[History of the Girondists, Volume I by Alphonse de Lamartine]@TWC D-Link bookHistory of the Girondists, Volume I BOOK VII 27/40
Such a course would be the contradiction to the monarchy: how could it attempt it? To ask a king to destroy the empire of a religion which consecrates him; to despoil of their riches a clergy who has them by the same divine title as that by which he has tenure of his kingdom; to degrade an aristocracy which is the first step of his throne; to throw down social hierarchies of which he is the head and crown; to undermine laws of which he is the highest,--is to ask of the vaults of an edifice to sap the foundation.
The king could not do so, and would not.
In thus overthrowing all that serves him for support, he feels that he would be rendered wholly destitute.
He would be playing with his throne and dynasty.
He is responsible for his race.
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