5 6 Julia Crezmtt Stoddard 



Lafayette's part in the insurrection, then, was not one of self- 

 glorification, although his power was unquestionably increased 

 by the results of it. 1 But by placing himself in command he 

 gave dignity and a certain character of legality to the movement 

 which made it formidable to possible resistance on the part of 

 the court. 2 



The influence of persons, therefore, appears not so much a 

 cause of this insurrection as an attempt to reap some benefit 

 from a revolution which was inevitable. 



More influential than the intrigues of persons or of parties in 

 precipitating the outbreak was the public press. After the ar- 

 rival of the regiment of Flanders, the patriotic journals united 

 in proclaiming the necessity for forcing the king to establish 

 himself in Paris. 3 A campaign was commenced against all "ene- 

 mies of the revolution." T have already quoted enough from the 

 leading newspapers to show the spirit of the press. The com- 

 mune of Paris was accused of "favoring a new system of aris- 

 tocracy," Lafayette and Bailly of "allowing the people to starve." 

 Leading members of the assembly were denounced as "traitors to 

 the revolution." The aristocrats were accused of "secret plots 

 and dangerous conspiracies," and the attacks on the queen grew 

 more numerous and more virulent. 4 Pamphlets were circulated 

 that were even more violent than the newspapers. An example 

 was given in the one entitled When shall we have bread? The 

 effect of these publications, appearing day by day, can hardly be 

 imagined. At the Palais Royal, the ideas they expressed were 

 constantly discussed by the popular orators, with the result that 

 "the people became strongly impressed with the thought that it 

 was necessary for the success of the* revolution to establish the 

 seat of public power at Paris." 5 "It was the press that not only 

 prepared the insurrection and rendered it possible, but which gave 

 it its peculiar purpose and character. All the hatred, all the 

 passions with which the revolted people were animated, all the 



i Revue historique, LXVIII, 261. 

 *Ibid., LXIX, 49. 

 Ubid., LXVIII, 265. 

 * Ibid., LXVIII, 266. 

 *Ibld. y LXIX, 46. 



322 



