La Révolution du droit naturel dans les Révolutions de Paris (juillet 1789-septembre 1790)

Abstract

Christophe Paljerse : The Revolution of Natural Law in the « Révolutions de Paris», July 1789-September 1790. This article studies the characteristics of the ideology reflected in the newspaper Révolutions de Paris during the period that coincided with Elysée Loustallot's work on the paper. The author demonstrates the unity around the theme of natural law which was a constant reference both in the analysis of the revolutionary phenomenon and in the statement of a plan for future society. The Revolution was the result of the demands of man's natural freedom over the ruins of despotism ; the illegal state of religious, political and patriarchal domination led to generalized corruption. Impregnated with the principle of man's natural freedom, the Revolution was to bring about the reign of philosophy. In order to fulfill this project of regeneration, it was to rely on the common interest, the very foundation of the reign of the law. This meant that the political regime had to be concerned with communal democracy, with social justice and should be wary of any encroachments by the army or the judiciary ; in the same way it was to insure that the souvereignty of the legislative prevailed over the executive so that by raising civic spirit it could re-establish high morals.