New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-08-03
From the Foreign Quarterly for July.
THE REIGN OF TERROR.


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From the Foreign Quarterly for July.
THE REIGN OF TERROR.
IContinued.
faction so characterized was but the repre-
sentative of the ignorance and folly OF the mob; IT
could obviously not secure its interests or wiele
its passions it had not one element OF duration,
one quality for the acquisition of solid power.
And every observer must have seen that the real
strife for the mastery of France lay between Ro-
bespierre and Danton. Of these two men, amongst
most historians, especially in England Danton is
the fayoritc There is indeed TO q vulg gar gaze,
something almost captivating in this Mirabeau OF
the Mob, despite his horrible excuses. lie was
free from all personal viadictiyeness, ne was not
naturally cruel; he split, as NJ. Dnval well OBJ
serves blood in torrents, but always for purpose
and from policy he could not be sanguinary in
detail; he had no cowardice in him, no envy.
About his character was large rough good ma
ture; ne was affectionats and loyal to those ne
loved (ftr he did love and he was loved, this mas
ter butcaer who could order the massacre of 1900
prisoners in cold bloody He had no religion,
even of atheism for atheism is not, like sceptl-
cism, lukewarm and hesitating. but is ardent and
intoerant in its creed; he laughed at the Goddess
of Reason: he had therefore vestge of hyPo-
crsy or. cant. Frankly he confessed his total in
fidelity, candidy he owned his theories of Revo-
lutions, /" things not made with rose water, IN
which Gas he sadly the boldest scoundrel was the
most successful actor. He was prohigate, lusttul,
and corrupt in money matters, but he was all these
so undisguisedy, that the vulgar, who like frank
villain, ranked them amongst his merits. On the
other hand, Rebes,ierre personal coward,
and hence arose, perhaps, all his crimes de,
200, certainly Was not by nature cruel, nor even
vindictve, whatever has been said TO the contrary:
for it is q fact that he took notice OF many OF
his early personal enemies when their lives were
in his power; but he never spared one man who
could be an obstacle to his ambition, or who could
endanger his safety. He, like Danton, was SAN
culinary only system, but his system was one
Of private fear well as public interest. lie was
essentially an egotst Danton lived for the circle,
not from faith in its interests, but from his joyous
tompsr; Robespierrs sat wrapped in himself.
Tie same Gauss that made Maximilien cruel.
made him treacherous for personal cowardice,
combined with moral energy, (Which last Robes.
pierre possessed to the highest possible degree
works through craft what the holder villainy
achieves through violence.
But then Robespierre had faith in something,
and Danton in nothing Robespierre believed III
Liberty, in Virtue, in Deity, in the People, in
the Revolution itself. Danton regarded all with
the same careless and hardy insouciamee. With
him, Virtue was convention, Deity word, the
People, Liberty, and Resolution,-all pretences
for ambition,-counters in the game of knaves
He got wearied Of the Reign of Terror, partly be.
cause he saw it made subservient to the personal
egotism of Robespierre, partly because he was a
man who lived for the day, and he was newly MAJ
ried, had amassed a fortune, and was fond OF his
villa But he wanted that earnestness and faith
of purpose which could alone have enabled him co
carry on the movement into order and mercy. He
toyed with the time; he was wholly incapable to
construct though so marvellously fitted to destroy
With all his talents, which, though of coarse
quality were considerable, he was n child when
compared to the concentrated will, and indefatiga-
bic industry. and patient intellect OF Robesp'erre
And therefore, in locking calmly and dispassion,
ately at the two men, the profound observer mus,
feel, that if, placed in those times, he had been
constrained to take his choice between Rooespicrre
and Danton, had been forced to rest his last hope.
of the Revolution, of Humanity, of Civilized In
stitutions, upon one or the other, Danton would
not have bsen his election. The more, amidst
that chaos Of motives and of actors, regard the
prominent individuals, the more we must perceive
that the only INTELLIGENCE of the time wa:
Maximilen Robsspierre. He had objects ane
purposes beyond the hour; he WIS ever lookin!
forward TO tho time when the Reign of Blood wa
to cease; he only desired to destroy bis enemie
in order call into being the new state OF thing
in which he could reduce to system the theories
he cherished. He was engaged with David o,
designs for benevolent institutions a few days be
fore he persisted; he was drawing up notes for 6
code of laws in which his earliest dream of the
abolition of capital punishments might be realized
while struggling foot 10 foot with Barras md Tai
lien fer his head or their own. He firmly believed
in all the principles he ProEessed;-a hypocrite il
his conduct to men, but an enthusiast in his faith
in dogmas.
In times of CONFUSION two qualities are neces
sary, fore.hought to design, courage to act Onl,
one man in modern revolutions ever perhaps unite.
these in the perfection necessary to complete per
sonal success, and that man was Cromwell. Ii
the French Revolution Danton had more of the
last Robespiere intellectually more of the first
Historians compare Danson to lion, ana in al
his qualities, noble or savage, he had much of the
brute-sou in him seemed extinct Robespierre
with all his atrocities still had the calculation
5 reason, and belief of Man. And the Man beat
the Lion.
had no option bat the choice of Augustus after the
prescriptions. If the excitement arising from ter
Ter was to be prolonged, what could feed it after
the death of Danton-excep, his ownf He might
have made the tragedy end with that signal catas
trophe; but If the interest was to go on if an
other act was to be added, all that could engage
the audience was the fall Of Maximilen Robes
pierre.
They say" observed patrol Danion that you,
zeal is abated you reh thai you toed TO advance
fhe Revolution till had made Your fortune you,
fortune is made you woald arrest il, This is said
always psos na 6 S%sy s wSss Why
The charge love gold and Robespierrc only s.osd"
panion es this even While affecting 10 cali Rotesperrs