e priests who earnestly reject the
constitution, they will not give any trouble to public order. Those who
really trouble it, are men who only weep over religion in order to
recover their lost privileges; those who should be punished without
pity; and be assured that you will not thereby augment the strength of
the emigrants: for we know that the priest is cowardly--as cowardly as
vindictive--that he knows no other weapon but superstition; and that,
accustomed to combat in the mysterious arena of confession, he is a
nullity in every other battle-field. The thunders of Rome will fall
harmless on the bucklers of liberty. The foes to your regeneration will
never grow weary; no, they will never grow weary of crimes, so long as
you leave them the means! You must overcome them, or be overcome by
them; and whosoever sees not this is blind. Open the page of history;
you will see the English sustaining for fifty years a disastrous war, in
order to maintain their revolution. You will see in Holland seas of
blood flowing in the war against Philip of Spain. When, in our times,
the Philadelphians would be free, have we not also seen war in the two
hemispheres? You have been witnesses of the recent outbreaks in Brabant,
and do you believe that your Revolution, which has snatched the sceptre
from despotism, and from aristocracy its privileges, from nobility its
pride, from the clergy its fanaticism--a Revolution which has dried up
so many golden sources from the grasp of the priesthood, torn so many
frocks, crushed so many theories--do you believe that such a Revolution
will absolve you? No--no!--this Revolution will have a _denouement_, and
I say--and with no intention of provocation--that we must advance boldly
towards this _denouement_. The more you delay, the more difficult and
blood-stained will be that triumph!" (Violent murmurs.)

"But do you not see," resumed Isnard; "that all counter-revolutionists
are obstinate, and leave you no other part than that of vanquishing
them? It is better to have to contend against them, whilst the citizens
are still up and stirring, and well remember the perils they have
encountered, than to allow patriotism to grow cold! Is it not true that
already we are no longer what we were in the first year of liberty;
(some of the chamber applaud, whilst others disapprove). If fanaticism
had then raised its head, the law would have been subjected! Your policy
should be to compel victory to declare itself; d