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person； and； among the candidates。 I should designate； to the best of
my ability； one who seemed to me the ablest and most conscientious。
Once selected； however； and installed； I should not attempt to dictate
to him； his cabinet is private； and I have no right to run there
constantly and cross…question him； as if he were a child or under
suspicion。 It does not become me to tell him what to do； he probably
knows more about the case than I do； in any event； to keep a steady
hand； he must not be threatened； and； to keep a clear head； he must
not be disturbed。 Nor must I be disturbed； my office and books； my
shop； my customers must be attended to as well。 Everybody has to mind
his own business； and whoever would attend to his own and another's
too； spoils both。 This way of thinking prevails with most healthy
minds towards the beginning of the year 1790； all whose heads are not
turned by insane ambition and the mania for theorizing； especially
after six months of practical experience and knowing the dangers；
miscalculation； and vexations to which one is exposed in trying to
lead an eager； over…excited population。 Just at this time； December
1789； municipal law becomes established throughout the country； all
the mayors and municipal officers are elected almost immediately； and
in the following months； all administrators of districts and
departments。 The interregnum has a length come to an end。 Legal
authorities now exist； with legitimate and clearly…determined
functions。 Reasonable； honest people gladly turn power over to those
to whom it belongs； and certainly do not dream of resuming it。 All
associations for temporary purposes are at once disbanded for lack of
an object； and if others are formed； it is for the purpose of
defending established institutions。 This is the object of the
Federation； and； for six months； people embrace each other and
exchange oaths of fidelity。 After this； July 14； 1790； they retire
into private life； and I have no doubt that； from this date； the
political ambition of a large plurality of the French people is
satisfied； for； although Rousseau's denunciation of the social
hierarchy are still cited by them； they； at bottom； desire but little
more than the suppression of administrative brutality and state
favoritism。＇7＇ All this is obtained； and plenty of other things
besides； the august title of sovereign； the respect of the public
authorities； honors to all who wield a pen or make a speech； and；
better still； actual sovereignty in the appointment to office of all
local land national administrators； not only do the people elect their
deputies； but every species of functionary of every degree； those of
commune； district； and department； officers in the national guard；
civil and criminal magistrates； bishops and priests。 Again； to ensure
the responsibility of the elected to their electors； the term of
office fixed by law is a short one；＇8＇ the electoral machine which
summons the sovereign to exercise his sovereignty being set agoing
about every four months。 This was a good deal； and too much； as
the sovereign himself soon discovers。 Voting so frequently becomes
unendurable； so many prerogatives end in getting to be drudgery。 Early
in 1790； and after this date； the majority forego the privilege of
voting and the number of absentees becomes enormous。 At Chartres； in
May； 1790；＇9＇ 1；447 out of 1；551 voters do not attend preliminary
meetings。 At Besan？on； in January； 1790； on the election of mayor and
municipal officers； 2；141 out of 3；200 registered electors are
recorded as absent from the polls； and 2；900 in the following month of
November。＇10＇ At Grenoble； in August and November of this year； out
of 2；500 registered voters； more than 2；000 are noted as absent。＇11＇
At Limoges； out of about the same number； there are only 150 voters。
At Paris； out of 81；400 electors； in August； 1790； 67；200 do not vote；
and； three months later； the number of absentees is 71 ；408。＇12＇
Thus for every elector that votes； there are four； six； eight； ten；
and even sixteen that abstain from voting。 In the election of
deputies； the case is the same。 At the primary meetings of 1791； in
Paris； out of 81；200 registered names more than 74；000 fail to
respond。 In the Doubs； three out of four voters stay away。 In one of
the cantons of the C？te d'Or； at the close of the polls； only one…
eighth of the electors remain at the counting of the votes； while in
the secondary meetings the desertion is not less。 At Paris； out of
946 electors chosen only 200 are found to give their suffrage； at
Rouen； out of 700 there are but 160； and on the last day of the
ballot； only 60。 In short； 〃in all departments；〃 says an orator in the
tribune； 〃scarcely one out of five electors of the second degree
discharges his duty。〃
In this manner the majority hands in its resignation。 Through inertia；
want of forethought； lassitude； aversion to the electoral hubbub； lack
of political preferences； or dislike of all the political candidates；
it shirks the task which the constitution imposes on it。 Most
certainly is has no taste for the painstaking burden of being involved
in a league （of human rights）。 Men who cannot find time once in three
months to drop a ballot in the box； will not come three times a week
to attend the meetings of a club。 Far from meddling with the
government； they abdicate； and as they refuse to elect it； they cannot
undertake to control it。
It is； on the other hand； just the opposite with the upstarts and
dogmatists who regard their royal privileges seriously。 They not only
vote at the elections； but they mean to keep the authority they
delegate in their own hands。 In their eyes every official is one of
their creatures； and remains accountable to them； for； in point of
law； the people may not part with their sovereignty； while； in fact；
power has proved so sweet that they are not disposed to part with
it。＇13＇ During six months preceding the regular elections； they have
come to know； comprehend； and test each other； they have held secret
meetings； a mutual understanding is arrived at； and henceforth； as
other associations disappear like fleeting bloom； theirs＇14＇ rise
vigorously on the abandoned soil。 A club is established at Marseilles
before the end of 1789； each large town has one within the first six
months of 1790； Aix in February； Montpellier in March； N？mes in April；
Lyons in May； and Bordeaux in June。＇15＇ But their greatest increase
takes place after the Federation festival。 Just when local gatherings
merge into that of the whole country； the sectarian Jacobins keep
aloof； and form leagues of their own。 At Rouen； July 14； 1790； two
surgeons； a printer； a chaplain at the prison； a widowed Jewess； and
four women or children living in the house； … eight persons in all；
pure and not to be confounded with the mass；＇16＇ bind themselves
together； and form a distinct association。 Their patriotism is of
superior quality； and they take a special view of the social
compact；＇17＇ in swearing fealty to the constitution they reserve to
themselves the Rights of Man； and they mean to maintain not only the
reforms already effected； but to complete the Revolution just begun。 …
During the Federation they have welcomed and indoctrinated their
fellows who； on quitting the capital or large cities； become bearers
of instructions to the small towns and hamlets； they are told what the
object of a club is； and how to form one； and； everywhere； popular
associations arise on the same plan； for the same purpose； and bearing
the same name。 A month later； sixty of these associations are in
operation； three months later； one hundred； in March； 1791； two
hundred and twenty…nine； and in August； 1791； nearly four hundred。＇18＇
After this date a sudden increase takes place； owing to two
simultaneous impulses； which scatter their seeds over the entire
territory。 On the one hand； at then end of July； 1791； all