on the same subject a letter
worthy of posterity. It is the property of genius not to allow its views
to be obscured by the prejudices of the moment. Its gaze is too lofty
for vulgar errors to deprive it of the ever-during light of truth. It
has by anticipation in its decisions the impartiality of the future.

"All those," says Andre Chenier, "who have preserved the liberty of
their reason, and in whom patriotism is not a violent desire for rule,
see with much pain that the dissensions of the priests have of necessity
occupied the first sittings of the Assembly. It is true that the public
mind is enlightened on this point, on which even the Constituent
Assembly itself is deceived. It has pretended to form a civil code of
religion, that is to say, it had the idea of creating one priesthood
after having destroyed another. Of what consequence is it that one
religion differs from another? Is it for the National Assembly to
reunite the divided sects, and weigh all their differences? Are
politicians theologians? We shall only be delivered from the influence
of these men when the National Assembly shall have maintained for each
the perfect liberty of following or inventing whatsoever religion may
please it; when every one shall pay for the worship he prefers to adopt,
and pays for no other; and when the impartiality of tribunals, in such
cases, shall punish alike the persecutors or the seditious of all forms
of worship: and the members of the National Assembly say also, that all
the French people are not yet sufficiently ripe for this doctrine. We
must reply to them,--this may be, but it is for you to ripen us by your
words, your acts, your laws! Priests do not trouble states when states
do not disturb them. Let us remember that eighteen centuries have seen
all the Christian sects, torn and bleeding from theological absurdities
and sacerdotal hatreds, always terminate by arming themselves with
popular power."

This letter passed over the heads of the parties who disputed the
conscience of the people; but the petition of the Directory of Paris,
which demanded the _veto_ of the king against the decrees of the
Assembly, produced violent opposition petitions. For the first time,
Legendre, a butcher of Paris, appeared at the bar of the Assembly, where
he vociferated in oratorical strain the imprecations of the people
against the enemies of the nation and crowned traitors. Legendre decked
his trivial ideas in high-sounding languag