II。
SpontaneousassociationsafterJuly14,1789。——Howthesedissolve。
—Withdrawalofpeopleofsenseandoccupation。——Numberofthoseabsentatelections。——BirthandmultiplicationofJacobinsocieties。
——Theirinfluenceovertheiradherents——Theirmaneuversanddespotism。
Menthusdisposedcannotfailtodrawneareachother,tounderstandeachother,andcombinetogether;for,intheprincipleofpopularsovereignty,theyhaveacommondogma,and,intheconquestofpoliticalsupremacy,acommonaim。Throughacommonaimtheyformafaction,andthroughacommondogmatheyconstituteasect,theleaguebetweenthembeingmoreeasilyeffectedbecausetheyareafactionandsectatthesametime。
Atfirsttheirassociationisnotdistinguishableinthemultitudeofotherassociations。PoliticalsocietiesspringuponallsidesafterthetakingoftheBastille。Somekindoforganizationhadtobesubstitutedforthedeposedortotteringgovernment,inordertoprovideforurgentpublicneeds,tosecureprotectionagainstruffians,toobtainsuppliesofprovisions,andtoguardagainsttheprobablymachinationsofthecourt。Committeesinstalledthemselvesinthetownhalls,whilevolunteersformedbodiesofmilitia:hundredsoflocalgovernments,almostindependent,aroseintheplaceofthecentralgovernment,almostdestroyed。[5]Forsixmonthseverybodyattendedtomattersofcommoninterest,eachindividualgettingtobeapublicpersonageandbearinghisquotaofthegovernmentload:aheavyloadatalltimes,butheavierintimesofanarchy;this,atleast,istheopinionofthemajoritybutnotofallofthem。
Consequently,adivisionarisesamongstthosewhohadassumedthisload,andtwogroupsareformed,onehuge,inertanddisintegrating,andtheothersmall,compactandenergetic,eachtakingoneoftwowayswhichdivergefromeachother,andwhichkeepondivergingmoreandmore。
Ononehandaretheordinary,sensiblepeople,thosewhoarebusy,andwhoare,tosomeextent,notover—conscientious,andnotover—
conceited。Thepowerisintheirhandsbecausetheyfinditprostrate,lyingabandonedinthestreet;theyholditprovisionallyonly,fortheyknewbeforehand,orsoondiscover,thattheyarenotqualifiedforthepost,itbeingoneofthosewhich,tobeproperlyfilled,needssomepreparationandfitnessforit。Amandoesnotbecomelegislatororadministratorinoneday,anymorethanhesuddenlybecomesaphysicianorsurgeon。Ifanaccidentobligesmetoactinthelattercapacity,Iyield,butagainstmywill,andIdonomorethanisnecessarytosavemypatientsfromhurtingthemselves,Myfearoftheirdyingundertheoperationisverygreat,and,assoonassomeotherpersoncanbefoundtotakemyplace,Igohome。[6]——Ishouldbeglad,likeeverybodyelse,tohavemyvoteintheselectionofthisperson,and,amongthecandidates。Ishoulddesignate,tothebestofmyability,onewhoseemedtometheablestandmostconscientious。
Onceselected,however,andinstalled,Ishouldnotattempttodictatetohim;hiscabinetisprivate,andIhavenorighttorunthereconstantlyandcross—questionhim,asifhewereachildorundersuspicion。Itdoesnotbecomemetotellhimwhattodo;heprobablyknowsmoreaboutthecasethanIdo;inanyevent,tokeepasteadyhand,hemustnotbethreatened,and,tokeepaclearhead,hemustnotbedisturbed。NormustIbedisturbed;myofficeandbooks,myshop,mycustomersmustbeattendedtoaswell。Everybodyhastomindhisownbusiness,andwhoeverwouldattendtohisownandanother’stoo,spoilsboth。——Thiswayofthinkingprevailswithmosthealthymindstowardsthebeginningoftheyear1790,allwhoseheadsarenotturnedbyinsaneambitionandthemaniafortheorizing,especiallyaftersixmonthsofpracticalexperienceandknowingthedangers,miscalculation,andvexationstowhichoneisexposedintryingtoleadaneager,over—excitedpopulation。——Justatthistime,December1789,municipallawbecomesestablishedthroughoutthecountry;allthemayorsandmunicipalofficersareelectedalmostimmediately,andinthefollowingmonths,alladministratorsofdistrictsanddepartments。Theinterregnumhasalengthcometoanend。Legalauthoritiesnowexist,withlegitimateandclearly—determinedfunctions。Reasonable,honestpeoplegladlyturnpowerovertothosetowhomitbelongs,andcertainlydonotdreamofresumingit。Allassociationsfortemporarypurposesareatoncedisbandedforlackofanobject,andifothersareformed,itisforthepurposeofdefendingestablishedinstitutions。ThisistheobjectoftheFederation,and,forsixmonths,peopleembraceeachotherandexchangeoathsoffidelity。——Afterthis,July14,1790,theyretireintoprivatelife,andIhavenodoubtthat,fromthisdate,thepoliticalambitionofalargepluralityoftheFrenchpeopleissatisfied,for,althoughRousseau’sdenunciationofthesocialhierarchyarestillcitedbythem,they,atbottom,desirebutlittlemorethanthesuppressionofadministrativebrutalityandstatefavoritism。[7]Allthisisobtained,andplentyofotherthingsbesides;theaugusttitleofsovereign,therespectofthepublicauthorities,honorstoallwhowieldapenormakeaspeech,and,betterstill,actualsovereigntyintheappointmenttoofficeofalllocallandnationaladministrators;notonlydothepeopleelecttheirdeputies,buteveryspeciesoffunctionaryofeverydegree,thoseofcommune,district,anddepartment,officersinthenationalguard,civilandcriminalmagistrates,bishopsandpriests。Again,toensuretheresponsibilityoftheelectedtotheirelectors,thetermofofficefixedbylawisashortone,[8]theelectoralmachinewhichsummonsthesovereigntoexercisehissovereigntybeingsetagoingabouteveryfourmonths。——Thiswasagooddeal,andtoomuch,asthesovereignhimselfsoondiscovers。Votingsofrequentlybecomesunendurable;somanyprerogativesendingettingtobedrudgery。Earlyin1790,andafterthisdate,themajorityforegotheprivilegeofvotingandthenumberofabsenteesbecomesenormous。AtChartres,inMay,1790,[9]1,447outof1,551votersdonotattendpreliminarymeetings。AtBesan?on,inJanuary,1790,ontheelectionofmayorandmunicipalofficers,2,141outof3,200registeredelectorsarerecordedasabsentfromthepolls,and2,900inthefollowingmonthofNovember。[10]AtGrenoble,inAugustandNovemberofthisyear,outof2,500registeredvoters,morethan2,000arenotedasabsent。[11]
AtLimoges,outofaboutthesamenumber,thereareonly150voters。
AtParis,outof81,400electors,inAugust,1790,67,200donotvote,and,threemonthslater,thenumberofabsenteesis71,408。[12]
Thusforeveryelectorthatvotes,therearefour,six,eight,ten,andevensixteenthatabstainfromvoting。——Intheelectionofdeputies,thecaseisthesame。Attheprimarymeetingsof1791,inParis,outof81,200registerednamesmorethan74,000failtorespond。IntheDoubs,threeoutoffourvotersstayaway。InoneofthecantonsoftheC?ted’Or,atthecloseofthepolls,onlyone—
eighthoftheelectorsremainatthecountingofthevotes,whileinthesecondarymeetingsthedesertionisnotless。AtParis,outof946electorschosenonly200arefoundtogivetheirsuffrage;atRouen,outof700therearebut160,andonthelastdayoftheballot,only60。Inshort,\"inalldepartments,\"saysanoratorinthetribune,\"scarcelyoneoutoffiveelectorsoftheseconddegreedischargeshisduty。\"
Inthismannerthemajorityhandsinitsresignation。Throughinertia,wantofforethought,lassitude,aversiontotheelectoralhubbub,lackofpoliticalpreferences,ordislikeofallthepoliticalcandidates,itshirksthetaskwhichtheconstitutionimposesonit。Mostcertainlyishasnotasteforthepainstakingburdenofbeinginvolvedinaleague(ofhumanrights)。Menwhocannotfindtimeonceinthreemonthstodropaballotinthebox,willnotcomethreetimesaweektoattendthemeetingsofaclub。Farfrommeddlingwiththegovernment,theyabdicate,andastheyrefusetoelectit,theycannotundertaketocontrolit。
Itis,ontheotherhand,justtheoppositewiththeupstartsanddogmatistswhoregardtheirroyalprivilegesseriously。Theynotonlyvoteattheelections,buttheymeantokeeptheauthoritytheydelegateintheirownhands。Intheireyeseveryofficialisoneoftheircreatures,andremainsaccountabletothem,for,inpointoflaw,thepeoplemaynotpartwiththeirsovereignty,while,infact,powerhasprovedsosweetthattheyarenotdisposedtopartwithit。[13]Duringsixmonthsprecedingtheregularelections,theyhavecometoknow,comprehend,andtesteachother;theyhaveheldsecretmeetings;amutualunderstandingisarrivedat,andhenceforth,asotherassociationsdisappearlikefleetingbloom,theirs[14]risevigorouslyontheabandonedsoil。AclubisestablishedatMarseillesbeforetheendof1789;eachlargetownhasonewithinthefirstsixmonthsof1790,AixinFebruary,MontpellierinMarch,N?mesinApril,LyonsinMay,andBordeauxinJune。[15]ButtheirgreatestincreasetakesplaceaftertheFederationfestival。Justwhenlocalgatheringsmergeintothatofthewholecountry,thesectarianJacobinskeepaloof,andformleaguesoftheirown。AtRouen,July14,1790,twosurgeons,aprinter,achaplainattheprison,awidowedJewess,andfourwomenorchildrenlivinginthehouse,—eightpersonsinall,pureandnottobeconfoundedwiththemass,[16]bindthemselvestogether,andformadistinctassociation。Theirpatriotismisofsuperiorquality,andtheytakeaspecialviewofthesocialcompact;[17]inswearingfealtytotheconstitutiontheyreservetothemselvestheRightsofMan,andtheymeantomaintainnotonlythereformsalreadyeffected,buttocompletetheRevolutionjustbegun。—
DuringtheFederationtheyhavewelcomedandindoctrinatedtheirfellowswho,onquittingthecapitalorlargecities,becomebearersofinstructionstothesmalltownsandhamlets;theyaretoldwhattheobjectofaclubis,andhowtoformone,and,everywhere,popularassociationsariseonthesameplan,forthesamepurpose,andbearingthesamename。Amonthlater,sixtyoftheseassociationsareinoperation;threemonthslater,onehundred;inMarch,1791,twohundredandtwenty—nine,andinAugust,1791,nearlyfourhundred。[18]
Afterthisdateasuddenincreasetakesplace,owingtotwosimultaneousimpulses,whichscattertheirseedsovertheentireterritory。——Ontheonehand,atthenendofJuly,1791,allmoderatemen,thefriendsoflawandorder,whostillholdtheclubsincheck,allconstitutionalists,orFeuillants,withdrawfromthemandleavethemtoexaggerationorthetrivialityofproposingmotions;thepoliticaltoneimmediatelyfallstothatofthetavernandguard—
house,sothatwhereveroneortheotherisfound,thereisapoliticalclub。Ontheotherhand,aconvocationoftheelectoralbodyisheldatthesamedatefortheelectionofanewNationalAssembly,andfortherenewaloflocalgovernments;thepreybeinginsight,hunting—partiesareeverywhereformedtocaptureit。Intwomonths,[19]sixhundrednewclubsspringup;bytheendofSeptembertheyamounttoonethousand,andinJune,1792,totwelvehundred——
asmanyastherearetownsandwalledboroughs。Onthefallofthethrone,andatthepaniccausedbythePrussianinvasion,duringaperiodofanarchywhichequaledthatofJuly,1789,therewere,accordingtoRoederer,almostasmanyclubsastherewerecommunes,26,000,oneforeveryvillagecontainingfiveorsixhot—headed,boisterousfellows,orroughs,(tape—durs),withaclerkabletopenapetition。
AfterNovember,1790,[20]\"everystreetineverytownandhamlet,\"
saysaJournaloflargecirculation,\"musthaveaclubofitsown。Letsomehonestcraftsmaninvitehisneighborstohishouse,where,withusingasharedcandle,hemayreadaloudthedecreesoftheNationalAssembly,onwhichheandhisneighborsmaycomment。Beforethemeetingcloses,inordertoenliventhecompany,whichmayfeelalittledisturbedonaccountofMarat’sarticles,lethimreadthepatrioticoathsin’PêreDuchesne。’\"[21]——Theadviceisfollowed。Atthemeetingsintheclubarereadaloudpamphlets,newspapers,andcatechismsdispatchedfromParis,the\"GazetteVillageoise,\"the\"JournalduSoir,\"the\"JournaldelaMontagne,\"\"PêreDuchesne,\"the\"RévolutionsdeParis,\"and\"Laclos’Gazette。\"Revolutionarysongsaresung,and,ifagoodspeakerhappenstobepresent,aformermonk(oratorien),lawyer,orschool—master,hepoursouthisstockofphrases,speakingoftheGreeksandRomans,proclaimingtheregenerationofthehumanspecies。Oneofthem,appealingtothewomen,wantstosee\"thedeclarationoftheRightsofMansuspendedonthewallsoftheirbedroomsastheirprincipalornament,and,shouldwarbreakout,thesevirtuoussupporters,marchingattheheadofourarmieslikenewbacchanteswithflowinghair,thewandofBacchusintheirhand。\"
Shoutsofapplausegreetthissentiment。Themindsofthelisteners,sweptawaybythisgaleofdeclamation,becomeoverheatedandignitethroughmutualcontact;likehalf—consumedembersthatwoulddieoutifletalone,theykindleintoablazewhengatheredtogetherinaheap。——Theirconvictions,atthesametime,gainstrength。Thereisnothinglikeacoterietomakethesetakeroot。Inpolitics,asinreligion,faithgeneratingthechurch,thelatter,initsturn,nourishesfaith。Intheclub,asintheprivatereligiousmeeting,eachderivesauthorityfromthecommonunanimity,everywordandactionofthewholetendingtoproveeachintheright。Andallthemorebecauseadogmawhichremainsuncontested,endsinseemingincontestable;astheJacobinlivesinanarrowcircle,carefullyguarded,nocontraryopinionsfindtheirwaytohim。Thepublic,inhiseyes,seemstwohundredpersons;theiropinionweighsonhimwithoutanycounterpoise,and,outsideoftheirbelief,whichishisalso,everyotherbeliefisabsurdandevenculpable。Moreover,hediscoversthroughthisconstantsystemofpreaching,whichisnothingbutflattery,thatheispatriotic,intelligent,virtuous,ofwhichhecanhavenodoubt,because,beforebeingadmittedintotheclub,hiscivicvirtueshavebeenverifiedandhecarriesaprintedcertificateoftheminhispocket。——Accordingly,heisoneofanélitecorps,acorpswhich,enjoyingamonopolyofpatriotism,holdsitselfaloof,talksloud,andisdistinguishedfromordinarycitizensbyitstoneandwayofconductingthings。TheclubofPontarlier,[22]fromthefirst,prohibitsitsmembersfromusingthecommonformsofpoliteness。
\"Membersaretoabstainfromsalutingtheirfellow—citizensbyremovingthehat,andaretoavoidthephrase,’Ihavethehonortobe,’andothersoflikeimport,inaddressingpersons。\"
Aproperideaofone’simportanceisindispensable。
\"DoesnotthefamoustribuneoftheJacobinsinParisinspiretraitorsandimpostorswithfear?Anddonotanti—Revolutionariesreturntodustonbeholdingit?\"
Allthisistrue,intheprovincesaswellasatthecapital,for,scarcelyisacluborganizedbeforeitsetstoworkonthepopulation。
Inmayofthelargecities,inParis,Lyons,AixandBordeaux,therearetwoclubsinpartnership,[23]one,moreorlessrespectableandparliamentary,\"composedpartlyofthemembersofthedifferentbranchesoftheadministrationandspeciallydevotedtopurposesofgeneralutility,\"andtheother,practicalandactive,madeupofbar—
roompoliticiansandclub—haranguers,whoindoctrinateworkmen,market—gardenersandtherestofthelowerbourgeoisclass。Thelatterisabranchoftheformer,and,inurgentcases,suppliesitwithrioters。
\"Weareplacedamongstthepeople,\"saysoneofthesesubalternclubs,\"wereadtothemthedecrees,and,throughlecturesandcounsel,wewarnthemagainstthepublicationsandintriguesofthearistocrats。Weferretoutandtrackplottersandtheirmachinations。
Wewelcomeandadviseallcomplainants;weenforcetheirdemands,whenjust;finally,we,insomeway,attendtoalldetails。\"
Thankstothesevulgarauxiliaries,butwhoselungsandarmsarestrong,thepartysoonbecomesdominant;ithasforceandusesit,and,denyingthatitsadversarieshaveanyrights,itre—establishesalltheprivilegesforitsownadvantage。[24]
III。
Howtheyviewthelibertyofthepress。—Theirpoliticaldoings。
Letusconsideritsmodeofprocedureinoneinstanceanduponalimitedfield,thefreedomofthepress。[25]InDecember,1790,M。
Etienne,anengineer,whomMaratandFréronhaddenouncedasaspyintheirperiodicals,broughtasuitagainsttheminthepolicecourt。
Thenumberscontainingthelibelwereseized,theprinterssummonedtoappear,andM。Etienneclaimedapublicretractionor25,000francsdamageswithcosts。Atthisthetwojournalists,consideringthemselvesinfallibleaswellasexemptfromarrest,areindignant。
\"Itisoftheutmostimportance,\"writesMarat,\"thattheinformershouldnotbeliabletoprosecutionasheisaccountableonlytothepublicforwhathesaysanddoesforthepublicgood。\"
M。Etienne(surnamedLanguedoc),therefore,isatraitor:\"MonsieurLanguedoc,Iadviseyoutokeepyourmouthshut;ifIcanhaveyouhungIwill。\"M。Etienne,nevertheless,persistsandobtainsafirstdecisioninhisfavor。FireandflameareatoncebelchedforthbyMaratandFréon:
\"MasterThorillon,\"exclaimsFrérontothecommissaryofpolice,\"youshallbepunishedandhelduptothepeopleasanexample;thisinfamousdecisionmustbecanceled。\"——\"Citizens,\"writesMarat,\"goinabodytotheH?tel—de—Villeanddonotallowoneoftheguardstoenterthecourt—room。\"——Onthedayofthetrial,andinthemostcondescendingspirit,buttwogrenadiersareletin。Eventhese,however,aretoomanyandshoutsfromtheJacobincrowdarise\"Turn’emout!Werulehere,\"uponwhichthetwogrenadierswithdraw。Ontheotherhand,saysFrérontriumphantly,thattherewereinthecourt—
room\"sixtyofthevictorsattheBastilleledbythebraveSanterre,whointendedtointerfereinthetrial。\"—Theyintervene,indeed,andfirstagainsttheplaintiff。M。Etienneisattackedattheentranceofthecourt—roomandnearlyknockeddownHeissomaltreatedthatheisobligedtoseekshelterintheguard—room。Heisspitupon,andthey\"movetocutoffhisears。\"Hisfriendsreceive\"hundredsofkicks,\"whileherunsaway,andthecaseispostponed。——Itiscalledupagainseveraltimes,sonothejudgeshavetoberestrained。
AcertainMandartintheaudience,authorofapamphleton\"PopularSovereignty,\"springstohisfeetand,addressingBailly,mayorofParis,andpresidentofthetribunal,challengesthecourt。AsusualBaillyyields,attemptingtocoveruphisweaknesswithanhonorablepretext:\"Althoughajudgecanbechallengedonlybythepartiestoasuit,theappealofonecitizenissufficientformeandIleavethebench。\"Theotherjudges,whoarelikewiseinsultedandmenaced,yieldalso,and,throughasophismwhichadmirablyillustratesthetimes,theydiscoverintheoppressiontowhichtheplaintiffissubjectalegaldevicebywhichtheycangiveafaircolortotheirdenialofjustice。M。Etiennehavingsignifiedtothemthatneitherhenorhiscounselcouldattendincourt,becausetheirliveswereindanger,thecourtdecidesthatM。Etienne,\"failingtoappearinperson,orbycounsel,isnon—suited。\"——Victoriousshoutsatonceproceedfromthetwojournalists,whiletheirarticlesonthecasedisseminatedthroughoutFrancesetaprecedencecontainedinthe。ruling。AnyJacobinmayafterthiswithimpunitydenounce,insult,andcalumniatewhomsoeverhepleases,shelteredasheisfromtheactionofcourts,andheldsuperiortothelaw。
Letussee,ontheotherhand,whatlibertytheyallowtheiradversaries。Afortnightbeforethis,MalletduPan,awriterofgreatability,who,inthebestperiodicaloftheday,discussesquestionsweekafterweekfreeofallpersonalities,themostindependent,straight—forward,andhonorableofmen,themosteloquentandjudiciousadvocateofpublicorderandtrueliberty,iswaiteduponbyadeputationfromthePalais—Royal,[26]consistingofaboutadozenwell—dressedindividuals,civilenoughandnottooill—disposed,butquitesatisfiedthattheyhavearighttointerfere。Theconversationwhichensuesshowstowhatextentthecurrentpoliticalcreedhadturnedpeoples’heads。
\"Oneoftheparty,addressingme,informedmethatheandhisassociatesweredeputiesofthePalais—Royalclubs,andthattheyhadcalledtonotifymethatIwoulddowelltochangemyprinciplesandstopattackingtheconstitution,otherwiseextremeviolencewouldbebroughttobearonme。IrepliedthatIrecognizednoauthoritybutthelawandthatofthecourts;thelawisyourmasterandmine,andnorespectisshowntotheconstitutionbyassailingthefreedomofthepress。\"
\"Theconstitutionisthecommonwill,resumedthespokesman。Thelaw,istheauthorityofthestrongest。Youaresubjecttothestrongestandyououghttosubmit。Wenotifyyouofthewillofthenationandthatisthelaw。’\"
MalletduPanstatedtothemthathewasnotinfavoroftheancientrégime,butthathedidapproveofroyalauthority。
\"Oh!\"exclaimedalltogether,\"weshouldbesorrynottohaveaking。
WerespecttheKingandmaintainhisauthority。ButyouareforbiddentoopposethedominantopinionandthelibertywhichisdecreedbytheNationalAssembly。\"
MalletduPan,apparently,knowsmoreaboutthisthantheydo,forheisaSwissbybirth,andhaslivedunderarepublicfortwentyyears。
Butthisdoesnotconcernthem。Theypersistallthesame,fiveorsixtalkingatonce,misconstruingthesensethewordstheyuse,andeachcontradictingtheotherinpointofdetail,butallagreeingtoimposesilenceonhim:
\"Youshouldnotruncountertothepopularwill,forindoingthisyoupreachcivilwar,bringtheassembly’sdecreesintocontempt,andirritatethenation。\"
Evidently,forthem,theyconstitutethenation,or,moreorless,theyrepresentit。Throughthisself—investituretheyareatoncemagistrates,censors,andpolice,whilethescoldedjournalistisonlytooglad,inhiscase,tohavethemstopatinjunctions。——Threedaysbeforethisheisadvisedthatabodyofriotersinhisneighborhood\"threatenedtotreathishouselikethatofM。deCastries,\"inwhicheverythinghadbeensmashedandthrownoutthewindows。Atanothertime,aproposofthesuspensiveorabsoluteveto;\"foursavagefellowscametohisdomiciletowarnhim,showinghimtheirpistols,thatifhedaredwriteinbehalfofM。Mounierheshouldanswerforitwithhislife。\"Thus,fromtheoutset,\"justasthenationbeginstoenjoytheinestimablerightoffreethoughtandfreespeech,factionaltyrantslosenotimeindeprivingcitizensofthese,proclaimingtoallthatwouldmaintaintheintegrityoftheirconsciences:Tremble,die,orbelieveaswedo!\"
Afterthis,toimposesilenceonthosewhoexpresswhatisoffensive,thecrowd,theclub,thesection,decreeandexecute,eachonitsownauthority,[27]searches,arrests,assaults,and,atlength,assassinations。DuringthemonthofJune,1792,\"threedecreesofarrestandfifteendenunciations,twoactsofaffixingseals,fourcivicinvasionsofhispremises,andtheconfiscationofwhateverbelongedtohiminFrance\"istheexperienceofMalletduPan。Hepassesfouryears\"withoutknowingwithanycertaintyongoingtobedwhetherheshouldgetoutofitinthemorningaliveandfree。\"Lateron,ifheescapestheguillotineandthelantern,itisowingtoexile。Onthe10thofAugust,Suleau,aconservativejournalist,ismassacredinthestreet。——Thisshowshowthepartyregardsthefreedomofthepress。Otherlibertiesmaybejudgedofbyitsencroachmentsonthisdomain。Law,initseyes,isnullwhenitprovesanobstacle,andwhenitaffordsprotectiontoadversaries;
consequentlythereisnoexcesswhichitdoesnotsanctionforitself;
andnorightwhichitdoesnotrefusetoothers。
Thereisnoescapefromthetyrannyoftheclubs。\"ThatofMarseilleshasforcedthecityofficialstoresign;[28]ithassummonedthemunicipalbodytoappearbeforeit;ithasignoredtheauthorityofthedepartment,andhasinsultedtheadministratorsofthelaw。
MembersoftheOrleansclubhavekeptthenationalSupremeCourtundersupervision,andtakenpartinitsproceedings。ThoseoftheCaenclubhaveinsultedthemagistrates,andseizedandburnttherecordsoftheproceedingscommencedagainstthedestroyersofthestatueofLouisXIV。AtAlbytheyhaveforciblyabstractedfromtherecord—officethepapersrelatingtoanassassin’strial,andburntthem。\"TheclubatCoutancegivesthedeputiesofitsdistricttounderstandthat\"noreflectionsmustbecastonthelawsofthepeople。\"ThatofLyonsstopsanartillerytrain,underthepretextthattheministryinofficedoesnotenjoythenation’sconfidence。——Thusdoestheclubeverywheregovern,orpreparetogovern。Ontheonehand,attheelections,itsetsasideorsupportscandidates;italonevotes,or,atleast,controlsthevoting。Inshort,theclubistheelectivepower,andpractically,ifnotlegally,enjoystheprivilegesofapoliticalaristocracy。Ontheotherhand,itassumestobeaspontaneouspolice—board;itpreparesandcirculatesthelistswhichdesignatetheill—disposed,suspected,andlukewarm;itlodgesinformationagainstnobleswhosesonshaveemigrated;againstunswornpriestswhostillresideintheirformerparishes,andagainstnuns,\"whoseconductisunconstitutional\"。Itprompts,directs,andrebukeslocalauthorities;itisitselfasupplemental,superior,andusurpingauthority。——Allatonce,sensiblemenrealizeitscharacter,andprotestagainstit。
\"Abodythusorganized,\"saysapetition,[29]\"existssolelyforarmingonecitizenagainstanother……Discussionstakeplacethere,anddenunciationsaremadeunderthesealofinviolablesecrecy……Honestcitizens,surrenderedtothemostatrociouscalumny,aredestroyedwithoutanopportunityofdefendingthemselves。
ItisaveritableInquisition。Itisthecenterofseditiouspublications,aschoolofcabalsandintrigue。Ifthecitizenshavetoblushattheselectionofunworthycandidates,theyareallduetothisclassofassociations……Composedoftheexcitedandtheincendiary,ofthosewhoaimtoruletheState,\"theclubeverywheretends\"toamasteryofthepopularopinion,tothwartingthemunicipalities,toanintrusionofitselfbetweentheseandthepeople,\"toanusurpationoflegalformsandtobecomea\"colossusofdespotism。\"
Vaincomplaints!TheNationalAssembly,everinalarmonitsownaccount,shieldsthepopularclubandaccordsititsfavororindulgence。Ajournalofthepartyhadrecommended\"thepeopletoformthemselvesintosmallplatoons。\"Theseplatoons,onebyone,aregrowing。Eachboroughnowhasalocaloligarchy,anenlistedandgoverningband。Tocreateanarmyoutofthesescatteredbands,simplyrequiresastaffandacentralrallying—point。ThecentralpointandthestaffhavebothforalongtimebeenreadyinParis,itistheassociationofthe\"FriendsoftheConstitution。\"
IV。
Theirrallying—points。——OriginandcompositionoftheParisJacobinclub。——Itaffiliateswithprovincialclubs。——Itsleaders。——
Thefanatics。——TheIntriguers。——Theirobject。——Theirmeans。
NoassociationinFrance,indeed,datesfartherback,andhasanequalprestige。ItwasbornbeforetheRevolution,April30,1789。[30]AttheassemblyoftheStates—GeneralinBrittany,thedeputiesfromQuimper,Hennebon,andPontivysawhowimportantitwastovoteinconcert,andtheyhadscarcelyreachedVersailleswhen,incommonwithothers,theyhiredahall,and,alongwithMounier,secretaryoftheStates—GeneralofDauphiny,andotherdeputiesfromtheprovinces,atonceorganizedaunionwhichwasdestinedtolast。Uptothe6thofOctober,nonebutdeputieswerecomprisedinit;afterthatdate,onremovingtoParis,inthelibraryoftheJacobins,aconventintheRueSt。Honoré,manywell—knowneminentmenwereadmitted,suchasCondorcet,andthenLaharpe,Chénier,Champfort,David,andTalma,amongthemostprominent,withotherauthorsandartists,thewholeamountingtoaboutathousandnotablepersonages。——Noassemblagecouldbemoreimposing——twoorthreehundreddeputiesareonitsbenches,whileitsrulesandby—lawsseemspeciallydesignedtogatherasuperiorbodyofmen。Candidatesforadmissionwereproposedbytenmembersandafterwardsvotedonbyballot。Tobepresentatoneofitsmeetingsrequiredacardofadmission。Ononeoccasion,amemberofthecommitteeoftwo,appointedtoverifythesecards,happenstobetheyoungDukeofChartres。Thereisacommitteeonadministrationandapresident。Discussionstookplacewithparliamentaryformalities,and,accordingtoitsstatus,thequestionsconsideredtherewerethoseunderdebateintheNationalAssembly。[31]Inthelowerhall,atcertainhours,workmenreceivedinstructionandtheconstitutionwasexplainedtothem。Seenfromafar,nosocietyseemsworthierofdirectingpublicopinion;nearby,thecaseisdifferent。Inthedepartments,however,wheredistancelendsenchantment,andwhereoldcustomsprevailimplantedbycentralization,itisacceptedasaguidebecauseitsseatisatthecapital。Itsstatutes,itsregulations,itsspirit,areallimitated;itbecomesthealmamaterofotherassociationsandtheyitsadopteddaughters。Itpublishes,accordingly,alistofallclubsconspicuouslyinitsjournal,togetherwiththeirdenunciations;itinsistsontheirdemands;
henceforth,everyJacobinintheremotestboroughfeelsthesupportandendorsement,notonlyofhislocal,club,butagainofthegreatclubwhosenumerousoffshootsreachedtheentireterritoryandwhichextendsitsall—powerfulprotectiontotheleastofitsadherents。Inreturnforthisprotection,eachassociatedclubobeysthewordofcommandgivenatParis,andtoandfrom,fromthecentertotheextremities,aconstantcorrespondencemaintainstheestablishedharmony。Avastpoliticalmachineisthussetagoing,amachinewiththousandsofarms,allworkingatonceunderoneimpulsion,andtheleverwhichthemotionsisinthehandsofafewmasterspiritsintheRueSt。Honoré。
Nomachinecouldbemoreeffective;neverwasoneseensowellcontrivedformanufacturingartificial,violentpublicopinion,formakingthisappeartobenational,spontaneoussentiment,forconferringtherightsofthesilentmajorityonavociferousminority,forforcingthesurrenderofthegovernment。
\"Ourtacticswereverysimple,\"saysGrégoire[32]。\"ItwasunderstoodthatoneofusshouldtakeadvantageofthefirstfavorableopportunitytoproposesomemeasureintheNationalAssemblythatwassuretobeapplaudedbyasmallminorityandcrieddownbythemajority。Butthatmadenodifference。Theproposerdemanded,whichwasgranted,thatthemeasureshouldbereferredtoacommitteeinwhichitsopponentshopedtoseeitburied。ThentheParisJacobinstookholdofit。Acircularwasissued,afterwhichanarticleonthemeasurewasprintedintheirjournalanddiscussedinthreeorfourhundredclubsthatwereleaguedtogether。ThreeweeksafterthistheAssemblywasfloodedwithpetitionsfromeveryquarter,demandingadecreeofwhichthefirstproposalhadbeenrejected,andwhichisnowpassedbyagreatmajoritybecauseadiscussionofithadripenedpublicopinion。\"
Inotherwords,theAssemblymustgoaheadoritwillbedrivenalong,inwhichprocesstheworstexpedientsarethebest。Thosewhoconducttheclub,whetherfanaticsorintriguers,arefullyagreedonthispoint。
AttheheadoftheformerclassisDuport,onceacounselorintheparliament,who,after1788,knewhowtoturnriotstoaccount。Thefirstrevolutionaryconsultationswereheldinhishouse。Hewantstoploughdeep,andhisdevicesforburyingtheploughsharearesuchthatSieyès,aradical,ifthereeverwasone,dubbedita\"cavernouspolicy。\"[33]Duport,onthe28thofJuly,1789,istheorganizeroftheCommitteeonSearches,bywhichallfavorablydisposedinformersorspiesforminhishandsasupervisorypolice,whichfastbecomesapoliceofprovocation。HefindsrecruitsinthelowerhalloftheJacobinclub,whereworkmencometobecatechizedeverymorning,whilehistwolieutenants,thebrothersLaurette,haveonlytodrawonthesamesourceforazealousstaffinachoiceselectionoftheirinstruments。\"Tenreliablemenreceiveorderstheredaily;[34]eachoftheseinturngiveshisorderstotenmore,belongingtodifferentbattalionsinParis。Inthiswayeachbattalionandsectionreceivesthesameinsurrectionaryorders,thesamedenunciationsoftheconstitutedauthorities,ofthemayorofParis,ofthepresidentofthedepartment,andofthecommanderoftheNationalGuard,\"
everythingtakingplacesecretly。Thesearedarkdeeds:theleadersthemselvescallit’theSabbath’and,alongwithfanaticstheyenlistruffians。\"Theyspreadtherumorthat,onacertainday,therewillbeagreatcommotionwithassassinationsandpillage,precededbythepaymentofmoneydistributedfromhandtohandbysubalternofficersamongthosethatcanbereliedon,andthatthesebandsaretoassemble,asadvertised,withinaradiusofthirtyorfortyleagues。\"[35]————Oneday,toprovokeariot,\"halfadozenmen,whohavearrangedthething,formasmallgroup,inwhichoneofthemholdsforthvehemently;atonceacrowdofaboutsixtyothersgathersaroundthem。Thenthesixmenmoveonfromplacetoplace,\"toformfreshgroupsmakingtheirapparentexcitementpassforpopularirritation。——Anotherday,\"aboutfortyfanatics,withpowerfullungs,andfourorfivehundredpaidmen,\"scatterthemselvesaroundtheTuileries,\"yellingfuriously,\"and,gatheringunderthewindowsoftheAssembly,\"moveresolutionstoassassinate。\"——\"Ourushers,\"
saysadeputytotheAssembly,\"whomyouorderedtosuppressthistumult,heardreiteratedthreatsofbringingyoutheheadsofthosethecrowdwishedtoproscribe。Thatveryevening,inthePalais—Royal,\"Iheardasubordinateleaderofthisfactiousbandboastofhavingchargedyourusherstotakethisanswerback,addingthattherewastimeenoughyetforallgoodcitizenstofollowhisadvice。\"——Thewatchwordoftheseagitatorsis,areyoutrueandtheresponseis,atrueman。Theirpayistwelvefrancsaday,andwheninactiontheymakeengagementsonthespotatthatrate。\"FromseveraldepositionstakenbyofficersoftheNationalGuardandatthemayoralty,\"itisascertainedthattwelvefrancsadayweretenderedto\"honestpeopletojoininwiththoseyoumayhaveheardshouting,andsomeofthemactuallyhadthetwelvefrancsputintotheirhands。\"——ThemoneycomesfromthecoffersoftheDukeofOrleans,andtheyarefreelydrawnupon;athisdeath,withapropertyamountingto114,000,000
francs,hisdebtsamountto74,000,000。[36]Beingoneofthefaction,hecontributestoitsexpenses,and,beingtherichestmaninthekingdom,hecontributesproportionatelytohiswealth。Notbecauseheisapartyleader,forheistooeffeminate,toonervous;but\"hispettycouncil,\"[37]andespeciallyoneofhisprivatesecretaries,Laclos,cherishesgreatdesignsforhim,theirobjectbeingtomakehimlieutenant—generalofthekingdom,afterwardsregent,andevenking,[38]sothattheymayruleinhisnameand\"sharetheprofits。\"—
—Inthemeantimetheyturnhiswhimstothebestaccount,particularlyLaclos,whoisakindofsubordinateMacchiavelli,capableofanything,profound,depraved,andlongindulginghisfondnessformonstrouscombinations;nobodyeversocoollydelightedinindescribablecompoundsofhumanwickednessanddebauchery。Inpolitics,asinromance,hisdepartmentis\"LesLiaisonsDangereuses。\"
Formerlyhemaneuveredasanamateurwithprostitutesandruffiansinthefashionableworld;nowhemaneuversinearnestwiththeprostitutesandruffiansofthesidewalks。Onthe5thofOctober1789,heisseen,\"dressedinabrowncoat,\"[39]foremostamongthewomenstartingforVersailles,whilehishand[40]isvisible\"intheRéveillonaffair,alsointheburningofbarriersandChateaux,\"andinthewidespreadpanicwhicharousedallFranceagainstimaginarybandits。Hisoperations,saysMalouet,\"wereallpaidforbytheDukeofOrleans\";heenteredintothem\"forhisownaccount,andtheJacobinsfortheirs。\"——Atthistimetheirallianceisplaintoeverybody。Onthe21stofNovember,1790,Laclosbecomessecretaryoftheclub,chiefofthedepartmentofcorrespondence,titulareditorofitsjournal,andtheinvisible,active,andpermanentdirectorofallitsenterprises。Whetheractualdemagoguesorpromptedbyambition,whetherpaidagentsorearnestrevolutionaries,eachgroupworksonitsownaccount,bothinconcert,bothinthesamedirection,andbothdevotedtothesameundertaking,whichistheconquestofpowerbyeverypossiblemeans。
V。
SmallnumberofJacobins。—Sourcesoftheirpower。—Theyformaleague。—Theyhavefaith。—Theirunscrupulousness。—Thepowerofthepartyvestedinthegroupwhichbestfulfillstheseconditions。
Atfirstsighttheirsuccessseemsdoubtful,fortheyareinaminority,andaverysmallone。AtBesan?on,inNovember,1791,therevolutionariesofeveryshadeofopinionanddegree,whetherGirondistsorMontagnards,consistofabout500or600outof3,000
electors,and,inNovember,1792,ofnotmorethanthesamenumberoutof6,000and7,000。[41]AtParis,inNovember,1791,thereare6,700
outofmorethan81,000ontherolls;inOctober,1792,therearelessthan14,000outof160,000。[42]AtTroyes,in1792,therearefoundonly400or500outof7,000electors,andatStrasbourgthesamenumberoutof8,000electors。[43]Accordinglyonlyaboutone—tenthoftheelectoralpopulationarerevolutionaries,andifweleaveouttheGirondistsandthesemi—conservatives,thenumberisreducedbyone—
half。Towardstheendof1792,atBesan?on,scarcelymorethan300
pureJacobinsarefoundinapopulationoffrom25,000to30,000,whileatParis,outof700,000inhabitantsonly5,000areJacobins。
Itiscertainthatinthecapital,wherethemostexcitementprevails,andwheremoreofthemarefoundthanelsewhere,never,eveninacrisisandwhenvagabondsarepaidandbanditsrecruited,aretheremorethan10,000。[44]InalargetownlikeToulousearepresentativeofthepeopleonmissionaryservicewinsoveronlyabout400
persons。[45]Countingfiftyorsoineachsmalltown,twentyineachlargeborough,andfiveorsixineachvillage,wefind,onanaverage,butoneJacobintofifteenelectorsandNationalGuards,while,takingthewholeofFrance,alltheJacobinsputtogetherdonotamountto300,000。[46]——Thisisasmallnumberfortheenslavementofsixmillionsofable—bodiedmen,andforinstallinginacountryoftwenty—sixmillionsinhabitantsamoreabsolutedespotismthanthatofanAsiaticsovereign。Force,however,isnotmeasuredbynumbers;theyformabandinthemidstofacrowdand,inthisdisorganized,inertcrowd,abandthatisdeterminedtopushitswaylikeanironwedgesplittingalog。
Andagainstseditionfromwithinaswellasconquestfromwithoutanationmayonlydefenditselfthroughtheactivitiesofitsgovernment,whichprovidestheindispensableinstrumentsofcommonaction。Letitfailorfalterandthegreatmajority,undecidedaboutwhattodo,lukewarmandbusyelsewhere,ceasestobeacorpsanddisintegratesintodust。Ofthetwogovernmentsaroundwhichthenationmighthaverallied,thefirstone,afterJuly14,1789,liesprostrateonthegroundwhereitslowlycrumblesaway。Nowitsghost,whichreturns,isstillmoreodiousbecauseitbringswithitthesamesenselessabusesandintolerableburdens,and,inadditiontothese,ayelpingpackofclaimantsandrecriminators。After1790itappearsonthefrontiermorearbitrarythaneverattheheadofacominginvasionofangryémigrésandgraspingforeigners。——Theothergovernment,thatjustconstructedbytheConstituentAssembly,issobadlyputtogetherthatthemajoritycannotuseit。Itisnotadaptedtoitshand;nopoliticalinstrumentatoncesoponderousandsohelplesswaseverseen。Anenormouseffortisneededtosetitinmotion;everycitizenisobligedtogiveitabouttwodayslaborperweek。[47]Thuslaboriouslystartedbuthalfinmotion,itpoorlymeetsthevarioustasksimposeduponit——thecollectionoftaxes,publicorderinthestreets,thecirculationofsupplies,andsecurityforconsciences,livesandproperty。Toppledoverbyitsownaction,anotherrisesoutofit,illegalandserviceable,whichtakesitsplaceandstands。——
Inagreatcentralizedstatewhoeverpossessestheheadpossessesthebody。Byvirtueofbeingled,theFrenchhavecontractedthehabitoflettingthemselvesbeled。[48]Peopleintheprovincesinvoluntarilyturntheireyestothecapital,and,onacrisisoccurring,runouttostopthemailmantoknowwhatgovernmenthappenstohavefallen,themajorityacceptsorsubmitstoit。——Because,inthefirstplace,mostoftheisolatedgroupswhichwouldliketooverthrowitdarenotengageinthestruggle:itseemstoostrong;throughinveterateroutinetheyimaginebehinditthatgreat,distantFrancewhich,underitsimpulsion,willcrushthemwithitsmass。[49]Inthesecondplace,shouldafewisolatedgroupsundertaketooverthrowit,theyarenotinaconditiontokeepupthestruggle:itistoostrong。Theyare,indeed,notyetorganizedwhileitisfullyso,owingtothedocilesetofofficialsinheritedfromthegovernmentoverthrown。Undermonarchyorrepublicthegovernmentclerkcomestohisofficeregularlyeverymorningtodispatchtheorderstransmittedtohim。[50]
Undermonarchyorrepublicthepolicemandailymakeshisroundtoarrestthoseagainstwhohehasawarrant。Solongasinstructionscomefromaboveinthehierarchicalorderofthings,theyareobeyed。
Fromoneendoftheterritorytotheother,therefore,themachine,withitshundredthousandarms,worksefficientlyinthehandsofthosewhohaveseizedtheleveratthecentralpoint。Resolution,audacity,rudeenergy,areallthatareneededtomaketheleveract,andnoneofthesearewantingintheJacobin。[51]
First,hehasfaith,andfaithatalltimes\"movesmountains。[52]
\"Takeanyordinarypartyrecruit,anattorney,asecond—ratelawyer,ashopkeeper,anartisan,andconceive,ifyoucan,theextraordinaryeffectofthisdoctrineonamindsopoorlypreparedforit,sonarrow,sooutofproportionwiththegiganticconceptionwhichhasmasteredit。Formedfortheroutineandthelimitedviewsofoneinhisposition,heissuddenlycarriedawaybyacompletesystemofphilosophy,atheoryofnatureandofman,atheoryofsocietyandofreligion,atheoryofuniversalhistory,[53]conclusionsaboutthepast,thepresent,andthefutureofhumanity,axiomsofabsoluteright,asystemofperfectandfinaltruth,thewholeconcentratedinafewrigidformulaeas,forexample:
\"Religionissuperstition,monarchyisusurpation,priestsareimpostors,aristocratsarevampires,andkingsaresomanytyrantsandmonsters。\"
Theseideasfloodamindofhisstamplikeavasttorrentprecipitatingitselfintoanarrowgorge;theyupsetit,and,nolongerunderself—direction,theysweepitaway。Themanisbesidehimself。Aplainbourgeois,acommonlaborerisnottransformedwithimpunityintoanapostleorliberatorofthehumanspecies。——For,itisnothiscountrythathewouldsave,buttheentirerace。Roland,justbeforethe10thofAugust,exclaims\"withtearsinhiseyes,shouldlibertydieinFrance,sheislosttherestoftheworldforever!Thehopesofphilosopherswillperish!Thewholeearthwillsuccumbtothecruelesttyranny!\"[54]——Grégoire,onthemeetingoftheConvention,obtainedadecreeabolishingroyalty,andseemedovercomewiththethoughtoftheimmensebenefithehadconferredonthehumanrace。
\"Imustconfess,\"saidhe,\"thatfordaysIcouldneithereatnorsleepforexcessofjoy!\"
OnedayaJacobininthetribunedeclared:\"Weshallbeanationofgods!\"——Fancieslikethesebringonlunacy,or,atallevents,theycreatedisease。\"Somemenareinafeveralldaylong,\"saidacompanionofSt。Just;\"Ihaditfortwelveyears……\"[55]Lateron,\"whenadvancedinlifeandtryingtoanalyzetheirexperiences,theycannotcomprehendit。\"[56]Anothertellsthat,inhiscase,ona\"crisisoccurring,therewasonlyahair’sbreadthbetweenreasonandmadness。\"——\"WhenSt。Justandmyself,\"saysBaudot,\"dischargedthebatteriesatWissenbourg,weweremostliberallythankedforit。Well,therewasnomeritinthat;weknewperfectlywellthattheshotcouldnotdousanyharm。\"——Man,inthisexaltedstate,isunconsciousofobstacles,and,accordingtocircumstances,riseaboveorfallsbelowhimself,freelyspillinghisownbloodaswellasthebloodofothers,heroicasasoldierandatrociousasacivilian;heisnottoberesistedineitherdirectionforhisstrengthincreasesahundredfoldthroughhisfury,and,onhistearingwildlythroughthestreets,peoplegetoutofhiswayasontheapproachofamadbull。
Iftheydonotjumpasideoftheirownaccord,hewillrunatthem,forheisunscrupulousaswellasfurious。——Ineverypoliticalstrugglecertainkindsofactionsareprohibited;atallevents,ifthemajorityissensibleandwishestoactfairly,itrepudiatesthemforitself。Itwillnotviolateanyparticularlaw,for,ifonelawisbroken,thistendstothebreakingofothers。Itisopposedtooverthrowinganestablishedgovernmentbecauseeveryinterregnumisareturntobarbarism。Itisopposedtotheelementofpopularinsurrectionbecause,insucharesort,publicpowerissurrenderedtotheirrationalityofbrutalpassion。Itisopposedtoaconversionofthegovernmentintoamachineforconfiscationandmurderbecauseitdeemsthenaturalfunctionofgovernmenttobetheprotectionoflifeandproperty。——Themajority,accordingly,inconfrontingtheJacobin,whoallowshimselfallthis,[57]islikeaunarmedmanfacingonewhoisfullyarmed。[58]TheJacobin,onprinciple,holdsthelawincontempt,fortheonlylaw,whichheacceptsisarbitrarymobrule。
Hehasnohesitationinproceedingagainstthegovernmentbecause,inhiseyes,thegovernmentisaclerkwhichthepeoplealwayshastherighttoremove。Hewelcomesinsurrectionbecause,throughit,thepeoplerecovertheirsovereigntywithnolimitations。——Moreover,aswithcasuists,\"theendjustifiesthemeans。\"[59]\"Letthecoloniesperish,\"exclaimsaJacobinintheConstituentAssembly,\"ratherthansacrificeaprinciple。\"\"Shouldthedaycome,\"saysSt。Just,\"whenI
becomeconvincedthatitisimpossibletoendowtheFrenchwithmild,vigorous,andrationalways,inflexibleagainsttyrannyandinjustice,thatdayIwillstabmyself。\"Meanwhileheguillotinestheothers。
\"WewillmakeFranceagraveyard,\"exclaimedCarrier,\"ratherthannotregeneratingitourownway!\"[60]Theyarereadytorisktheshipinordertoseizethehelm。Fromthefirst,theyorganizestreetriotsandjacqueriesintheruraldistricts,theyletlooseonsocietyprostitutesandruffians,vileandsavagebeasts。Throughoutthestruggletheytakeadvantageofthecoarsestandmostdestructivepassions,oftheblindness,credulity,andrageofaninfatuatedcrowd,ofdearth,offearofbandits,ofrumorsofconspiracy,andofthreatsofinvasion。Atlast,havingseizedpowerthroughageneralupheaval,theyholdontoitthroughterrorandexecutions。——
Strainingwilltotheutmost,withnocurbtocheckit,steadfastlybelievinginitsownrightandwithuttercontemptfortherightsofothers,withfanaticalenergyandtheexpedientsofscoundrels,aminoritymay,inemployingsuchforces,easilymasterandsubdueamajority。Sotrueisthat,withfactionitself,thatvictoryisalwaysonthesideofthegroupwiththestrongestfaithandtheleastscruples。Fourtimesbetween1789and1794,politicalgamblerstaketheirseatsatatablewherethestakeissupremepower,andfourtimesinsuccessionthe\"Impartiaux,\"the\"Feuillants,\"the\"Girondins,\"andthe\"Dantonists,\"formthemajorityandlosethegame。Fourtimesinsuccessionthemajorityhasnodesiretobreakcustomaryrules,or,attheveryleast,toinfringeonanyruleuniversallyaccepted,towhollydisregardtheteachingsofexperience,theletterofthelaw,thepreceptsofhumanity,orthesuggestionsofpity。——Theminority,onthecontrary,isdeterminedbeforehandtowinatanyprice;itsviewsandopinionarecorrect,andifrulesareopposedtothat,somuchtheworsefortherules。Atthedecisivemoment,itclapsapistoltoitsadversary’shead,overturnsthetable,andcollectsthestakes。
_
NOTES:
[1]Seethefiguresfurtheron。
[2]MalletduPan,II。491。Danton,in1793,saidonedaytooneofhisformerbrethrenanadvocatetotheCouncil。:\"Theoldrégimemadeagreatmistake。ItbroughtmeuponascholarshipinPlessisCollege。
Iwasbroughtupwithnobles,whoweremycomrades,andwithwhomI
livedonfamiliarterms。Oncompletingmystudies,Ihadnothing;I
waspoorandtriedtogetaplace。TheParisbarwasveryexpensive,anditrequiredextensiveeffortstobeaccepted。Icouldnotgetintothearmy,havingneitherranknorpatronage。TherewasnoopeningformeintheChurch。Icouldpurchasenoemployment,forIhadn’tacent。
Myoldcompanionsturnedtheirbacksonme。Iremainedwithoutasituation,andonlyaftermanylongyearsdidIsucceedinbuyingthepostofadvocateintheRoyalCouncil。TheRevolutioncame,whenI,andalllikeme,threwthemselvesintoit。Theancientrégimeforcedustodoso,byprovidingagoodeducationforus,withoutprovidinganopeningforourtalents。\"ThisappliestoRobespierre,C。
Desmoulins,Brissot,Vergniaud,andothers。
[3]ReligiousorderfoundedinRomein1654bysaintPhilippeNeriandwhodedicatedtheireffortstopreachingandtheeducationofchildren。(SR)
[4]Dauban,\"LaDemagogieàParisen1793,\"and\"Parisin1794。\"ReadGeneralHenriot’sordersofthedayinthesetwoworks。Comparton,\"HistoireduTribunalRévolutionairedeParis,\"aletterbyTrinchard,I。306(whichisheregivenintheoriginal,onaccountoftheortography):\"Situnestpastouteseulleetquelecompagnionsoitatravaillertupeusmachaireamieventirvoirjuger24mesieurstoussideventprésidentouconselierauparlementdeParisetdeToulouse。
Jet’ainviteaprendrequelquechoseavendevenirparchequenousnauronspasfinide3hurres。Jet’embrasemachaireamieetépouge。\"—
Ibid。II。350,examinationofAndréChenier。—Wallon,\"Hist。DuTrib。Rév。\",I,316。LetterbySimon。\"Jetecoittelebonjourmoisestmonestpousse。\"
[5]Cf。\"TheRevolution,\"page60。
[6]Cf。OnthispointtheadmissionsofthehonestBailly(\"Mémoires,\"passim)
[7]RétifdelaBretonne:\"NuitsdeParis,\"11émenuit,p。36。\"I
livedinParistwenty—fiveyearsasfreeasair。Allcouldenjoyasmuchfreedomasmyselfintwoways—bylivinguprightly,andbynotwritingpamphletsagainsttheministry。Allelsewaspermitted,myfreedomneverbeinginterferedwith。ItisonlysincetheRevolutionthatascoundrelcouldsucceedinhavingmearrestedtwice。\"
[8]Cf。\"TheRevolution,\"vol。I。p。264。
[9]Moniteur,IV。495。(LetterfromChartres,May27,1790。)
[10]Sauzay,I。147,195218,711。
[11]MercuredeFrance,numbersofAugust7,14,26,andDec。18,1790。
[12]Ibid。numberofNovember26,1790。PétioniselectedmayorofParisby6,728outof10,632voters。\"Only7,000votersarefoundattheelectionoftheelectorswhoelectdeputiestothelegislature。
Primaryandmunicipalmeetingsaredesertedinthesameproportion。\"—
—Moniteur,X。529(NumberofDec。4,1791)。ManueliselectedAttorneyoftheCommuneby3,770outof5,311voters。——Ibid。XI。378。AttheelectionofmunicipalofficersforParis,Feb。10and11,1792,only3,787voterspresentthemselves;Dussault,whoobtainsthemostvotes,has2,588;Sergentreceives1,648。——BuchezetRoux,XI。238(sessionofAug。12,1791)。SpeechbyChapelier;\"ArchivesNationales,\"F。6
(carton),21。PrimarymeetingofJune13,1791,cantonofBèze(Coted’Or)。Outof460activecitizens,157arepresent,and,onthefinalballot,58。——Ibid。,F7,3235,(January,1792)。Lozerre:\"1,000
citizens,atmost,outof25,000,votedintheprimarymeetings。At。
Saint—Chèly,capitalofthedistrict,afewarmedruffianssucceedinformingtheprimarymeetingandinsubstitutingtheirownelectionforthatofeightparishes,whosefrightenedcitizenswhowithdrewfromit……AtLangogne,chieftownofthecantonanddistrict,outofmorethan400activecitizens,22or23atmost——justwhatonewouldsupposethemtobewhentheirpresencedroveawaytherest——aloneformedthemeeting。\"
[13]Thispower,withitsgratifications,isthusshown,Beugnot,I。
140,147。\"OnthepublicationofthedecreesofAugust4,thecommitteeofsurveillanceofMontigny,reinforcedbyallthepatriotsofthecountry,camedownlikeatorrentonthebaronyofChoiseul,andexterminatedalltheharesandpartridges……Theyfishedouttheponds。AtMandreswefind,inthebestroomoftheinn,adozenpeasantsgatheredaroundatabledeckedwithtumblersandbottles,amongstwhichwenoticedaninkstand,pens,andsomethingresemblingaregister。——’Idon’tknowwhattheyareabout,’saidthelandlady,’buttheretheyare,frommorningtillnight,drinking,swearing,andstormingawayateverybody,andtheysaythattheyareacommittee。’\"
[14]AlbertBabeau,I。206,242。——ThefirstmeetingoftherevolutionarycommitteeofTroyesinthecemeteryofSt。Jules,August,1789。Thiscommitteebecomestheonlyauthorityinthetown,aftertheassassinationofthemayor,M。Huez(Sept10,1790)。
[15]\"TheFrenchRevolution,\"Vol。I。pp。235,242,251。—BuchezetRoux,VI,179。—GuillondeMontléon,\"HistoiredelaVilledeLyonpendantlaRevolution,\"I。87。——Guadet,\"LesGirondins。\"
[16]Michelet,\"HistoiredelaRévolution,\"II。47。
[17]TherulesoftheParisclubstatethatmembersmust\"labortoestablishandstrengthentheConstitution,accordingtothespiritoftheclub。\"
[18]MercuredeFrance,Aug。11,1790。——\"JournaldelaSociétédesAmislaConstitution,\"Nov。21,1790。——Ibid。,March,1791。—Ibid。,March,1791。—Ibid。,Aug。14,1791(speechbyR?derer)——BuchezetRoux,XI。481。
[19]Michelet,II。407。——Moniteur,XII347(May11,1792),articlebyMarie—JosephChénier,accordingtowhom800Jacobinclubsexistatthisdate。——Ibid。,XII。753(speechbyM。DelfauxsessionofJune25,1792)。—R?derer,prefacetohistranslationofHobbes。
[20]\"LesRévolutionsdeParis,\"byPrudhomme,number173。
[21]Constant,\"Histoired’unClubJacobinenprovince,\"passim(FontainbleauClub,foundedMay5,1791)。——AlbertBabeau,I。434andfollowingpages(foundationoftheTroyesClub,Oct1790)。——Sauzay,I206andfollowingpages(foundationoftheBesan?onClubAug。28,1790)。——Ibid。,214(foundationofthePontarlierClub,March,1791)
[22]Sauzay,I。214(April2,1791)
[23]\"JournaldesAmisdelaConstitution,\"I。534(Letterofthe\"CaféNational\"ClubofBordeaux,Jan。29,1791)。GuillondeMonthléon,I。88。—\"TheFrenchRevolution,\"vol。I。128,242。
[24]HerewehaveacompletesystemofpropagandaandorganizationaltacticsidenticaltothoseusedbytheNAZIS,theMarxist—Leninistsandother’children’oftheoriginalcommunist—Jacobins。(SR。)
[25]EugèneHatin,\"Histoirepolitiqueetlittérairedelapresse,\"
IV。210(withMarat’stextin\"L’Ami\"I’Amidupeuple,\"andFréron’sin\"l’Orateurdupeuple\")。
[26]MercuredeFrance,Nov。27,1790。
[27]MercuredeFrance,Sept。3,1791(articlebyMalletduPan)。\"Onthestrengthofadenunciation,theauthorsofwhichIknew,theLuxembourgsectiononthe21stofJune,thedayoftheking’sdeparture,sentcommissariesandamilitarydetachmenttomydomicile。
Therewasnojudicialverdict,nolegalorder,eitherofpolice—court,orjusticeofthepeace,noexaminationwhateverprecedingthismission……Theemployeesofthesectionoverhauledmypapers,booksandletters,transcribingsomeofthelatter,andcarriedawaycopiesandtheoriginals,puttingsealsontherest,whichwereleftinchargeoftwofusiliers。\"
[28]MercuredeFrance,Aug。27,1791(reportbyDuport—Dutertre,MinisterofJustice)。——Ibid。,Cf。numbersofSept。8,1790,andMarch12,1791。
[29]Sauzay,I。208。(PetitionoftheofficersoftheNationalGuardofBesan?on,andobservationsofthemunicipalbody,Sept。15,1790。——
Petitionof500nationalguards,Dec。15,1790)。——Observationsofthedistrictdirectory,whichdirectory,havingauthorizedtheclub,avowsthat\"three—quarters\"ofthenationalguardandaportionofothercitizens\"arequitehostiletoit。\"——SimilarpetitionsatDax,Chalons—sur—Sa?ne,etc。,againstthelocalclub。
[30]\"Lettres\"(manuscript)ofM。Roullé,deputyfromPontivy,tohisconstituents(May1,1789)。
[31]Aruleoftheassociationsays:\"TheobjectoftheassociationistodiscussquestionsbeforehandwhicharetobedecidedbytheNationalAssembly,……andtocorrespondwithassociationsofthesamecharacterwhichmaybeformedinthekingdom。\"
[32]Grégoires,\"Mémoires,\"I。387。
[33]Malouet,II。248。\"IsawcounselorDuport,whowasafanatic,andnotabadman,withtwoorthreeotherslikehim,exclaim:’Terror!
Terror!Whatapitythatithasbecomenecessary!
[34]Lafayette,\"Mémoires\"(inrelationtoMessieursdeLamethandtheirfriends)。——Accordingtoasquiboftheday:\"WhatDuportthinks,BarnavesaysandLamethdoes\"——ThistriowasnamedtheTriumvirate。Mirabeau,agovernmentman,andamantowhombrutaldisorderwasrepugnant,calledittheTriumgueusat。(Atrinityofshabbyfellows)
[35]Moniteur,V。212,583。(ReportandspeechofDupontdeNemours,sessionsofJuly31andSeptember7,1790。)——VagabondsandruffiansbegintoplaytheirpartsinParisonthe27thofApril,1789(theRéveillonaffair)。——Alreadyonthe30thofJuly,1789,Rivarolwrote:\"Woetowhoeverstirsupthedregsofanation!ThecenturyEnlightenmenthasnottouchedthepopulace!\"——Intheprefaceofhisfuturedictionary,hereferstohisarticlesofthisperiod:\"TheremaybeseentheprecautionsItooktopreventEuropefromattributingtotheFrenchnationthehorrorscommittedbythecrowdofruffianswhichtheRevolutionandthegoldofagreatpersonagehadattractedtothecapital。\"——\"Letterofadeputytohisconstituents,\"
publishedbyDuprez,Paris,inthebeginningof1790(citedbyM。deSégur,intheRevuedeFrance,September1,1880)。Itrelatestothemaneuversforforcingavoteinfavorofconfiscatingclericalproperty。\"ThroughoutAll—Saints’day(November1,1789),drumswerebeatentocalltogetherthebandknownhereastheCoadjutorsoftheRevolution。OnthemorningofNovember2,whenthedeputieswenttotheAssembly,theyfoundthecathedralsquareandalltheavenuestothearchbishop’spalace,wherethesessionswereheld,filledwithaninnumerablecrowdofpeople。Thisarmywascomposedoffrom20,000to25,000men,ofwhichthegreaternumberhadnoshoesorstockings;
woollencapsandragsformedtheiruniformandtheyhadclubsinsteadofguns。Theyoverwhelmedtheecclesiasticaldeputieswithinsults,astheypassedontheirway,andshoutedthattheywouldmassacrewithoutmercyallwhowouldnotvoteforstrippingtheclergy……Near300
deputieswhowereopposedtothemotiondidnotdareattendtheAssembly……Therushofruffiansinthevicinityofthehall,theircommentsandthreats,excitedfearsofthisatrociousprojectbeingcarriedout。Allwhodidnotfeelcourageousenoughtosacrificethemselves,avoidedgoingtotheAssembly。\"(Thedecreewasadoptedby378votesagainst346。)
[36]Cf。\"TheAncientRégime,\"p。51。
[37]Malouet,1。247,248。——\"Correspondence(manuscript)ofM。deSta?l,\"SwedishAmbassador,withhiscourt,copiedfromthearchivesatStockholmbyM。Léouzon—le—Duc。LetterfromM。Sta?lofApril21,1791:\"M。Laclos,secretagentofthiswretchedprince,(isa)cleverandsubtleintriguer。\"April24:\"Hisagentsaremoretobefearedthanhimself。Throughhisbadconduct,heismoreofanuisancethanabenefittohisparty。
[38]Especiallyaftertheking’sflighttoVarennes,andatthetimeoftheaffairintheChampdeMars。ThepetitionoftheJacobinswasdrawnupbyLaclosandBrissot。
[39]InvestigationsattheChatelet,testimonyofCountd’AbsacdeTernay。
[40]MalouetI。247,248。Thisevidenceisconclusive。\"ApartfromwhatIsawmyself,\"saysMalouet,\"M。deMontmorinandM。Delessartcommunicatedtomeallthepolicereportsof1789and1790。\"
[41]Sauzay,II。79(municipalelection,Nov。15,1791)。——III。221
(mayoraltyelection,November,1792)。Thehalf—waymoderateshad237
votes,andthesans—culottes,310。
[42]MercuredeFrance,Nov。26,1791(Pétionwaselectedmayor,Nov。17,by6,728votesoutof10,682voters)。——Mortimer—Ternaux,V。
95。(Oct4,1792,Pétionwaselectedmayorby13,746votesoutof14,137voters。Hedeclines。—Oct。21,d’Ormessan,amoderate,whodeclinestostand,hasnevertheless,4,910votes。Hiscompetitor,Lhuillier,apureJacobin,obtainsonly4,896。)
[43]AlbertBabeau,II。15。(The32,000inhabitantsofTroyesindicateabout7,000electors。InDecember,1792,Jacquetiselectedmayorby400votesoutof555voters。Astrikingcoincidenceisfoundintherebeing400membersoftheTroyesclubatthistime。)——Carnot,Mémoires,\"I。181。\"Dr。Bollmann,whopassedthroughStrasbourgin1792,relatesthatoutof8,000qualifiedcitizens,only400voterspresentedthemselves。
[44]Mortimer—Ternaux,VI。21。InFebruary,1793,PacheiselectedmayorofParisby11,881votes。—JournaldeParis,number185。
Henriot,July2,1793,iselectedcommander—in—chiefoftheParisnationalguard,by9,084,against6,095votesgivenforhiscompetitor,Raffet。Thenationalguardcomprisesatthistime110,000
registeredmembers,besides10,000gendarmesandfederates。ManyofHenriot’spartisans,again,votedtwice。(Cf。ontheelectionsandthenumberofJacobinsatParis,chaptersXI。andXII。ofthisvolume。)
[45]Michelet,VI。95。\"Almostall(themissionaryrepresentatives)
weresupportedbyonly,thesmallestminority。Baudot,forinstance,atToulouse,in1793,hadbut400menforhim。\"
[46]Forexample,\"ArchivesNationales,\"Fl6,carton3。PetitionoftheinhabitantsofArnay—le—Ductotheking(April,1792),veryinsulting,employingthemostfamiliarlanguage;aboutfiftysignatures。——Sauzay,III。ch。XXXV。andXXXIV。(detailsoflocalelections)。—Ibid。,VII。687(letterofGrégoire,Dec。24,1796)。——
Malouet,II。531(letterbyMalouet,July22,1779)。MalouetandGrégoireagreeonthenumber300,000。Marie—JosephChénier(Moniteur,XII,695,20avril1792)carriesitupto400,000。
[47]Cf。\"TheFrenchRevolution,\"Vol。I。bookII。Ch。III。
[48]Cf。\"TheAncientRégime,\"p。352。
[49]\"MemoiresdeMadamedeSapinaud,\"p。18。ReplyofM。deSapinaudtothepeasantsofLaVendée,whowishedhimtoactastheirgeneral:
\"Myfriends,itistheearthenpotagainsttheironpot。Whatcouldwedo?Onedepartmentagainsteighty—two—weshouldbesmashed!\"
[50]Malouet,II。241。\"Iknewaclerkinoneofthebureaus,who,duringthesesaddays\"September,1792),nevermissedgoing。asusual,tocopyandadduphisregisters。Ministerialcorrespondencewiththearmiesandtheprovincesfolloweditsregularcourseinregularforms。TheParispolicelookedaftersuppliesandkeptitseyeonsharpers,whilebloodraninthestreets。\"——Cf。onthismechanicalneedandinveteratehabitofreceivingordersfromthecentralauthority,MalletduPan,\"Mémoires,\"490:\"Dumouriez’
soldierssaidtohim:’F——,papageneral,gettheConventiontoorderustomarchonParisandyou’llseehowwewillmakemince—meatofthoseb——intheAssembly!’\"
[51]Withwantgreatinterestdidanyaspiringradicalpoliticiansreadtheselines,whethertheGermansocialistfromHitlerlearnedsomuchorLeninduringhislongstayinParisaround1906。TainemaybethoughtthathewasarmingdecentmentobetterunderstandanddefendtherepublicagainstanewJacobinonslaughtwhile,infact,heprovidedthemwithanaccuraterecipeforrepeatingtherevolution。
(SR)。
[52]At。Matthew,17:20。(SR。)
[53]BuchezetRoux,XXVIII55。LetterbyBrun—Lafond,agrenadierinthenationalguard,July14,1793,toafriendintheprovinces,injustificationofthe31stofMay。Thewholeofthisletterrequirestoberead。InitarefoundtheordinaryideasofaJacobininrelationtohistory:\"Canweignore,thatitiseverthepeopleofPariswhich,throughitsmurmuringsandrighteousinsurrectionsagainsttheoppressivesystemofmanyofourkings,hasforcedthemtoentertainmildersentimentsregardingthereliefoftheFrenchpeople,andprincipallyofthetillerofthesoil?……WithouttheenergyofParis,ParisandFrancewouldnowbeinhabitedsolelybyslaves,whilethisbeautifulsoilwouldpresentanaspectaswildanddesertedasthatoftheTurkishempireorthatofGermany,\"whichhasledus\"toconferstillgreaterlustreonthisRevolution,byre—establishingonearththeancientAthenianandotherGrecianrepublicsinalltheirpurity。Distinctionsamongtheearlypeopleoftheearthdidnotexist;earlyfamilytiesboundpeopletogetherwhohadnoancientfoundersororigin;theyhadnootherlawsintheirrepublicsbutthosewhich,sotosay,inspiredthemwiththosesentimentsoffraternityexperiencedbytheminthecradleofprimitivepopulations。\"
[54]Barbaroux,\"Mémoires\"(Ed。Dauban),336。——Grégoire,\"Mémoires,\"
I。410。
[55]\"LaRévolutionFran?aise,\"byQuinet(extractsfromtheunpublished\"Mémoires\"ofBaudot),II。209,211,421,620。——GuillondeMontléonI。445(speechbyChalier,intheLyonsCentralClub,March23,1793)。\"Theysaythatthesans—culotteswillgoonspillingtheirblood。Thisisonlythetalkofaristocrats。Canasans—culottebereachedinthatquarter?Ishenotinvulnerable,likethegodswhomhereplacesonthisearth?\"——SpeechbyDavid,intheConvention,onBarraandViala:\"Undersofineagovernmentwomanwillbringforthwithoutpain。\"——Mercier\"LeNouveauParis,\"I。13。\"Iheard(anorator)exclaiminoneofthesections,towhichIbearwitness:’Yes,Iwouldtakemyownheadbythehair,cutitoff,and,presentingittothedespot,Iwouldsaytohim:Tyrant,beholdtheactofafreeman!’\"
[56]Now,onehundredyearslater,Iconsiderthetensofthousandsofwesternintellectuals,who,intheiroldage,seemunabletounderstandtheirlongtimefascinationwithLenin,StalinandMao,I
cannothelptothinkthathistorymightbeholdingsimilarfuturesurprisesinstoreforus。(SR)。