. Robespierre and the French revolution. ould depend uponthe word of Robespierre. Tallien well knewthat appeals for mercy from a woman of herclass would make no impression upon the stonyheart of such a man. Her only safety, therefore,was in Robespierres overthrow and to this endTallien bent all his energy. Barras and Fouche hated Robespierre andstood in mortal dread of his power. They werea mean, contemptible pair of rascals, whom hehad threatened; they, in turn, were only waitingfor an opportunity to strike. They were mennot to be ignored, were born conspirators, utterlyunscrupulous, of great
. Robespierre and the French revolution. ould depend uponthe word of Robespierre. Tallien well knewthat appeals for mercy from a woman of herclass would make no impression upon the stonyheart of such a man. Her only safety, therefore,was in Robespierres overthrow and to this endTallien bent all his energy. Barras and Fouche hated Robespierre andstood in mortal dread of his power. They werea mean, contemptible pair of rascals, whom hehad threatened; they, in turn, were only waitingfor an opportunity to strike. They were mennot to be ignored, were born conspirators, utterlyunscrupulous, of great invention and endless re-sources. The ruling ambition of Fouche was tobe Chief of Police. He possessed to a refined de-gree every attribute of the spy, and he followedhis victim like a sleuthhound. Both belonged tothat class or faction that St. Just said desiredto make Liberty a prostitute. These were the men whom Robespierre had tofear; their banishment or imprisonment wouldhave opened the way for a restoration of peace and order. 352. EILLAUD-VARENNES From an engraving in the collection of William J. Latta, a painting by Raffet THE FRENCH REVOLUTION There can be no question that at this timeRobespierre was tired of the slaughter, and longedfor a reaction and for the establishment of a gov-ernment other than by committee. Robespierreperished, says Lavasseur de la Sarthe, at thevery moment when he was preparing to return toa system of justice and humanity. Napoleontold OMeara that he had seen letters written byRobespierre to his brother, who was the nationalrepresentative with the army at Nice, in whichhe clearly stated that it was his determination toend the Reign of Terror. About this time Robespierre received a depu-tation from the department of Aisne, which com-plained of the operations of the government andchided him for absenting himself from the publicsittings of the Convention. The Convention,he replied, gangreened as it is with corrup-tion, has no longer the
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