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〃whose conduct is unconstitutional〃。 It prompts； directs； and rebukes
local authorities； it is itself a supplemental； superior； and usurping
authority。 All at once； sensible men realize its character； and
protest against it。
〃A body thus organized；〃 says a petition；＇29＇ 〃exists solely for
arming one citizen against another。 。 。 。 Discussions take place
there； and denunciations are made under the seal of inviolable
secrecy。 。 。 。 。 Honest citizens； surrendered to the most atrocious
calumny； are destroyed without an opportunity of defending themselves。
It is a veritable Inquisition。 It is the center of seditious
publications； a school of cabals and intrigue。 If the citizens have to
blush at the selection of unworthy candidates； they are all due to
this class of associations 。 。 。 Composed of the excited and the
incendiary； of those who aim to rule the State；〃 the club everywhere
tends
〃to a mastery of the popular opinion； to thwarting the municipalities；
to an intrusion of itself between these and the people；〃 to an
usurpation of legal forms and to become a 〃colossus of despotism。〃
Vain complaints！ The National Assembly； ever in alarm on its own
account； shields the popular club and accords it its favor or
indulgence。 A journal of the party had recommended 〃the people to
form themselves into small platoons。〃 These platoons； one by one； are
growing。 Each borough now has a local oligarchy； an enlisted and
governing band。 To create an army out of these scattered bands；
simply requires a staff and a central rallying…point。 The central
point and the staff have both for a long time been ready in Paris； it
is the association of the 〃Friends of the Constitution。〃
IV。
Their rallying…points。 Origin and composition of the Paris Jacobin
club。 It affiliates with provincial clubs。 Its leaders。
The fanatics。 The Intriguers。 Their object。 Their means。
No association in France； indeed； dates farther back； and has an equal
prestige。 It was born before the Revolution； April 30； 1789。＇30＇ At
the assembly of the States…General in Brittany； the deputies from
Quimper； Hennebon； and Pontivy saw how important it was to vote in
concert； and they had scarcely reached Versailles when； in common with
others； they hired a hall； and； along with Mounier； secretary of the
States…General of Dauphiny； and other deputies from the provinces； at
once organized a union which was destined to last。 Up to the 6th of
October； none but deputies were comprised in it； after that date； on
removing to Paris； in the library of the Jacobins； a convent in the
Rue St。 Honoré； many well…known eminent men were admitted； such as
Condorcet； and then Laharpe； Chénier； Champfort； David； and Talma；
among the most prominent； with other authors and artists； the whole
amounting to about a thousand notable personages。 No assemblage
could be more imposing two or three hundred deputies are on its
benches； while its rules and by…laws seem specially designed to gather
a superior body of men。 Candidates for admission were proposed by ten
members and afterwards voted on by ballot。 To be present at one of its
meetings required a card of admission。 On one occasion； a member of
the committee of two； appointed to verify these cards； happens to be
the young Duke of Chartres。 There is a committee on administration and
a president。 Discussions took place with parliamentary formalities；
and； according to its status； the questions considered there were
those under debate in the National Assembly。＇31＇ In the lower hall；
at certain hours； workmen received instruction and the constitution
was explained to them。 Seen from afar； no society seems worthier of
directing public opinion； near by； the case is different。 In the
departments； however； where distance lends enchantment； and where old
customs prevail implanted by centralization； it is accepted as a guide
because its seat is at the capital。 Its statutes； its regulations； its
spirit； are all imitated； it becomes the alma mater of other
associations and they its adopted daughters。 It publishes；
accordingly； a list of all clubs conspicuously in its journal；
together with their denunciations； it insists on their demands；
henceforth； every Jacobin in the remotest borough feels the support
and endorsement； not only of his local； club； but again of the great
club whose numerous offshoots reached the entire territory and which
extends its all…powerful protection to the least of its adherents。 In
return for this protection； each associated club obeys the word of
command given at Paris； and to and from； from the center to the
extremities； a constant correspondence maintains the established
harmony。 A vast political machine is thus set agoing； a machine with
thousands of arms； all working at once under one impulsion； and the
lever which the motions is in the hands of a few master spirits in the
Rue St。 Honoré。
No machine could be more effective； never was one seen so well
contrived for manufacturing artificial； violent public opinion； for
making this appear to be national； spontaneous sentiment； for
conferring the rights of the silent majority on a vociferous minority；
for forcing the surrender of the government。
〃Our tactics were very simple；〃 says Grégoire＇32＇。 〃It was
understood that one of us should take advantage of the first favorable
opportunity to propose some measure in the National Assembly that was
sure to be applauded by a small minority and cried down by the
majority。 But that made no difference。 The proposer demanded； which
was granted； that the measure should be referred to a committee in
which its opponents hoped to see it buried。 Then the Paris Jacobins
took hold of it。 A circular was issued； after which an article on the
measure was printed in their journal and discussed in three or four
hundred clubs that were leagued together。 Three weeks after this the
Assembly was flooded with petitions from every quarter； demanding a
decree of which the first proposal had been rejected； and which is now
passed by a great majority because a discussion of it had ripened
public opinion。〃
In other words； the Assembly must go ahead or it will be driven along；
in which process the worst expedients are the best。 Those who conduct
the club； whether fanatics or intriguers； are fully agreed on this
point。
At the head of the former class is Duport； once a counselor in the
parliament； who； after 1788； knew how to turn riots to account。 The
first revolutionary consultations were held in his house。 He wants to
plough deep； and his devices for burying the ploughshare are such that
Sieyès； a radical； if there ever was one； dubbed it a 〃cavernous
policy。〃＇33＇ Duport； on the 28th of July； 1789； is the organizer of
the Committee on Searches； by which all favorably disposed informers
or spies form in his hands a supervisory police； which fast becomes a
police of provocation。 He finds recruits in the lower hall of the
Jacobin club； where workmen come to be catechized every morning； while
his two lieutenants； the brothers Laurette； have only to draw on the
same source for a zealous staff in a choice selection of their
instruments。 〃Ten reliable men receive orders there daily；＇34＇ each of
these in turn gives his orders to ten more； belonging to different
battalions in Paris。 In this way each battalion and section receives
the same insurrectionary orders； the same denunciations of the
constituted authorities； of the mayor of Paris； of the president of
the department； and of the commander of the National Guard；〃
everything taking place secretly。 These are dark deeds： the leaders
themselves call it 'the Sabbath' and； along with fanatics they enlist
ruffians。 〃They spread the rumor that； on a certain day； there will be
a great commotion with assassinations and pillage； preceded by the
payment of money distributed from hand to hand by subaltern officers