Görres deplored that the continent was corrupted by the
continuity of the war. The brutalization started in 1799
in France and has constantly been spread since then.
The French system does not internalize the good spirit
because it is driven by violence and hence arouses war
and suffering.
The result is obvious: The aristocracy is impoverished,
“scattered [and] abused”, the clergy is “humiliated [and]
infamized. The financial straits of the cities have in-
creased, the private means are shattered, trade and com-
merce destroyed, “churchly goods squandered for the most
part”. Banishment, famine and destruction have become nor-
mal to the people all over Europe. The “old decency and
ethos were forgotten, youth is […] spoiled by bad educa-
tion; the public moral poisoned”, daughters disgraced. A
lot of cities had “makeshift police” and a lot of crime.
“All infamous actions that a man’s heart can conceive in
its wickedness” were committed.
Napoleon is regarded as the result of the reign of terror
and at the same time as its climax.
In consequence of the reign of terror Napoleon is regarded
as its climax.
A man of violence who was born by tyranny and who rightly
aroused the resistance of the European people.
In Görres opinion the battle against Napoleon was legiti-
mate. At the same time he uttered the hope that the fire
of violence could be extinguished with fire so that there
is a chance for a peaceful and democratic development.
If the emperor has no more power, a new time of reason
will begin. That is a system which relinquishes a violent
implementation of ideas.