The expenses which she has been constrained to incur, subsequent to
the Revolution, amount to 2,500,000 livres. From these expenses, and
the great falling off in the product of the free gifts, not only a
momentary, but a total, want of money has taken place.
This is the Paris upon whose nourishment, in the course of the last
year, such immense sums, drawn from the vitals of all France, have
been expended. As long as Paris stands in the place of ancient Rome,
so long she will be maintained by the subject provinces. It is an evil
inevitably attendant on the dominion of sovereign democratic
republics. As it happened in Rome, it may survive that republican
domination which gave rise to it. In that case despotism itself must
submit to the vices of popularity. Rome, under her emperors, united
the evils of both systems; and this unnatural combination was one
great cause of her ruin.
To tell the people that they are relieved by the dilapidation of
their public estate is a cruel and insolent imposition. Statesmen,
before they valued themselves on the relief given to the people by the
destruction of their revenue, ought first to have carefully attended
to the solution of this problem- whether it be more advantageous to
the people to pay considerably and to gain in proportion, or to gain
little or nothing and to be disburdened of all contribution? My mind
is made up to decide in favor of the first proposition.
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