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The Revolution of July is the triumph of right overthrowing the fact。 A thing which is full of splendor。
Right overthrowing the fact。
Hence the brilliancy of the Revolution of 1830； hence； also； its mildness。
Right triumphant has no need of being violent。
Right is the just and the true。
The property of right is to remain eternally beautiful and pure。 The fact； even when most necessary to all appearances； even when most thoroughly accepted by contemporaries； if it exist only as a fact； and if it contain only too little of right； or none at all； is infallibly destined to bee； in the course of time； deformed； impure； perhaps； even monstrous。
If one desires to learn at one blow； to what degree of hideousness the fact can attain； viewed at the distance of centuries； let him look at Machiavelli。
Machiavelli is not an evil genius； nor a demon； nor a miserable and cowardly writer； he is nothing but the fact。
And he is not only the Italian fact； he is the European fact； the fact of the sixteenth century。 He seems hideous； and so he is； in the presence of the moral idea of the nineteenth。
This conflict of right and fact has been going on ever since the origin of society。
To terminate this duel； to amalgamate the pure idea with the humane reality； to cause right to penetrate pacifically into the fact and the fact into right； that is the task of sages。
BOOK FIRST。A FEW PAGES OF HISTORY
CHAPTER II
BADLY SEWED
But the task of sages is one thing； the task of clever men is another。 The Revolution of 1830 came to a sudden halt。
As soon as a revolution has made the coast； the skilful make haste to prepare the shipwreck。
The skilful in our century have conferred on themselves the title of Statesmen； so that this word； statesmen； has ended by being somewhat of a slang word。
It must be borne in mind； in fact； that wherever there is nothing but skill； there is necessarily pettiness。 To say 〃the skilful〃 amounts to saying 〃the mediocre。〃
In the same way； to say 〃statesmen〃 is sometimes equivalent to saying 〃traitors。〃
If； then； we are to believe the skilful； revolutions like the Revolution of July are severed arteries； a prompt ligature is indispensable。
The right； too grandly proclaimed； is shaken。 Also； right once firmly fixed； the state must be strengthened。 Liberty once assured； attention must be directed to power。
Here the sages are not； as yet； separated from the skilful； but they begin to be distrustful。
Power； very good。
But； in the first place； what is power？
In the second； whence es it？ The skilful do not seem to hear the murmured objection； and they continue their manoeuvres。
According to the politicians； who are ingenious in putting the mask of necessity on profitable fictions； the first requirement of a people after a revolution； when this people forms part of a monarchical continent； is to procure for itself a dynasty。 In this way； say they； peace； that is to say； time to dress our wounds； and to repair the house； can be had after a revolution。 The dynasty conceals the scaffolding and covers the ambulance。 Now； it is not always easy to procure a dynasty。
If it is absolutely necessary； the first man of genius or even the first man of fortune who es to hand suffices for the manufacturing of a king。
You have； in the first case； Napoleon； in the second； Iturbide。
But the first family that es to hand does not suffice to make a dynasty。
There is necessarily required a certain modicum of antiquity in a race； and the wrinkle of the centuries cannot be improvised。
If we place ourselves at the point of view of the 〃statesmen；〃 after making all allowances； of course； after a revolution； what are the qualities of the king which result from it？
He may be and it is useful for him to be a revolutionary； that is to say； a participant in his own person in that revolution； that he should have lent a hand to it； that he should have either promised or distinguished himself therein； that he should have touched the axe or wielded the sword in it。
What are the qualities of a dynasty？
It should be national； that is to say； revolutionary at a distance； not through acts mitted； but by reason of ideas accepted。
It should be posed of past and be historic； be posed of future and be sympathetic。
All this explains why the early revolutions contented themselves with finding a man； Cromwell or Napoleon； and why the second absolutely insisted on finding a family； the House of Brunswick or the House of Orleans。
Royal houses resemble those Indian fig…trees； each branch of which； bending over to the earth； takes root and bees a fig…tree itself。 Each branch may bee a dynasty。
On the sole condition that it shall bend down to the people。
Such is the theory of the skilful。
Here； then； lies the great art：
to make a little render to success the sound of a catastrophe in order that those who profit by it may tremble from it also； to season with fear every step that is taken； to augment the curve of the transition to the point of retarding progress； to dull that aurora； to denounce and retrench the harshness of enthusiasm； to cut all angles and nails； to wad triumph； to muffle up right； to envelop the giant…people in flannel； and to put it to bed very speedily； to impose a diet on that excess of health； to put Hercules on the treatment of a convalescent； to dilute the event with the expedient； to offer to spirits thirsting for the ideal that nectar thinned out with a potion； to take one's precautions against too much success； to garnish the revolution with a shade。
1830 practised this theory； already applied to England by 1688。
1830 is a revolution arrested midway。
Half of progress； quasi…right。 Now； logic knows not the 〃almost；〃 absolutely as the sun knows not the candle。
Who arrests revolutions half…way？ The bourgeoisie？
Why？
Because the bourgeoisie is interest which has reached satisfaction。 Yesterday it was appetite； to…day it is plenitude； to…morrow it will be satiety。
The phenomenon of 1814 after Napoleon was reproduced in 1830 after Charles