At these words, Lasource, the friend of Brissot, wished to speak, and was refused.  Merlin demanded if the peace sworn yesterday ought to bind only one of two parties, and to authorise the other to spread calumnies against Robespierre?  The Assembly tumultuously insisted on the orators being silent.  Legendre declared that the chamber was partial.  Robespierre quitted the tribune, approached the president, and addressed him with menacing gestures, and in language impossible to be heard in the noise of the chamber, and the taunts and sneers profusely scattered by the opposing factions.

“Why do we see this ferocity among the intrigants against Robespierre?” exclaimed one of the partisans when tranquillity was re-established.  “Because he is the only man capable of making head against their party, if they should succeed in forming it.  Yes, in revolutions we require those men, who, full of self-denial, deliver themselves as voluntary victims to factions.  The people should support them.  You have found those men—­Robespierre and Petion.  Will you abandon them to their enemies?” “No! no!” exclaimed a thousand voices, and a motion, proposed by the president (Danton), declaring that Brissot had calumniated Robespierre, was carried in the affirmative.

II.

The journals took part, according to their politics, in these intestine wars of the patriots.  “Robespierre,” said the Revolution de Paris, “how is it that this man, whom the people bore in triumph to his house when he left the Constituent Assembly, has now become a problem?  For a long while you believed yourself the only column of French liberty.  Your name was like the holy ark, no one could touch it without being struck with death.  You sought to be the man of the people.  You have neither the exterior of the orator, nor the genius which disposes of the will of men.  You have stirred up the clubs with your language; the incense burnt in your honour has intoxicated you.  The God of patriotism hath become a man.  The apogee of your glory was on the 17th July, 1791.  From that day your star declined.  Robespierre, the patriots do not like that you should present such a spectacle to them.  When the people press around the tribune to which you ascend, it is not to hear your self-eulogies, but to hear you enlighten popular opinion.  You are incorruptible—­true; but yet there are better citizens than you:  there are those who are as good, and do not boast of it.  Why have you not the simplicity which is ignorant of itself, and that right quality of the ancient times which you sometimes refer to as possessed by you?