FRENCH REVOLUTION

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 110, 11 May 1935, Page 15

FRENCH REVOLUTION

INFLUENCE ON THE WORLD

LECTURE BY PROFESSOR

WOOD

I Some interesting facts in regard to the French Revolution of 1789 and its subsequent influence on the rest of the civilised world were discussed by j ■ Professor F. Wood, of Victoria University College, in his opening W.E.A.i lectuxe on "Some Revolutions of the I 119 th, Century," at the Trades, Hall on ! Tuesday evening. l I The speaker said that previous to 11789 fEngland was known as the Land' of Revolutions, but France was the country where the greatest mass of. material in regard to revolutions was available and where they could be studied scientifically. The outstand- . in£ feature of the French Revolution was that it had achieved something constructive,, something positive, and had led. to a definite building up. "It was not the outcome of a sudden impulse nor an accident," said, the leo; turer, "for it happened in conformity with: the history of France, and not in opposition to it It did not interrupt but rather accelerated a progressive movement, and the biggest and most important, though .not the most obvious, force was the Middle Class—; the Bourgeoisie. They were partlymoved by a variety of ideas, but main- '. ly by-material motives" and a feeling: of insecurity. There were no safe in-, vestments in the country where they': could' place their wealth when it had been gained, and this was due to the' collapse of the old Government caused by inefficient administration. THE POOR PAID THE TAXES. At the height of its power the monarchy did not have a unified country and the separate provinces kept their own laws, customs, weights, and measures, etc. This had not mattered so much under the old regime, when the provinces had kept to themselves and France had a static agricultural community, but with, commercial developments and wider trade contacts it was essential that the country should possess a constitutional Government and the old bad system give place to something more rational and equitable. A large proportion of the expenditure was wasteful and unprofitable and the country was burdened with a heavy load of public debt The . iniquitous system of taxation that was in force fell on the poor, while the nobles and clergy were exempt, and when the peasant prospered he nearly always managed to gain exemption in one way or another. This was very unsatisfactory both for the poor people and the State, as the peasants owned only one-third of the land and the remainder was not subject*-''to taxation. In spite of extortions the poor people simply could' not produce enough money, to pay all the expenses of '■Government, so that, though France was a rich country' and relatively prosperous, • the Government was bankrupt. During the'war, and after, the Government had financed itself by loans, but before long the fear of bankruptcy became so real that the Government could \ not borrow. The mid-dle-class people were rich, enterprising,- and successful, and, moreover, had begun to obtain power. This made them thirsty for more and they were prepared to fight hard-to get better security. They had effective allies in the nobles who were not defenders, of Jthe_, old regime but had , been;, infected'with new? liberal 'ideasl' and also wanted poorer,: andr in the lowerSclergy wio were, veryqpoor and sympathised with the^espeirate condition OTBjfe- peasantry;;£lf left to themselves*; the peafiuitry would have rsremaineai passive, or at-best '. .haye.given .way^qsan. ineffective :ris4 irig, but they were" deliberately organised by the middle classes, who explained the causes of their misery and ~ showed them how the remedy was to be sought. The root idea of the.'peasants was to free themselves and;thair" lands from feudal rights and •crushing taxation, and unde? bourgeoisie persuasion this was made the basis of .the alliance between them. SOME GOOD THINKING. Professor Wood stated that some good thinking had been done in ■ the 18th Century, and some good fighting ideas worked out, and he explained what the basis of these ideas was.' He referred .to. the tremendous influence which Voltaire and.Rosseau exerted on the minds of the French^people at that time, and pointed out' that the weakness of Louis the Sixteenth and his lack of kingship was a big factor in-.bringing matters to. a crisis.

Professor Wood will ■ give further consideration to the effect -of the French Revolution in his second lecture next^uesdayevening.