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intention of surrendering their prey to the hazards of a free ballot；
they mean to keep it the way they got it； by force； and will leave no
stone unturned to control the elections。
II。
The elections。 The young and the poor invited to the ballot…box。
Danger of the Conservatives if candidates。 … …Their chiefs absent
themselves。 Proportion of absentees at the primary assemblies。
They begin by paving their way。＇10＇ A new decree has at once
suppressed the feeble and last legal requirement for impartiality；
integrity and competence of the elector and the eligible candidate。 No
more discrimination between active and passive citizens； no longer any
difference between poll tax of an elector of the first degree and
that of the second degree： no electoral poll tax qualification
whatever。 All Frenchmen； except domestics； of whom they are
distrustful； supposing them under their employer's influence； may vote
at the primary assemblies； and not longer at the age of twenty…five；
but at twenty…one； which brings to the polls the two most
revolutionary groups； on the one hand the young； and on the other the
poor； the latter in great numbers in these times of unemployment；
dearth and poverty； amounting in all to two millions and a half； and；
perhaps； three millions of new electors。 … At Besan？on the number of
the registered voters is doubled。＇11＇ Thus are the usual clients of
the Jacobins admitted within the electoral boundaries； from which they
had hitherto been excluded；＇12＇ and； to ensure their coming； their
leaders decide that every elector obliged to travel 〃shall receive
twenty sous mileage；〃 besides 〃three francs per diem during his
stay。〃＇13＇
While attracting their supporters they drove their adversaries away。
The political banditry； through which they dominate and terrify
France； has already taken care of that。 Many arbitrary arrests and
unpunished murders are a warning to all candidates who do not belong
to their party； and I do not speak about to the nobles or friends of
the ancient regime that have fled or are in prison； but the
Constitutionalists and the Feuillants。 Any electoral enterprise on
their part would be madness； almost a suicide。 Accordingly； none of
them call attention to themselves。 If any outrageous moderate； like
Durand de Maillane； appears on a list； it is because the
revolutionaries have adopted him without knowing him； and because he
swears that he hates royalty。＇14＇ The others； more honest； do not
want to don the popular livery and resort to club patronage； so they
carefully stay away； they know too well that to do otherwise would
mark their heads for pikes and their homes for pillage。 At the very
moment of depositing the vote the domains of several deputies are
sacked simply because； 〃on the comparative lists of seven calls by
name；〃 sent to the departments from Paris by the Jacobins； their names
are found on the right。＇15＇ Through an excess of precaution the
Constitutionalists of the Legislative body are kept at the capital；
their passports being refused to them to prevent them from returning
into the provinces and obtaining votes by publicly stating the truth
in relation to the recent revolution。 In the same way； all
conservative journals are suppressed； reduced to silence； or compelled
to become turncoats。 Now； when one has neither the possibility to
speak up nor a candidate which might become one's representative； of
what use is it to vote？ And especially； since the primary assemblies
are places of disorder and violence；＇16＇ patriots alone； in many
places； being admitted；＇17＇ a conservative being 〃insulted and
overwhelmed with numbers；〃 and； if he utters an opinion； exposed to
danger； also； if he remains silent； incurring the risk of
denunciations； threats； and blows。 To keep in the background； remain
on the sidelines； avoid being seen； and to strive to be forgotten； is
the rule under a pasha； and especially when this pasha is a mob。 Hence
the absenteeism of the majority； around the ballot…box there is an
enormous void。 At Paris； in the election of mayor and municipal
officers； the balloting of October； November and December collect
together only 14；000 out of 160；000 registered voters； later 10；000；
and； later again； only 7；000。＇18＇ At Besan？on； 7；000。 registered
voters result in less than 600； there is the same proportion in other
towns； as for example； in Troyes。 In like manner； in the rural
cantons； east of Doubs and west of Loire…Inférieure； but one…tenth of
the electors dare exercise their right to vote。＇19＇ The electoral
source is so exhausted； so often disturbed； and so stopped up as to be
almost dry： in these primary assemblies which； directly or indirectly；
delegate all public powers； and which； in the expression of the common
will； should be full； there are lacking six millions three hundred
thousands electors out of seven millions。＇20＇
III。
Composition and tone of the secondary assemblies。 … Exclusion of
〃Feuillant〃 electors。 … Pressure on other electors。… Persons elected
by the conservatives obliged to resign。 … Elections by the Catholics
canceled。 … Secession of the Jacobin minorities。 … The election of
their men made valid。 … Public opinion not in accord with official
selections。
Through this anticipated purge the assemblies of the first degree find
themselves； for the most part； Jacobin； consequently the electors of
the second degree； appointed by them； are for the most part； Jacobin；
in many departments； their assembly becomes the most anarchical； the
most turbulent； and the most usurping of all the clubs。 Here there is
only shouting； denunciations； oath…taking； incendiary motions；
cheering which carry all questions； furious speeches by Parisian
commissaries； by delegates from the local club； by passing Federates；
and by female wretches demanding arms。＇21＇ The Pas…de…Calais
assemblage sets free and applauds a woman imprisoned for having beaten
a drum in a mob。 The Paris assembly fraternizes with the Versailles
slaughterers and the assassins of the mayor of Etampes。 The assembly
of the Bouches…du…Rh？ne gives a certificate o virtue to Jourdan； the
Glacière murderer。 The assembly of Seine…et…Marne applauds the
proposal to cast a cannon which might contain the head of Louis XVI。
for a cannon…ball to be fired at the enemy。 It is not surprising
that an electoral body without self…respect should respect nothing；
and practice self…mutilation under the pretext of purification。＇22＇
The object of the despotic majority was to reign at once； without any
contest； on its own authority； and to expel all offensive electors。 At
Paris； in the Aisne； in Haute…Loire； in Ille…et…Vilaine； in Maine…et…
Loire； it excludes as unworthy the members of old Feuillants and
monarchical clubs； and the signers of Constitutionalist protests。 In
Hérault it cancels the elections in the canton of Servian； because the
elected men； it says； are 〃mad aristocrats。〃 In Orne it drives away an
old Constituent； Goupil de Préfeln； because he voted for the revision；
also； his son…in…law； because he is his son…in…law。 In the Bouches…
du…Rh？ne； where the canton of Seignon； by mistake or through routine；
swore 〃to maintain the constitution of the kingdom；〃 it sets aside
these retrograde elected representatives； commences proceedings
against the 〃crime committed；〃 and sends troops against Noves because
the Noves elector； a justice who is denounced and in peril； has
escaped from the electoral den。 After the purification of persons
it proceeds to the purification of sentiments。 At Paris； and in at
least nine departments；＇23＇ and in contempt of the law； is suppresses
the secret ballot； the last refuge of timid conservatives； and imposes
on each elector a verbal public vote； loud and clear； on his name
being called； that is to say； if he does not vote as he ought to； he
risks the gallows。＇24＇ Nothing could more surely convert hesitation
and indecisi