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These prophetic words produced some effect in the assembly; but the measures proposed by Vergniaud led to nothing. The Jacobins were stopped for a moment by the failure of their first enterprise against their adversaries; but the insurrection of La Vendee gave them new courage. The Vendean war was an inevitable event in the revolution.
Abbe Vergniaud, astonished and overcome, laid a trembling hand on the arm of the passionate speaker with a gesture more of appeal than restraint, and the young man caught that hand within his own and held it fast.
Gys Grandit! the writer of fierce political polemics and powerful essays that were the life and soul, meat and drink of all the members of the Christian Democratic party! "Gys Grandit is my nom-de-plume," pursued the young man, composedly, "I never had any hope of being acknowledged as Cyrillon Vergniaud, son of my father, I had truly no name and resolved to create one.
These lyrical words of Vergniaud re-echoed at Berlin and at Vienna. "War has been declared against us," said the Prince de Kaunitz to the Russian ambassador, the Prince de Galitzin, "it is the same thing as if it had been declared against you." The command of the Prussian and Austrian forces was given to the Duke of Brunswick.
The people comprehends only that which it feels; its sole orators are those who excite it, and emotion is the conviction of the populace. Vergniaud felt this, and knew how to communicate it. The knowledge that they laboured for universal good, and the prospect of the gratitude of future ages shed a halo a noble pride around France, and of sanctity around liberty.
But can you understand it? If you can, you are wiser than I am!" Manuel regarded him straightly. "True! And from that you would infer . . . ?" The boy spoke gently and with grace and modesty, but something in the tone of his voice had a strange effect on the cynical temperament of Abbe Vergniaud.
The assembly felt itself compelled to yield; it would not, however, take upon itself the deposition of the king. Vergniaud ascended the tribune, in the name of the commission of twelve, and said: "I am about to propose to you a very rigorous measure; I appeal to the affliction of your hearts to judge how necessary it is to adopt it immediately."
And this age is one of self- indulgence. We are on the wrong road, all of us, both Church and laity, and if the Master should come He will not find us watching, but sleeping." He broke off, as at that moment a knock came at the door and a servant entered the room bringing him a letter. It was from the Abbe Vergniaud, and ran as follows:
It only remained now to deprive the Girondists of their last asylum the assembly; this they set about on the 10th of April, and accomplished on the 2nd of June. Robespierre attacked by name Brissot, Guadet, Vergniaud, Petion, and Gensonne, in the convention; Marat denounced them in the popular societies.
"You have no explanation then to offer to His Holiness, beyond what you have already said?" "None!" replied Vergniaud steadily. "The reasons for my conduct I think are sufficiently vital and earnest to be easily understood." "And your Eminence has nothing more to say on this matter?" pursued Moretti, turning to the Cardinal. "Nothing, my son!
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