XIX.

The growing hatred of Robespierre and Brissot became daily more deadly.  The sittings of the Jacobins and the newspapers were the continual theatre of the struggles and reconciliations of these two men.  Equal in strength in the nation—­equal in talent in the tribune—­it was evident that they were afraid of each other in their attacks.  They affected mutual respect, even when most offensive; but this repressed animosity only corroded their hearts more deeply, and it burst forth occasionally beneath the politeness of their language, like death beneath the glance of steel.

All these fermentations of division, rivalry, and resentment, boiled over in the April sittings.  They were like a general review of two great parties who were about to destroy the empire in disputing their own ascendency.  The Feuillants or moderate constitutionalists were the victims, that each of the two popular parties mutually immolated to the suspicions and rage of parties.  Raederer, a moderate Jacobin, was accused of having dined with the Feuillants, friends of La Fayette.  “I do not only inculpate Raederer,” exclaimed Tallien, “I denounce Condorcet and Brissot.  Let us drive from our society the ambitious and the Cromwellites.”

“The moment for unmasking traitors will soon arrive,” said Robespierre in his turn.  “I do not desire to unmask them to-day.  The blow when struck must be decisive.  I wish that all France heard me now.  I wish that the culpable chief of these factions, La Fayette, was here with all his army; I would say to his soldiers, whilst I presented my breast,—­Strike!  That moment would be the last of La Fayette and the intrigants” (this name had been invented by Robespierre for the Girondists).  Fauchet excused himself for having said that Guadet, Vergniaud, Gensonne, and Brissot might be, advantageously for the country, placed at the head of the government.  The Girondists were accused of dreaming of a protector, the Jacobins a tribune of the people.

At last, Brissot rose to reply.  “I am here to defend myself,” he said.  “What are my crimes?  I am said to have made seven ministers—­I keep up a connection with La Fayette—­I desire to make a protector of him.  Certainly great power is thus assigned to me by those who think that from my fourth story I have dictated laws to the Chateau of the Tuileries.  But if it even were true that I had made ministers, how long has it been a crime to have confided the interests of the people to the hands of the people?  This minister is about, it is said, to distribute all his favours to the Jacobins!  Ah! would to heaven that all the places were filled by Jacobins!”