ts to put liberty, fortune, and honor in the
hands of an ambitious man. We are in a very sad condition, the great
Revolution is believed to be dead, and the Rights of Man are
annihilated. But we must not be discouraged, all this will pass away,
those who oppose liberty and justice will be driven away, and those who
wish to re-establish privileges and titles will be regarded as fools.
The great nation is reposing, is reflecting upon her faults, is
observing those who are leading her contrary to her own interests: she
reads their hearts, and in spite of the Swiss, in spite of the royal
guard, in spite of the Holy Alliance, when once she is weary of her
sufferings she will cast them out some day or other. Then it will be
finished, for France wants liberty, equality, and justice.

"The one thing which we lack is instruction, though the people are
instructing themselves every day, they profit by our experiences, by
our misfortunes.

"I shall not have the happiness, perhaps, of seeing the awakening of
the country, I am too old to hope for it, but you will see it, and the
sight will console you for all your sufferings; you will be proud to
belong to that generous nation which has outstripped all others since
'89; these slight checks are only moments of repose on a long journey."

This excellent man preserved to his last hour his calm confidence.

I have lived to see the accomplishment of his predictions, I have seen
the return of the banner of liberty, I have seen the nation grow in
wealth, in prosperity, and in education. I have seen those who
obstructed justice and who wished to establish the old regime,
compelled to leave. I have seen that mind always progresses, and that
even the peasants are willing to part with their last sou for the good
of their children.

Unfortunately we have not enough schoolmasters. If we had fewer
soldiers and more teachers the work would go on much faster.
But--patience--that will come.

The people begin to understand their rights, they know that war brings
them nothing but increased contributions, and when _they_ shall say,
"Instead of sending our sons to perish by thousands under the sabre and
cannon, we prefer that they should be taught to be men;" who will dare
to oppose them? To-day the people are sovereign!

In this hope, my friends, I embrace you with my whole heart, and bid
you, Adieu!

End of Project Gutenberg's Waterloo, by Emile Erckmann and Alexandr