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〃considering that this assemblage is a cause of disturbance； that it
produces gatherings in the street； that only violent means can be
employed to protect it；〃 orders its dissolution。＇17＇ Towards the
month of August； 1790； a second club is organized； and； this time；
composed of the wisest and most liberal men。 Malouet and Count
Clermont…Tonnerre are at the head of it。 It takes the name of
〃Friends of a Monarchical Constitution；〃 and is desirous of restoring
public order by maintaining the reforms which have been reached。 All
formalities on its part have been complied with。 There are already
about 800 members in Paris。 Subscriptions flow into its treasury。 The
provinces send in numerous adhesions； and； what is worse than all；
bread is distributed by them at a reduced price； by which the people；
probably； will be conciliated。 Here is a center of opinion and
influence； analogous to that of the Jacobin club； which the Jacobins
cannot tolerate。＇18＇ M。 de Clermont…Tonnerre having leased the summer
Vauxhall； a captain in the National Guard notifies the proprietor of
it that if he rents it； the patriots of the Palais…Royal will march to
it in a body； and close it； fearing that the building will be damaged；
he cancels the lease； while the municipality； which fears skirmishes；
orders a suspension of the meetings。 The club makes a complaint and
follows it up； while the letter of the law is so plain that an
official authorization of the club is finally granted。 Thereupon the
Jacobin newspapers and stump… speakers let loose their fury against a
future rival that threatens to dispute their empire。 On the 23rd of
January； 1791； Barnave； in the National Assembly； employing
metaphorical language apt to be used as a death…shout； accuses the
members of the new club 〃of giving the people bread that carries
poison with it。〃 Four days after this； M。 Clermont…Tonnerre's dwelling
is assailed by an armed throng。 Malouet； on leaving it； is almost
dragged from his carriage； and the crowd around him cry out； 〃There
goes the bastard who denounced the people！ 〃… At length； its
founders； who； out of consideration for the municipality； have waited
two months； hire another hall in the Rue des Petites…Ecuries； and on
the 28th of March begin their sessions。 〃On reaching it；〃 writes one
of them； 〃we found a mob composed of drunkards； screaming boys； ragged
women； soldiers exciting them on； and especially those frightful
hounds； armed with stout； knotty cudgels； two feet long； which are
excellent skull…crackers。〃＇19＇ The thing was made up beforehand。 At
first there were only three or four hundred of them； and； ten minutes
after； five or six hundred； in a quarter of an hour； there are perhaps
four thousand flocking in from all sides； in short； the usual make…up
of an insurrection。 〃The people of the quarter certified that they
did not recognize one of the faces。〃 Jokes； insults； cuffs；
clubbings； and saber…cuts； the members of the club 〃who agreed to
come unarmed〃 being dispersed； while several are knocked down； dragged
by the hair； and a dozen or fifteen more are wounded。 To justify the
attack； white cockades are shown； which； it is pretended； were found
in their pockets。 Mayor Bailly arrives only when it is all over； and；
as a measure of 〃public order；〃 the municipal authorities have the
club of Constitutional Monarchists closed for good。
Owing to these outrages by the faction； with the connivance of the
authorities； other similar clubs are suppressed in the same way。 There
are a good many of them； and in the principal towns 〃Friends of
Peace；〃 〃Friends of the Country；〃 〃Friends of the King； of Peace； and
of Religion；〃 〃Defenders of Religion； Persons； and Property〃。
Magistrates and officers； the most cultivated and polished people； are
generally members； in short； the élite of the place。 Formerly；
meetings took place for conversation and debate； and； being long…
established； the club naturally passes over from literature to
politics。 The watch…word against all these provincial clubs is
given from the Rue St。 Honoré。＇20＇ 〃They are centers of conspiracy；
and must be looked after〃 forthwith； and be at once trodden out。
At one time； as at Cahors；＇21＇ a squad of the National Guard； on its
return from an expedition against the neighboring gentry； and to
finish its task breaks in on the club； 〃throws its furniture out of
the windows and demolishes the house。〃 At another time； as at
Perpignan； the excited mob surrounds the club； dancing a fandango； and
yell out； to the lantern！ The club…house is sacked； while eighty of
its members； covered with bruises； are shut up in the citadel for
their safety。＇22＇ At another time； as at Aix； the Jacobin club
insults its adversaries on their own premises and provokes a scuffle；
whereupon the municipality causes the doors of the assailed club to be
walled up and issues warrants of arrest against its members。
Always punishment awaits them for whatever violence they have to
submit to。 Their mere existence seems an offense。 At Grenoble； they
scarcely assemble before they are dispersed。 The fact is； they are
suspected of 〃incivism；〃 their intentions may not be right； in any
event； they cause a division of the place into two camps； and that is
enough。 In the department of Gard； their clubs are all broken up； by
order of the department； because 〃they are centers of malevolence。〃 At
Bordeaux； the municipality； considering that 〃alarming reports are
current of priests and privileged persons returning to town；〃
prohibits all reunions； except that of the Jacobin club。 Thus；
〃under a system of liberty of the most exalted kind； in the presence
of the famous Declaration of the Rights of Man which legitimates
whatever is not unlawful；〃 and which postulates equality as the
principle of the French constitution； whoever is not a Jacobin is
excluded from common rights。 An intolerant club sets itself up as a
holy church； and proscribes others which have not received from it
〃orthodox baptism； civic inspiration； and the aptitude of languages。〃
To her alone belongs the right of assemblage； and the right of making
proselytes。 Conservative； thoughtful men in all towns throughout the
kingdom are forbidden to form electoral committees； to possess a
tribune； a fund； subscribers and adherents； to cast the weight of
their names and common strength into the scale of public opinion； to
gather around their permanent nucleus the scattered multitude of
sensible people； who would like to escape from the Revolution without
falling back into the ancient régime。 Let them whisper amongst
themselves in corners； and they may still be tolerated； but woe to
them if they would leave their lonely retreat to act in concert； to
canvass voters； and support a candidate。 Up to the day of voting they
must remain in the presence of their combined； active； and
obstreperous adversaries； scattered； inert； and mute。
IV。
Turmoil of the elections of 1790。 Elections in 1791。 Effect of
the King's flight。 Domiciliary visits。 Montagne during the
electoral period。
Will they at least be able to vote freely on that day？ They are not
sure of it； and； judging by occurrences during the past year； it is
doubtful。 In April； 1790； at Bois d'Aisy； in Burgundy； M。 de Bois
d'Aisy； a deputy； who had returned from Paris to deposit his vote；＇23＇
was publicly menaced。 He was informed that nobles and priests must
take no part m the elections； while many were heard to say； in his
hearing； that in order to prevent this it would be better to hang him。
Not far off； at Ste。 Colombe； M。 de Viteaux was driven out of the
electoral assembly； and then put to death after three hours of
torture。 The same thing occurred at Semur； two gentlemen were knocked
down with clubs and stones； another saved himself with difficulty； and
a curé died after being stabbed six times。 A warning for priests
and for gentlemen： they had better not vot