[110] Camille Desmoulins’ _La France Libre_ contained three striking utterances. “For forty years philosophy had undermined all the parts of the foundations of despotism; and as Rome before Cæsar was already enslaved by its vices, France before Necker was already freed by its intelligence,” 56. In various parts of this article of 1789 he speaks of a republic as being the best suited to France. “Before the Royal Sitting I regarded Louis XVI. with admiration, for he had some virtues, as he walked not at all in the steps of his fathers, was not at all a despot, and had convoked the States-General. While in the province I read in the _gazette_ his beautiful speech: ‘What does it matter that my authority suffer provided my people should be happy?’ We have, I said to myself, a greater king than the Trojans, the Marcus Aurelius, the Antonines, who did not at all limit their power. Personally I loved Louis XVI.; but the _monarchy was not less odious_,” 60-61. “I declare then boldly for democracy,” 64. [111] _Hist. Parl._, ii, 353, and iv, 295. [112] _Ibid._, iii, 433. [113] _Hist. Gén._, viii, 104. [114] See Condorcet’s speech on the question of the kingship, July 15, 1791. _Arch. Parl._, xviii, 336-338. [115] _Hist. Parl._, x, 416-418. It seems to have been the Cordeliers who planned for the public signing of the petition upon the altar of the country, July 17, 1791, on the Champs de Mars. This petition prayed the Assembly to accept the abdication of the king, and to convoke a new constituent power for the trial of the guilty and for the replacing and organization of a new executive power. _Hist. Gén._, viii, 100; _Hist. Parl._, xi, 115. Six thousand petitioners had signed this instrument.