III

There is so much ill-considered use of the word revolutionist, we should bear in mind it is a strictly relative term.  If the freedom of a people is overthrown by treachery and violence, and oppression practised on their once thriving land, that is a revolution, and a bad revolution.  If, with tyranny enthroned and a land wasting under oppression, the people rise and by their native courage, resource and patience re-establish in their original independence a just government, that is a revolution, and a good revolution.  The revolutionist is to be judged by his motives, methods and ends; and, when found true, his insurrection, in the words of Mackintosh, is “an act of public virtue.”  It is the restoration of, Truth to its place of honour among men.

IV

Balmez mentions Bossuet as apparently one who denies the right here maintained; and we may with profit read some things Bossuet has said in another context, yet which touches closely what is our concern.  Writing of Les Empires, thus Bossuet:  “Les revolutions des empires sont reglees par la providence, et servent a humilier les princes.”  This is hardly calculated to deter us from a bid for freedom; and if we go on to read what he has written further under this heading, we get testimony to the hardihood and love of freedom and country that distinguished early Greece and Rome in language of eloquence that might inflame any people to liberty.  Of undegenerate Greece, free and invincible:  “Mais ce que la Grece avait de plus grand etait une politique ferme et prevoyante, qui savait abandonner, hasarder et defendre, ce qu’il fallait; et, ce qui est plus grand encore, un courage que l’amour de la liberte et celui de la patrie rendaient invincible.”  Of undegenerate Rome, her liberty:  “La liberte leur etait donc un tresor qu’ils preferoient a toutes les richesses de l’univers.”  Again:  “La maxime fondamentale de la republique etait de regarder la liberte comme une chose inseparable du nom Roman.”  And her constancy:  “Voila de fruit glorieux de la patience Romaine.  Des peuples qui s’enhardissaient et se fortifiaient par leurs malheurs avaient bien raison de croire qu’on sauvait tout pourvu qu’on ne perdit pas l’esperance.”  And again:  “Parmi eux, dans les etats les plus tristes, jamais les faibles conseils n’ont ete seulement ecoutes.”  The reading of such a fine tribute to the glory of ancient liberties is not likely to diminish our desire for freedom; rather, to add to the natural stimulus found in our own splendid traditions, the further stimulus of this thought that must whisper to us:  “Persevere and conquer, and to-morrow our finest opponent will be our finest panegyrist when the battle has been fought and won.”

V