This is eminently true of the French 

 revolution. It was a destruction of great abuses, executed 

 with much inhumanity, violence and injustice. But not- 

 withstanding the crimes of the revolution and the suffer- 

 ings it caused, it effected a beneficial change. A revolution, 

 at its best, is a painful and perilous remedy; at is worst, it 

 is the severest trial a nation can undergo. It is well that 

 such trials seldom occur. They are only justifiable in 



