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carriage…horses are seized in their stables； while vehicles belonging
to aged ladies； mostly widows； and the last of the berlins and elegant
carriages still remaining in Paris； are taken out of the livery…
stables。＇96＇
With such powers used in this way； the section makes the most of the
old deep…seated enmity of the poor against the rich；＇97＇ it secures
the firm loyalty of the needy and of vagabonds； thanks to the vigorous
arms of its active clients； it completely overcomes the feeble；
transient； poorly…contrived resistance which the National Convention
and the Parisian population still oppose to its rule。
On the 13th of April Marat； accused three months before and daily
becoming bolder in his fractiousness； is finally indicted through a
decree of the incensed majority；＇98＇ on the 24th he appears before the
revolutionary tribunal。 But the revolutionary tribunal； like other
newly organized institutions； is composed of pure Jacobins； and；
moreover； the party has taken its precautions。 Marat； for his escort
to the court…room has 〃the municipal commissaries； envoys from the
various sections； delegates from all the patriotic clubs〃； besides
these； 〃a multitude of good patriots〃 fill the hall beforehand； 〃early
in the morning the other chambers of the Palais de Justice； the
corridors； the courts and adjacent streets〃 overflow with 〃sans…
culottes ready to avenge any outrage that may be perpetrated on their
favorite defender。〃＇99＇ Naturally； excessively conceited； he speaks
not like an accused； but 〃as an apostle and martyr。〃 He is overwhelmed
with applause； unanimously acquitted； crowned with laurel； borne in
triumph to the Convention； where he thunders a song of victory； while
the Girondist majority is obliged to suffer his presence awaiting to
be subjected to their banishments。 Equally as impotent as the
moderates of the Legislative Assembly are the moderates in the street
who recover themselves only again to be felled to the ground。 On the
4th and 5th of May； five or six hundred young fellows； well…dressed
and without arms； have assembled in the Champs…Elysées and at the
Luxembourg to protest against the ordinance of the Commune； which
drafts them for the expedition to La Vendée；＇100＇ they shout； 〃Vive la
Republique！ Vive la Loi！ Down with anarchists！ Send Marat； Danton and
Robespierre to the Devil！〃 Naturally； Santerre's paid guard disperses
these young sparks； about a thousand are arrested； and henceforth the
rest will be careful not to make any open demonstration on the public
thoroughfares。 Again； for lack of something better to do； we see
them frequently returning to the section assemblies； especially early
in May； they find themselves in a majority； and enter on discussions
against Jacobin tyranny； at the Bon…Conseil section； and at those of
Marseilles and l'Unité； Lhuillier is hooted at； Marat threatened； and
Chaumette denounced。＇101＇ But these are only flashes in the pan； to
be firmly in charge in these permanent assemblies； the moderates； like
the sans…culottes； would have to be in constant attendance； and use
their fists every night。 Unfortunately； the young men of 1793 have
not yet arrived at that painful experience； that implacable hate； that
athletic ruggedness which is to sustain them in 1795。 〃After one
evening； in which the seats everywhere were broken 〃＇102＇ on the backs
of the contestants； they falter； and never recover themselves； the
professional roughs； at the end of a fortnight； being victorious all
along the line。 The better to put resistance down； the roughs form
a special league amongst themselves； and go around from section to
section to give each other help。＇103＇ Under the title of a
deputation； under the pretext of preventing disturbance； a troop of
sturdy fellows； dispatched by the neighboring section； arrives at the
meeting； and suddenly transforms the minority into a majority； or
controls the vote by force of clamor。 Sometimes； at a late hour； when
the hall is nearly empty； they declare themselves a general meeting；
and about twenty or thirty will cancel the discussions of the day。 At
other times； being； through the municipality； in possession of the
police； they summon an armed force to their aid； and oblige the
refractory to decamp。 And； as examples are necessary to secure perfect
silence； the fifteen or twenty who have formed themselves into a full
meeting； with the five or six who form the Committee of Supervision；
issue warrants of arrest against the most prominent of their
opponents。 The vice…president of the Bon…Conseil section； and the
juge…de…paix of the Unité section； learn in prison that it is
dangerous to present to the Convention an address against anarchists
or sign a debate against Chaumette。＇104＇ Towards the end of May； in
the section assemblies； nobody dares open his mouth against a Jacobin
motion； often； even； there are none present but Jacobins； for example；
at the Gravilliers； they have driven out all not of their band； and
henceforth no 〃intriguer〃＇105＇ is imprudent enough to present himself
there。 Having become the sovereign People assembled in Council；
with full power to
* disarm；
* put on the index；
* displace；
* tax；
* send off to the army； and
* imprison whoever gives them umbrage；
they are able now； with the municipality at their back and as guides；
to turn the armament which they have obtained from the Convention
against it； attack the Girondists in their last refuge； and possess
themselves of the only fort not yet surrendered。
VI。 Jacobin tactics。
Jacobin tactics to constrain the Convention。 … Petition of April 15
against the Girondins。 … Means employed to obtain signatures。 … The
Convention declares the petition calumnious。 … The commission of
Twelve and the arrest of Hébert。 … Plans for massacres。 … Intervention
of the Mountain leaders。
To conquer the last bastion of the Girondists all they have to do is
simultaneously in all sections to do what they used to do separately
in each section： substituting themselves； by fraud and by force； for
the Veritable people； they are able to conjure up before the
Convention the phantom of popular disapproval。 From the
municipality； holding its sessions at the H？tel…de…ville； and from the
conventicle established at the Evêché； emissaries are sent forth who
present the same formal communication in writing at the same time in
every section in Paris。＇106＇ 〃Here is a petition for signatures。〃
〃Read it。〃 〃But that is unnecessary it is already adopted by a
majority of the sections。〃 This lie is accepted by some and
several sign in good faith without reading it。 In others they read it
and refuse to sign it； in others； again； it is read and they pass to
the order of the day。 What happens？ The plotters and ringleaders
remain behind until all conscientious citizens have withdrawn； then；
masters of the debate； they decide that the petition must be signed；
and they accordingly affix their signatures。 The next day； on the
arrival of citizens at the section； the petition is handed to them for
their names； and the debate of the previous evening is advanced
against them。 If they offer any remarks； they are met with these
terrifying words：
Sign； or no certificate of civism！
And； as if approving this threat； several of the sections which are
mastered by those who draw up the lists of proscriptions； decide that
the certificates of civism must be renewed； new ones being refused to
those refusing to sign the petition。 They do not rest content with
these moves； men armed with pikes are posted in the streets to force
the signatures of those who pass。〃＇107＇ The whole weight of
municipal authority has been publicly cast into the scale。
〃Commissaries of the Commune； accompanied by municipal secretaries；
with tables； inkstands； paper and registers； promenade about Paris
preceded by drums and a body of militia。〃