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the origins of contemporary france-4-第159部分
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designated parties。 The laborer who does not enter his name on the
list; or who exacts more than the 〃maximum 〃 wages; is to be sentenced
to the pillory with two years in irons。 The same sentence with the
addition of a fine of three hundred livres; is for every proprietor
who employs any laborer not on the list or who pays more than the
〃maximum rate of wages。
After this; nothing more is necessary; in practice; than to
* draw up and keep in sight the new registries of names and figures
made by the members of thirty thousand municipal boards; who cannot
keep accounts and who scarcely know how to read and write;
* build a vast public granary; or put in requisition three or four
barns in each commune; in which half dried and mixed grain may rot;
* pay two hundred thousand incorruptible storekeepers and measurers
who will not divert anything from the depots for their friends or
themselves;
* add to the thirty five thousand employees of the Committee on
Provisions;'90' five hundred thousand municipal scribes disposed to
quit their trades or ploughs for the purpose of making daily
distributions gratuitously; but more precisely; to maintain four or
five millions of perfect gendarmes; one in each family; living with
it; to help along the purchases; sales and transactions of each day
and to verify at night the contents of the locker。
In short; to set one half of the French people as spies on the other
half。 … These are the conditions which secure the production and
distribution of food; and which suffice for the institution throughout
France of a conscription of labor and the captivity of grain。
Unfortunately; the peasant does not understand this theory; but he
understands business; he makes close calculations; and the positive;
patent; vulgar facts on which he reasons lead to other
conclusions:'91'
〃In Messidor last they took all my last years' oats; at fourteen
francs in assignats; and; in Thermidor; they are going to take all
this year's oats; at eleven francs in assignats。 At this rate I shall
not sow at all。 Besides; I do not need any for myself; as they have
taken my horses for the army wagons。 To raise rye and wheat; as much
of it as formerly; is also working at a loss; I will raise no more
than the little I want for myself; and again; I suppose that this will
be put in requisition; even my supplies for the year! I had rather let
my fields lie fallow。 Just see now; they are taking all the live
three months' pigs! Luckily; I killed mine be forehand and it is now
in the pork barrel。 But they are going to claim all salt provisions
like the rest。 The new grabbers are worse than the old ones。 Six
months more; and we shall all die of hunger。 It is better to cross
one's arms at once and go to prison; there; at least; we shall be fed
and not have to work。〃
In effect; they allow themselves to be imprisoned; the best of the
small cultivators and proprietors by thousands; and Lindet;'92' at the
head of the Commission on Provisions; speaks with dismay of the ground
being no longer tilled; of cattle in France being no more abundant
than the year before; and of nothing to be had to cut this year。
For a strange thing has happened; unheard of in Europe; almost
incredible to any one familiar with the French peasant and his love of
work。 This field which he has ploughed; manured; harrowed and reaped
with his own hands; its precious crop; the crop that belongs to him
and on which he has feasted his eyes for seven months; now that it is
ripe; he will not take the trouble to gather it; it would be bothering
himself for some one else。 As the crop that he sees there is for the
government; let the government defray the final cost of getting it in;
let it do the harvesting; the reaping; the putting it in sheaves; the
carting and the thrashing in the barn。 … Thereupon; the
representatives on mission exclaim; each shouting in a louder or lower
key; according to his character。
〃Many of the cultivators;〃 writes Dartigoyte;'93' 〃affect a supreme
indifference for this splendid crop。 One must have seen it; as I
have; to believe how great the neglect of the wheat is in certain
parts; how it is smothered by the grass 。 。 。 。 Draft; if the case
requires it; a certain number of inhabitants in this or that commune
to work in another one。 。 。 。 Every man who refuses to work;
except on the 'decade' day; must be punished as an ill…disposed
citizen; as a royalist。〃 …
〃 Generous friends of nature;〃 writes Ferry;'94' introduce amongst
you; perpetuate around you; the habit of working in common and begin
with the present crop。 Do not spare either indolent women or indolent
men; those social parasites; many of whom you doubtless have in your
midst。 What! allow lazy men and lazy women where we are! Where should
we find a Republican police? 。 。 。 Immediately on the reception of
this present order the municipal officers of each commune will convoke
all citoyennes in the Temple of the Eternal and urge them; in the name
of the law; to devote themselves to the labors of harvesting。 Those
women who fail in this patriotic duty; shall be excluded from the
assemblies; from the national festivals; while all good citoyennes are
requested to repel them from their homes。 All good citizens are
requested to give to this rural festivity that sentimental character
which befits it。〃
… And the programme is carried out; here in idyllic shape and there
under compulsion。 Around Avignon;'95' the commanding officer; the
battalions of volunteers; and patriotic ladies; 〃the wives and
daughters of patriots;〃 inscribe themselves as harvesters。 Around
Arles; 〃the municipality drafts all the inhabitants; patrols are sent
into the country to compel all who are engaged on other work to leave
it and do the harvesting。〃 The Convention; on its side; orders'96' the
release; 〃provisionally; of all ploughmen; day…laborers; reapers; and
professional artisans and brewers; in the country and in the market
towns and communes; the population of which is not over twelve hundred
inhabitants; and who are confined as 'suspects。' 〃 … In other terms;
physical necessity has imposed silence on the inept theory; above all
things; the crop must be harvested; and indispensable arms be restored
to the field of labor。 The governors of France are compelled to put
on the brake; if only for an instant; at the last moment; at sight of
the yawning abyss; of approaching and actual famine; France was then
gliding into it; and; if not engulfed; it is simply a miracle。
Four fortunate circumstances; at the last hour; concur to keep her
suspended on the hither brink of the precipice。 … The winter chances
to be exceptionally mild。'97' The vegetables which make up for the
absence of bread and meat provide food for April and May; while the
remarkably fine harvest; almost spontaneous; is three weeks in
advance。 … Another; and the second piece of
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