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issued in the name of despotism in ancient times from that famous
palace； let them to…day go back to it in the name of law。〃＇10＇
Even with a Jacobin Minister； terror and dismay are permanent。
Roland； Clavières； and Servan not only do not shield the King； but
they give him up； and； under their patronage and with their
connivance； he is more victimized； more harassed； and more vilified
than ever before。 Their partisans in the Assembly take turns in
slandering him； while Isnard proposes against him a most insolent
address。＇11＇ Shouts of death are uttered in front of his palace。 An
abbé or soldier is unmercifully beaten and dragged into the Tuileries
basin。 One of the gunners of the Guard reviles the queen like a fish
woman； and exclaims to her； 〃How glad I should be to clap your head on
the end of my bayonet！〃＇12＇ They supposed that the King is brought to
heel under this double pressure of the Legislative Body and the
street； they rely on his accustomed docility； or at least； on his
proven lethargy； they think that they have converted him into what
Condorcet once demanded； a signature machine。＇13＇ Consequently；
without notifying him； just as if the throne were vacant； Servan； on
his own authority； proposes to the Assembly the camp outside
Paris。＇14＇ Roland； for his part； reads to him at a full meeting of
the council an arrogant； pedagogical remonstrance； scrutinizing his
sentiments； informing him of his duties； calling upon him to accept
the new 〃religion；〃 to sanction the decree against unsworn
ecclesiastics； that is to say； to condemn to beggary； imprisonment；
and transportation＇15＇ 70；000 priests and nuns guilty of orthodoxy；
and authorize the camp around Paris； which means； to put his throne；
his person； and his family at the mercy of 20；000 madmen； chosen by
the clubs and other assemblages expressly to do him harm；＇16＇ in
short； to discard at once his conscience and his common sense。
Strange enough； the royal will this time remains staunch； not only
does the King refuse； but he dismisses his ministers。 So much the
worse for him； for sign he must； cost what it will； if he insists on
remaining athwart their path； they will march over him。 Not because
he is dangerous； and thinks of abandoning his legal immobility。 Up to
the 10th of August； through a dread of action； and not to kindle a
civil war； he rejects all plans leading to an open rupture。 Up to the
very last day he resigns himself even when his personal safety and
that of his family is at stake； to constitutional law and public
common sense。 Before dismissing Roland and Servan； he desires to
furnish some striking proof of his pacific intentions by sanctioning
the dissolution of his guard and disarming himself not only for attack
but for defense； henceforth he sits at home and awaits the
insurrection with which he is daily menaced； he resigns himself to
everything； except drawing his sword； his attitude is that of a
Christian in the amphitheatre。＇17＇ The proposition of a camp
outside Paris； however； draws out a protest from 8；000 Paris National
Guards。 Lafayette denounces to the Assembly the usurpations of the
Jacobins； the faction sees that its reign is threatened by this
reawakening and union of the friends of order。 A blow must be struck。
This has been in preparation for a month past； and to renew the days
of October 5th and 6th； the materials are not lacking。
II。
The floating and poor population of Paris。 Disposition of the
workers。 Effect of poverty and want of work。 Effect of Jacobin
preaching。 The revolutionary army。 … Quality of its recruits
Its first review。 Its actual effective force。
Paris always has its interloping； floating population。 A hundred
thousand of the needy； one…third of these from the departments；
〃beggars by race；〃 those whom Rétif de la Bretonne had already seen
pass his door； Rue de Bièvre； on the 13th of July； 1789； on their way
to join their fellows on the suburb of St。 Antoine；＇18＇ along with
them 〃those frightful raftsmen；〃 pilots and dock…hands； born and
brought up in the forests of the Nièvre and the Yonne； veritable
savages accustomed to wielding the pick and the ax； behaving like
cannibals when the opportunity offers；＇19＇ and who will be found
foremost in the ranks when the September days come。 Alongside these
stride their female companions 〃barge…women who； embittered by toil；
live for the moment only；〃 and who； three months earlier； pillaged the
grocer…shops。＇20＇ All this 〃is a frightful crowd which； every time it
stirs； seems to declare that the last day of the rich and well…to…do
has come； tomorrow it is our turn； to…morrow we shall sleep on
eiderdown。〃 Still more alarming is the attitude of the steady
workmen； especially in the suburbs。 And first of all； if bread is not
as expensive as on the 5th of October； the misery is worse。 The
production of articles of luxury has been at a standstill for three
years； and the unemployed artisan has consumed his small savings。
Since the ruin of St。 Domingo and the pillaging of grocers' shops
colonial products are dear； the carpenter； the mason； the locksmith；
the market…porter； no longer has his early cup of coffee；＇21＇ while
they grumble every morning at the thought of their patriotism being
rewarded by an increase of deprivation。
But more than all this they are now Jacobins； and after nearly three
years of preaching； the dogma of popular sovereignty has taken deep
root in their empty brains。 〃In these groups；〃 writes a police
commissioner； 〃the Constitution is held to be useless and the people
alone are the law。 The citizens of Paris on the public square think
themselves the people； populus； what we call the universality of
citizens。〃＇22＇ It is of no use to tell them that； alongside of
Paris； there is a France。 Danton has shown them that the capital 〃 is
composed of citizens belonging one way or another to the eighty…three
departments； that is has a better chance than any other place to
appreciate ministerial conduct； that it is the first sentinel of the
nation；〃 which makes them confident of being right。＇23＇ It is of
no use to tell them that there are better…informed and more competent
authorities than themselves。 Robespierre assures them that 〃in the
matter of genius and public…spiritedness the people are infallible；
whilst every one else is subject to mistakes；〃＇24＇ and here they are
sure of their capacity。 In their own eyes they are the legitimate；
competent authorities for all France； and； during three years； the
sole theme their courtiers of the press； tribune； and club； vie with
each other in repeating to them； is the expression of the Duc de
Villeroy to Louis XIV。 when a child： 〃Look my master； behold this
great kingdom！ It is all for you； it belongs to you； you are its
master！〃 Undoubtedly； to swallow and digest such gross irony people
must be half…fools or half…brutes； but it is exactly their capacity
for self…deception which makes them different from the sensible or
passive crowd and casts them into a band whose ascendancy is
irresistible。 Convinced that a street mob is entitled to absolute rule
and that the nation expresses its sovereignty through its gatherings；
they alone assemble the street mobs； they alone； by virtue of their
conceit and lack of judgment； believe themselves kings 。
Such is the new power which； in the early months of the year 1792；
starts up alongside of the legal powers。 It is not foreseen by the
Constitution； nevertheless it exists and declares itself； it is
visible and its recruits can be counted。＇25＇ On the 29th of April；
with the Assembly consenting； and contrary to the law； three
battalions from the suburb of St。 Antoine； about 1500 men；＇26＇ march
in three columns into the hall； one of which is composed of fusiliers
and the other two of pikemen； 〃their pikes being from eight to ten
feet long；〃 of formidable aspect and of all sorts； 〃pikes with