CIVIL GOVERNORS.--You are then a rebel people. PEOPLE.--A nation cannot revolt; tyrants only are rebels. CIVIL GOVERNORS.--The king is on our side; he commands you to submit. PEOPLE.--Kings are inseparable from their nations. Our king cannot be with you; you possess only his phantom. And the military governors came forward. The people are timorous, said they; we must threaten them; they will submit only to force. Soldiers, chastise this insolent multitude. PEOPLE.--Soldiers, you are of our blood! Will you strike your brothers, your relatives? If the people perish who will nourish the army? And the soldiers, grounding their arms, said to the chiefs: We are likewise the people; show us the enemy! Then the ecclesiastical governors said: There is but one resource left. The people are superstitious; we must frighten them with the names of God and religion. Our dear brethren! our children! God has ordained us to govern you. PEOPLE.--Show us your credentials from God! PRIESTS.--You must have faith; reason leads astray. PEOPLE.--Do you govern without reason? PRIESTS.--God commands peace! Religion prescribes obedience. PEOPLE.--Peace supposes justice. Obedience implies conviction of a duty. PRIESTS.--Suffering is the business of this world. PEOPLE.--Show us the example. PRIESTS.--Would you live without gods or kings? PEOPLE.--We would live without oppressors. PRIESTS.--You must have mediators, intercessors. PEOPLE.--Mediators with God and with the king! courtiers and priests, your services are too expensive: we will henceforth manage our own affairs. And the little group said: We are lost! the multitude are enlightened. And the people answered: You are safe; since we are enlightened we will commit no violence; we only claim our rights. We feel resentments, but we will forget them. We were slaves, we might command; but we only wish to be free, and liberty is but justice. CHAPTER XVI. A FREE AND LEGISLATIVE PEOPLE. Considering that all public power was now suspended, and that the habitual restraint of the people had suddenly ceased, I shuddered with the apprehension that they would fall into the dissolution of anarchy. But, taking their affairs into immediate deliberation, they said: