Georges CLEMENCEAU (1841-1929). Autograph manuscript, Victimes d'un adjectif; 4 1/2 pages in-4. Interesting political article on socialist currents. "Victims of their adjective, these are the revolutionary socialists. They posed the social question in its most acute form. [...] They have formed a party that has grown and that does not seem to me to be at the end of its growth. [...] They called themselves socialists [...] because they claimed to bring a plan of generalized social reformation which, according to them, was going to change the face of the world"; they added the adjective "revolutionaries" to magnify themselves "by attributing to themselves the role of demiurges in a transformation of humanity which would replace the modest creation of the Left with a sublime re-creation. This is what they called [...] like our fathers of 1792, a Revolution. When we look for the exact meaning of this magnificent verb, we must have the courage to admit to ourselves that we find in it above all an intention". Intention leads to will, which leads to action, which "in the most favorable circumstances, sometimes leads to the unleashing of forces that can bring about profound changes"... Etc. And he concludes: "On the socialist party itself, we must not count on the Republicans being able to get a grip at the moment. [...] The only important thing is to tackle all social problems without fear. In 1849, fear of socialism threw France back into the hands of the imbecile autocrat [Napoleon III] who led us to Sedan. Let us learn from it. Enough of foolish terrors, a sign of cowardly abandonment. The term Republic includes social justice. It's not in front of our own flag that we can back down".