France -- History -- Louis XVI, 1774-1793; France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799
Sansculottism will burn much; but what is incombustible it will
not burn. Fear not Sansculottism; recognise it for what it is,
the portentous, inevitable end of much, the miraculous beginning
of much. One other thing thou mayest understand of it: that it
too came from God; for has it not _been?_ From of old, as it is
written, are His goings forth; in the great Deep of things;
fearful and wonderful now as in the beginning: in the whirlwind
also He speaks! and the wrath of men is made to praise Him.—But
to gauge and measure this immeasurable Thing, and what is called
_account for it_, and reduce it to a dead logic-formula, attempt
not! Much less shalt thou shriek thyself hoarse, cursing it; for
that, to all needful lengths, has been already done. As an
actually existing Son of Time, _look_, with unspeakable manifold
interest, oftenest in silence, at what the Time did bring:
therewith edify, instruct, nourish thyself, or were it but to
amuse and gratify thyself, as it is given thee.
Another question which at every new turn will rise on us,
requiring ever new reply is this: Where the French Revolution
specially _is?_ In the King’s Palace, in his Majesty’s or her
Majesty’s managements, and maltreatments, cabals, imbecilities
and woes, answer some few:—whom we do not answer. In the National
Assembly, answer a large mixed multitude: who accordingly seat
themselves in the Reporter’s Chair; and therefrom noting what
Proclamations, Acts, Reports, passages of logic-fence, bursts of
parliamentary eloquence seem notable within doors, and what
tumults and rumours of tumult become audible from
without,—produce volume on volume; and, naming it History of the
French Revolution, contentedly publish the same. To do the like,
to almost any extent, with so many Filed Newspapers, _Choix des
Rapports, Histoires Parlementaires_ as there are, amounting to
many horseloads, were easy for us. Easy but unprofitable. The
National Assembly, named now Constituent Assembly, goes its
course; making the Constitution; but the French Revolution also
goes _its_ course.
In general, may we not say that the French Revolution lies in the
heart and head of every violent-speaking, of every
violent-thinking French Man? How the Twenty-five Millions of
such, in their perplexed combination, acting and counter-acting
may give birth to events; which event successively is the
cardinal one; and from what point of vision it may best be
surveyed: this is a problem. Which problem the best insight,
seeking light from all possible sources, shifting its point of
vision whithersoever vision or glimpse of vision can be had, may
employ itself in solving; and be well content to solve in some
tolerably approximate way.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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