Use irony to express strong dissatisfaction and satire against the aggressive behavior of the British and French coalition forces.

To understand the meaning of words, you need to consider the context. "Civilized" and "barbaric" have different meanings from their usual meanings. This is an irony. The author is Hugo. From "Letter to Captain Betler on the British-French Allied Forces Expedition to China".

Part of the original text is as follows:

We Europeans are civilized people, but the Chinese are barbarians in our eyes. This is what civilization does to barbarism.

The two robbers who will be punished by history are called France and England. However, I want to protest and thank you for giving me such an opportunity to protest. The crime of those who govern is not the fault of those who govern; governments can sometimes be robbers, but people can never be robbers.

In the original text, these two sentences mainly use ironic rhetorical techniques to sublimate the theme of the article, so as to express the author's own satire on the crimes of the beasts of the British and French allied forces, and serve as a link between the past and the future.

Extended information:

"Letter to Captain Butler on the British-French Allied Forces' Expedition to China" is an article based on the British-French Allied Forces' invasion of China. Captain Butler originally wanted to use Hugo's prominent reputation to support the so-called victory of the expedition to China, but Hugo, an upright writer, did not have narrow nationalist sentiments and instead represented humankind.

In this letter, he strongly condemned the banditry of the British and French forces who burned down the Old Summer Palace. What is commendable about Hugo is not only that his position is not narrow nationalism, but from the perspective of the masses, the world, and mankind. He publicly denounced the government as a bandit, confusing right and wrong, and He is ashamed of this, but proud of it; it is also because he cherishes the achievements of human civilization and respects the creators of human civilization.

He pointed out that "everything created by time belongs to human beings" is a very thorough understanding. Therefore, he praised the Chinese nation, expressed his sympathy and respect for the Chinese people, and angrily condemned the crimes of the invaders.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Letter to Captain Butler regarding the British-French Allied Forces Expedition to China