for open revolution. The revenues
reserved for the support of the government were insufficient for the
common needs, and an empty treasury was the result. The extravagance
of king, court, and nobility had led to excessive expenditures and
gross waste. There were no able ministers to manage the affairs of the
realm on an economic basis. Add to these evils lack of faith, raillery
at decency and virtue, and the poisonous effects of a weak and
irresponsible philosophy, and there are represented sufficient evils to
make a revolution whenever there is sufficient vigor to start it.

{407}

_The Revolution_.--The revolution comes with all of its horrors. The
church is humbled and crushed, the government razed to the ground,
monarchy is beheaded, and the flower of nobility cut off. The wild mob
at first seeks only to destroy; later it seeks to build a new structure
on the ruins. The weak monarch, attempting to stem the tide, is swept
away by its force. He summons the States-General, and the commons
declare themselves the national assembly. Stupendous events follow in
rapid succession--the revolt in Paris, the insubordination of the army,
the commune of Paris, and the storming of the Bastile. The legislative
assembly brings about the constitutional assembly, and laws are enacted
for the relief of the people.

Intoxicated with increasing liberty, the populace goes mad, and the
legislators pass weak and harmful laws. The law-making and
constitutional bodies cannot make laws fast enough to regulate the
affairs of the state. Lawlessness and violence increase until the
"reign of terror" appears with all its indescribable horrors. The rest
is plain. Having levelled all government to the ground, having
destroyed all authority, having shown themselves incapable of
self-government, the French people are ready for Napoleon. Under his
command and pretense they march forth to liberate humanity from
oppression in other nations, but in reality to a world conquest.

_Results of the Revolution_.--The French Revolution was by far the most
stupendous event of modern history. It settled forever in the Western
world the relation of man to government. It taught that absolutism of
any class, if unchecked, must lead sooner or later to the destruction
of all authority. It taught that men, to be capable of
self-government, must be educated in its principles through a long
period, yet proclaimed to the Western world the freedom of ma