The fortunate compeer of Robespierre, and then his friend, they had formed by themselves that popular party, scarcely visible at the beginning, which professed pure democracy and the philosophy of J.J.

Rousseau; whilst Cazales, Mirabeau, and Maury, the nobility, clergy, and _bourgeoisie_, alone disputed the government.

The despotism of a class appeared to Robespierre and Petion as odious as the despotism of a king.

The triumph of the _tiers etat_ was of little consequence, so long as the people, that is to say, all human kind in its widest acceptation, did not prevail.

They had given themselves as a task, not victory to one class over another, but the victory and organisation of a divine and absolute principle--humanity.