Journal de la société de 1789 - Nº II

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

78080

Title

Journal de la société de 1789 - Nº II

Language

fr

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A seminal 1790 publication by Condorcet and colleagues, this journal offers a passionate defense of religious freedom, secular governance, and constitutional balance. It critiques clerical power, analyzes the French Revolution's war powers, and celebrates industrial progress, embodying Enlightenment ideals of reason, liberty, and social reform.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1790, the *Journal de la société de 1789* (Issue II) captures the fervent intellectual and political currents of the French Revolution through a collection of essays and documents. The journal opens with a vigorous defense of absolute freedom of conscience by Nicolas de Condorcet. He argues that state-imposed religion violates natural rights and fosters inequality, asserting that true morality exists independently of specific cults. Condorcet warns against the dangers of a unified clerical body, noting that poverty does not diminish religious fanaticism, and advocates for civil registration of vital events and public moral education free from priestly influence. He contends that establishing a national cult creates an aristocracy between the enlightened and the dupes, ultimately retarding the progress of truth. The second major piece, by Philippe-Antoine Grouvelle, examines the National Assembly's decree regarding war and peace. Grouvelle analyzes the delicate balance of power between the King and the legislature, arguing that while the King should initiate war, the legislature must ratify it to prevent tyranny. He explores the complexities of the royal veto, suggesting it risks creating dangerous delays or de facto absolute power. Grouvelle praises the Assembly's declaration renouncing conquest as a strategic move to disarm executive ambition and promote peace. He concludes that war is a relic of a savage state and that civilization naturally progresses toward universal peace. He further suggests that the King's passion for war could be mitigated by suspending certain prerogatives during conflict. The journal also includes a stark document from the priests of Civray. Despite the Assembly's decrees, these clergy members declare the new religious laws injurious to God and the people, labeling revolutionary writers as traitors and calling for the public denunciation of sedition-spreading works. This highlights the deep societal schism of the era between revolutionary ideals and traditional religious authority. Finally, an article by J. H. Hassenfratz details the economic benefits of the abolition of the salt tax (*gabelle*). He describes a new Parisian factory producing soda, marine acid, and ammoniac salt. This industrial innovation, made possible by the Assembly's reforms, promises to reduce reliance on foreign imports and stimulate French commerce. Together, these texts capture the intellectual, political, and economic aspirations of a nation in transition, balancing the urgent need for liberty with the practical challenges of governance and industry.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Politics