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submitted to his own primary assembly； then in case it obtains a
majority； to the primary assemblies of his arrondissement； then； in
case of a majority； to the primary assemblies of his department； then；
in case of a majority； to all the primary assemblies of the nation； so
that after a second verdict of the same assemblies twice consulted；
the Legislative body； yielding to the majority of primary suffrages；
may dissolve and a new Legislative body； in which all old members
shall be declared ineligible； take its place。 This is the final
expression and the master idea； of the theory。 Condorcet； its able
constructor； has outdone himself。 Impossible to design on paper a more
ingenious or complicated mechanism。 The Girondists； in the closing
article of this faultless constitution； believe that they have
discovered a way to muzzle the beast and allow the sovereign people to
fully assert their rights。
As if； with some kind of constitution and especially with this one；
one could muzzle the beast！ As if it was in the mood to crane the
neck allowing them to put the muzzle on！ Robespierre； on behalf of the
Jacobins； counters with a clause radically opposed to the one drafted
by Condorcet＇51＇：
〃 To submit 'the right to resist oppression' to legal formalities is
the ultimate refinement of tyranny。 。 。 When a government violates the
people's rights； a general insurrection of the people； as well as
portions of the people； is the most sacred of duties。〃
Political orthodoxy； close reasoning； and oratorical talent are；
however； no weapon against this ever…muttering insurrection。
〃Our philosophers；〃 says a good observer；＇52＇ 〃want to attain their
ends by persuasion； which is equivalent to saying that battles may be
won by eloquence； fine speeches； and plans of constitution。 Very soon；
according to them； 。 。 。 。 if will suffice to carry complete copies
of Macchiavelli； Rousseau and Montesquieu into battle instead of
cannon； it never occurring to them that these authors； like their
works； never were； and never will be； anything but fools when put up
against a cut…throat provided with a good sword。〃
The parliamentary landscape has fallen away； things have returned to a
state of nature； that is； to a state of war； and one is no longer
concerned with debate but with brute force。 To be in the right； to
convince the convention； to obtain majorities； to pass decrees； would
be appropriate in ordinary times； under a government provided with an
armed force and a regular administration； by which； from the summits
of public authority； the decrees of a majority descend through
submissive functionaries to a sympathetic and obedient population。
But； in times of anarchy； and above all； in the den of the Commune； in
Paris； such as the 10th of August and the 2nd of September made it；
all this is of no account。
V。 The Jacobins forming alone the Sovereign People。
Opinion in Paris。 The majority of the population constitutional。
The new régime unpopular。 Scarcity and high cost of food。 …
Catholic customs obstructed。 …Universal and increasing discontent。
Aversion or indifference to the Girondins。 Political resignation of
the majority。 Modern customs incompatible with pure democracy。
Men of property and income； manufacturers and tradesmen； keep aloof。 …
… Dissension； timidity； and feebleness of the Conservatives。 The
Jacobins alone form the sovereign people。
And it is of no account because； first of all； in this great city of
Paris the Girondists are isolated； and have no group of zealous
partisans to depend upon。 For； if the large majority is opposed to
their adversaries； that is not in their favor； it having secretly； at
heart； remained 〃Constitutionalists。〃＇53＇ 〃I would make myself master
of Paris；〃 says a professional observer； 〃in ten days without striking
a blow if I had but six thousand men； and one of Lafayette's stable…
boys to command them。〃 Lafayette； indeed； since the departure or
concealment of the royalists； represents the old； fixed； and innermost
opinion of the capital。 Paris submits to the Girondists as well as to
the Montagnards as usurpers； the mass of the public regards them with
ill…will； and not only the bourgeoisie； but likewise the majority of
the people loathe the established government。
Work is scarce and food is dear； brandy has tripled in price； only
four hundred oxen are brought in at the Poissy market instead of seven
or eight thousand； the butchers declare that there will be no meat in
Paris next week except for the sick。＇54＇ To obtain a small ration of
bread it is necessary to wait five or six hours in a line at the
baker's shops； and；＇55＇ as is customary； workmen and housekeepers
impute all this to the government。 This government； which so poorly
provides for its needs； offends them yet more in their deepest
feelings； in the habits most dear to them； in their faith and worship。
The common people； even at Paris； is still at this time very
religious； much more so than at the present day。 When the priest
bearing the Host passes along the street； the crowd 〃gathers from all
sides； men； women； and children； young and old； and fall on their
knees in worship。〃＇56＇ The day on which the relics of saint Leu are
borne in procession through the Rue St。 Martin； 〃everybody kneels； I
did not see a man；〃 says a careful observer； 〃that did not take off
his hat。 At the guard…house of the Mauconseil section； the entire
company presented arms。〃 At the same time the 〃citoyennes around the
markets talked with each other to know if there was any way of decking
houses with tapestry。〃＇57＇ The following week they compel the
revolutionary committee of Saint…Eustache＇58＇ to authorize another
procession； and again each one kneels： 〃everybody approved of the
ceremony； no one； that I heard of； making any objection。 This is a
striking picture。 。 。 。 I saw repentance； I saw the parallel each is
forced to draw between the actual state of things and the former one。
I saw what a privation the people had to endure in the loss of that
which； formerly； was the most imposing of all church ceremonies。
People of all ranks and ages were deeply affected and humble； and many
had tears in their eyes。〃 Now； in this respect； the Girondists； by
virtue of being philosophers； are more iconoclastic； more intolerant
than any one； and there is no reason for preferring them to their
adversaries。 At bottom； the government installed by the recent
electoral comedy； for the major portion of the Parisians； has no
authority but the fact of its existence； people put up with it because
there is no other； fully recognizing its worthlessness；＇59＇ it is a
government of strangers； of interlopers； of bunglers； of cantankerous；
weak and violent persons。 The Convention has no hold either on the
people or on the bourgeois class； and in proportion as it glides more
rapidly down the revolutionary hill； it breaks one by one the ties
with which it is still connected to the undecided。
In a reign of eight months the Convention has alienated public opinion
entirely。 〃Almost all who have property of any kind are
conservative；〃＇60＇ and all the conservatives are against it。 〃The
gendarmes here openly speak up against the Revolution； even up to the
revolutionary tribunal； whose judgments they loudly condemn。 All the
old soldiers detest the actual order of things。〃＇61＇ The volunteers
〃who come back from the army appear angry at putting the King to
death； and on that account they would flay all the Jacobins。〃＇62＇
No party in the Convention escapes this universal disaffection and
growing aversion。 〃If the question of guillotining the members of the
Convention could be put to an open vote； it would be carried against
them by a majority of nineteen…twentieths；〃＇63＇ which； in fact； is
about the proportion of electors who； through fright or disgust； keep
away from the polls。 Let the 〃Right〃 or the 〃Left〃 of the