What religion is that which, in its nature, is unsocial and rebellious in principle ?" Whether unsworn, whether immigrants actually or in feeling, "large proprietors, rich merchants, false conservatives,"[2322] are all outspoken conspirators or concealed enemies.

All public disasters are imputed to them.

"The cause of the troubles," says Brissot,[2323] "which lay waste the colonies, is the infernal vanity of the whites who have three times violated an engagement which they have three times sworn to maintain." Scarcity of work and short crops are accounted for through their cunning malevolence.
"A large number of rich men, "says Francois de Nantes,[2324] "allow their property to run down and their fields to lie fallow, so as to enjoy seeing the suffering of the people." France is divided into two parties, on the one hand, the aristocracy to which is attributed every vice, and, on the other hand, the people on whom is conferred every virtue.[2325] "The defense of liberty," says Lamarque,[2326] "is basely abandoned every day by the rich and by the former nobility, who put on the mask of patriotism only to cheat us.

It is not in this class, but only in that of citizens who are disdainfully called the people, that we find pure beings, those ardent souls really worthy of liberty."-- One step more and everything will be permitted to the virtuous against the wicked; if misfortune befalls the aristocrats so much the worse for them.

Those officers who are stoned, M.de la Jaille and others, "wouldn't they do better not to deserve being sacrificed to popular fury ?"[2327] Isnard exclaims in the tribune, "it is the long-continued immunity enjoyed by criminals which has rendered the people executioners.