rom the interest in the conflict that
England--England, the hated rival of France--was defied by an indignant
people of her own race. There was not a young noble in the land who
would not have rushed, if he could, to the defence of the outraged
colonies.

The king, half doubting, and vaguely fearing, was swept into the
current, and the armies and the courage of the Americans were
splendidly reinforced by generous, enthusiastic France.

Why should the simple-hearted Louis see what no one else seemed to see:
that victory or failure was alike full of peril for France? If the
colonies were conquered, France would feel the hostility of England; if
they were freed and self-governing, the principle of monarchy had a
staggering blow.

In the mean time, as the American Revolution moved on toward success,
there was talk in the cabin as well as the chateau of the "rights of
man." In shops and barns, as well as in clubs and drawing-rooms, there
was a glimmering of the coming day.

"What is true upon one continent is true upon another," say they. "If
it is cowardly to submit to tyranny in America, what is it in France?"
"If Englishmen may revolt against oppression, why may not Frenchmen?"
"No government without the consent of the governed?--When has our
consent been asked, the consent of twenty-five million people? Are we
sheep, that we have let a few thousands govern us for a thousand years,
without our consent?"

Poverty and hunger gave force and urgency to these questions. The
people began to clamor more boldly for the good time which had been
promised by the kind-hearted king. The murmur swelled to an ominous
roar. Thousands were at his very palace gates, telling him in no
unmistakable terms that they were tired of smooth words and fair
promises. What they wanted was a new constitution and--bread.

Poor Louis! the one could be made with pen and paper; but by what
miracle could he produce the other? How gladly would he have given
them anything. But what could he do? There was not enough money to
pay the salaries of his officials, nor for his gay young queen's fetes
and balls! The old way would have been to impose new taxes. But how
could he tax a people crying at his gates for bread? He made more
promises which he could not keep; yielded, one after another,
concessions of authority and dignity; then vacillated, and tried to
return over the slippery path, only to be dragged on again by an
irresistible fate.