Chapter 70: The Vote (3)
Joseph raised his head and glanced at Armand, then at Robespierre, and said, "Armand, Mr. Robespierre, you both know that I am friends with Lafayette..."
"Joseph, we are all friends with Lafayette. But Joseph, Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas," Armand said, quoting a Latin phrase: "I love my friend, but I love truth more."
Robespierre smiled as he observed the exchange.
"Alright, Armand," Joseph said, his brow furrowed. "While I cherish my friendship with General Lafayette, I cannot betray my principles. However, I suggest a different method for the club's elections."
"What do you mean by a different method?" Robespierre asked.
"Currently, the club votes by a show of hands, right?" Joseph continued. "What if we change it to a secret ballot? Think about it, Lafayette has been the president for a long time, and he wields a lot of influence. With an open show of hands, some may succumb to pressure and vote against their will. We can list the candidates on a ballot, and voters can simply check the name they prefer. Then, they place their ballots in an empty box, and when the voting is done, we can open the box in public to count the votes. This way, we avoid the complications of open voting while ensuring fairness."
Joseph's words hadn't even finished when Armand expressed his dissatisfaction. "Joseph, isn't it honorable to openly support or oppose something? Why be so secretive?"
Joseph furrowed his brow, about to retort, but to his surprise, Robespierre spoke first.
"Armand, I find Joseph's proposal quite reasonable. It's a good idea," Robespierre said slowly.
"But as representatives of the people, shouldn't we be transparent in our choices? Why be so clandestine?" Armand seemed unconvinced.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience
"Armand," Robespierre frowned, "the club is not a parliament, and its members are not representatives of the people. Furthermore, do those who don't quite meet the standards of sainthood not have inherent rights? Morality is something we use to hold ourselves accountable, not to impose on others. For instance, I don't believe that carousing with a bunch of women every night is a proper way to live, but I still consider you and the late Mr. Mirabeau as my good friends."
"You're right, Maximilien," Armand lowered his head.
Robespierre's words surprised Joseph. Such a reasonable statement from "The Incorruptible" Robespierre was unexpected. Amidst his astonishment, Joseph couldn't help but think that Robespierre was a dangerous individual who could artfully find justifications for his political interests.
With this visit from Robespierre, Joseph couldn't afford to miss the club meeting two days later. That evening, he finished his dinner and boarded a lightweight carriage, heading to the Jacobin Club.
Joseph entered the club, exchanging greetings with people he knew, both familiar and unfamiliar faces. Suddenly, a familiar figure caught his eye.
Robespierre then went on to argue that while he opposed extremist republican ideas, he believed that thoughts should be free. He stated, "Opposing one idea can only be done with another idea, not with swords."
Joseph found Robespierre's words rather pointed and laden with dark humor, a quality he had not expected from him.
Finally, Robespierre proposed a secret ballot to ensure that club members' votes in the upcoming elections would not be influenced by those in power.
This proposal exceeded Lafayette's expectations. He knew this voting method would be detrimental to him, but if he openly opposed it, he would practically confirm the accusations of "interfering with voting through power." So, he remained silent, wearing a stern expression.
The vote followed. Although it was a secret ballot, Joseph still voted for Robespierre. There was no other choice for a prudent man like him.
Then came the vote count, with one person announcing the votes while several others supervised. The two candidates were neck and neck, with Lafayette taking the lead at times and then Robespierre surging ahead. In the end, the results were announced: Robespierre won by a two-vote margin, becoming the Jacobin Club's chairman.
Lafayette's face was grim, likely pondering who had betrayed him. But Robespierre's expression wasn't particularly jubilant either, as he had expected one more vote according to his calculations.
"We have a traitor among us," Robespierre couldn't help but think.
Lafayette took the stage again. Everyone assumed he would deliver some remarks as the outgoing chairman. However, he declared, "Regrettably, I've noticed that extreme ideas have taken hold in the Jacobin Club. The club's principles have diverged greatly from what they were when we established it."
He scanned the room and continued, "Now that our political beliefs have changed so drastically, I announce my departure from the Jacobin Club. Those who, like me, oppose these political beliefs, please join me in leaving."
Joseph was completely stunned by Lafayette's unexpected move. Lafayette had turned his secret vote into a farce, and now the question was which side he should stand with.
At that moment, one person took the lead and walked over to join Lafayette. Seeing this person, Robespierre's smiling face suddenly stiffened.
"Fouch, I didn't expect it to be you!" Robespierre gritted his teeth.
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