And here's Desmoulins' harangue, as quoted in the "Vieux Cordelier" from another source quoting Desmoulins himself (so, in essence, the "quotings" cancel each other out):
“Then Camille Desmoulins appeared; he must himself be heard: ‘It was already two thirty; I came to sound the people. My anger against the despots had turned into despair. I did not see groups, however strongly moved or appalled, enough disposed to uprising. Three young people seemed to me excited by a more vehement courage; they held each other by the hand. I saw that they had come to the Palais-Royal with the same design as I; some passive citizens were following them: “Messieurs,” I said to them, “here are the beginnings of a civic rebellion; one of us needs to devote himself and climb onto a table to harangue the people. ‘–Get up there. ‘ –I’ll do it.” Immediately I was rather lifted onto the table than climbing there. Hardly was I there than I saw myself surrounded by an immense crowd. Here is my short harangue, which I will never forget. ‘“Citizens! There is not a moment to lose. I’ve come from Versailles; M. Necker has been sacked: this dismissal is the tocsin for a Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of patriots. This evening, all the Swiss and German battalions will come from the Champ-de-Mars to slit our throats. Only one resource remains to us; to take to arms and wear cockades so that we may recognize each other.” ‘I had tears in my eyes, and I spoke with an agency that I could neither find again nor depict. My motion was received with infinite applause. I continued: ‘“What colors do you want?” ‘Someone cried: “Choose. ‘–Do you want green, color of hope, or the blue of Cincinnatus, color of American liberty and of democracy?” ‘Voices shouted: “Green, color of hope!” ‘Then I cried: “Friends, the signal has been given: here are the spies and the police satellites directly facing me. At the least I will not fall into their hands alive.” Then, drawing two pistols from my pocket, I said: “May every citizen imitate me!” I descended, smothered by embraces; some pressed me against their hearts; others bathed me with their tears: a citizen of Toulouse, fearing for my life, did not want to abandon me. However I had been brought a green ribbon. I put it first on my hat, and I distributed some to those who surrounded me.’”
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2008-06-28 06:57 pm (UTC)“Then Camille Desmoulins appeared; he must himself be heard:
‘It was already two thirty; I came to sound the people. My anger against the despots had turned into despair. I did not see groups, however strongly moved or appalled, enough disposed to uprising. Three young people seemed to me excited by a more vehement courage; they held each other by the hand. I saw that they had come to the Palais-Royal with the same design as I; some passive citizens were following them: “Messieurs,” I said to them, “here are the beginnings of a civic rebellion; one of us needs to devote himself and climb onto a table to harangue the people.
‘–Get up there.
‘ –I’ll do it.” Immediately I was rather lifted onto the table than climbing there. Hardly was I there than I saw myself surrounded by an immense crowd. Here is my short harangue, which I will never forget.
‘“Citizens! There is not a moment to lose. I’ve come from Versailles; M. Necker has been sacked: this dismissal is the tocsin for a Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of patriots. This evening, all the Swiss and German battalions will come from the Champ-de-Mars to slit our throats. Only one resource remains to us; to take to arms and wear cockades so that we may recognize each other.”
‘I had tears in my eyes, and I spoke with an agency that I could neither find again nor depict. My motion was received with infinite applause. I continued:
‘“What colors do you want?”
‘Someone cried: “Choose.
‘–Do you want green, color of hope, or the blue of Cincinnatus, color of American liberty and of democracy?”
‘Voices shouted: “Green, color of hope!”
‘Then I cried: “Friends, the signal has been given: here are the spies and the police satellites directly facing me. At the least I will not fall into their hands alive.” Then, drawing two pistols from my pocket, I said: “May every citizen imitate me!” I descended, smothered by embraces; some pressed me against their hearts; others bathed me with their tears: a citizen of Toulouse, fearing for my life, did not want to abandon me. However I had been brought a green ribbon. I put it first on my hat, and I distributed some to those who surrounded me.’”