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20th of June； August 10； September 2。 The body has its epidemic； its
contagious diseases； the mind has the same； the revolutionary malady
is one of them。 It appears throughout the country at the same time；
each infected point infects others。 In each city； in each borough； the
club is a Center of inflammation which disorganizes the sound parts；
and the example of each disorganized Center spreads afar like
contagious fumes。＇1＇ Everywhere the same fever； delirium； and
convulsions mark the presence of the same virus。 That virus is the
Jacobin dogma。 By virtue of the Jacobin dogma； theft； usurpation；
murder； take on the guise of political philosophy； and the gravest
crimes against persons； against public or private property； become
legitimate； for they are the acts of the legitimate supreme power； the
power that has the public welfare in its keeping。
I。 The Sovereignty of the People。。
Its principle is the Jacobin dogma of the sovereignty of the people。 …
… The new right is officially proclaimed。 Public statement of the
new régime。 Its object； its opponents； its methods。 Its
extension from Paris to the provinces。…
That each Jacobin band should be invested with the local dictatorship
in its own canton is； according to the Jacobins； a natural right。 It
becomes the written law from the day that the National Assembly
declares the country in danger。 〃From that date；〃 says their most
widely read Journal；＇2＇ and by the mere fact of that declaration； 〃the
people of France are assembled and insurgent。 They have repossessed
themselves of the sovereign power。〃 Their magistrates； their
deputies； all constituted authorities； return to nothingness； their
essential state。 And you； temporary and revocable representatives；
〃you are nothing but presiding officers for the people； you have
nothing to do but to collect their votes； and to announce the result
when these shall have been cast with due solemnity。〃 Nor is this
the theory of the Jacobins only； it is also official theory。 The
National Assembly approves of the insurrection； recognizes the
Commune； keeps in the background； abdicates as far as possible； and
only remains provisionally in office in order that the place may not
be left vacant。 It abstains from exercising power； even to provide its
own successors； it merely 〃invites〃 the French people to organize a
national convention； it confesses that it has 〃no right to put the
exercise of sovereign power under binding rules〃； it does no more than
〃indicate to citizens〃 the rules for the elections 〃to which it
invites them to conform。〃＇3＇ Meanwhile it is subject to the will of
the sovereign people； then so…called； it dares not resist their
crimes； it interferes with assassins only by entreaties。 Much more；
it authorizes them； either by ministerial signature or counter…
signature； to begin their work elsewhere。 Roland has signed Fournier's
commission to Orleans； Danton has sent the circular of Marat over all
France。 To reconstruct the departments the council of ministers sends
the most infuriated members of the Commune and the party； Chaumette；
Fréron； Westerman； Auduoin； Huguenin； Momoro； Couthon； Billaud…
Varennes；＇4＇ and others still more tainted and brutal； who preach the
purest Jacobin doctrine。 〃They announce openly＇5＇ that laws no longer
exist； that since the people are sovereign； every one is master； that
each fraction of the nation can take such measures as suit it； in the
name of the country's safety； that they have the right to tax corn； to
seize it in the laborer's fields； to cut off the heads of the farmers
who refuse to bring their grain to market。〃 At Lisieux； agrarian law
is preached by Fufour and Momoro。 At Douai； other preachers from
Paris say to the popular club； 〃Prepare scaffolds； let the walls of
the city bristle with gallows； and hang upon them every man who does
not accept our opinions。〃 Nothing is more logical； more in
conformity with their principles。 The journals； deducing their
consequences； explain to the people the use they ought to make of
their reconquered sovereignty。＇6＇ 〃Under the present circumstances；
community of property is the law； everything belongs to everybody。〃
Besides； 〃an equalizing of fortunes must be brought about； a leveling；
which shall abolish the vicious principle of the domination of the
rich over the poor。〃 This reform is all the more pressing because 〃the
people； the real sovereign people； have nearly as many enemies as
there are proprietors； large merchants； financiers； and wealthy men。
In a time of revolution； we must regard all men who have more than
enough as the enemies； secret or avowed； of popular government。〃
Therefore； 〃let the people of each commune； before they quit their
homes〃 for the army； 〃put all those who are suspected of not loving
liberty in a secure place； and under the safe…keeping of the law； let
them be kept shut up until war is over； let them be guarded with
pikes；〃 and let each one of their guardians receive thirty sous per
day。
* As for the partisans of the fallen government； the members of the
Paris directory； 〃with Roederer and Blondel at their head；〃
* as for the general officers； 〃with Lafayette and d'Affry at their
head；〃
* as for 〃the critical deputies of the Constituent Assembly； with
Barnave and Lameth at their head；〃
* as for the Feuillant deputies of the Legislative Assembly； 〃with
Ramond and Jaucourt at their head；〃＇7＇
* as for 〃all those who consented to soil their hands with the profits
of the civil list；〃
* as for 〃the 40；000 hired assassins who were gathered at the palace
on the night of August 9…10；
they are all （say the Jacobins）furious monsters； who ought to be
strangled to the last one。 People！ you have risen to your feet； stand
firm until not one of these conspirators remains alive。 Your humanity
requires you for once to show yourselves inexorable。 Strike terror to
the wicked。 The proscriptions which we impose on you as a duty； are
the sacred wrath of your country。〃
There is no mistaking this； it is a tocsin sounding against all the
powers that be； against all social superiority； against priests and
nobles； proprietors； capitalists； the leaders of business and
industry； it is sounding； in short； against the whole élite of France；
whether of old or recent origin。 The Jacobins of Paris； by their
journals； their examples； their missionaries； give the signal； and in
the provinces their kindred spirits； imbued with the same principles；
only wait the summons to hurl themselves forward。
II。
In several departments it establishes itself in advance。 An instance
of this in the Var。
In many departments＇8＇ they have forestalled the summons。 In the Var；
for example； pillages and proscriptions have begun with the month of
May。 According to custom； they first seize upon the castles and the
monasteries； although these have become national property； at one time
alleging as a reason for this that the administration 〃is too slow in
carrying out sentence against the émigrés；〃 and again； that 〃the
chateau； standing on an eminence； weighs upon the inhabitants。〃＇9＇
There is scarcely a village in France that does not contain twoscore
wretches who are always ready to line their pockets； which is just the
number of thieves who thoroughly sacked the chateau of Montaroux；
carrying off 〃furniture； produce； clothing； even the jugs and bottles
in the cellar。〃 There are the same doings by the same band at the
chateau of Tournon； the chateau of Salerne is burned； that of Flagose
is pulled down； the canal of Cabris is destroyed； then the convent of
Montrieux； the chateaux of Grasse； of Canet； of Régusse； of Brovaz；
and many others； all devastated； and the devastations are made
〃daily。〃 It is impossible to suppress this country brigandage。 The
reigning dogma； weakening authority in the magistrates' hands； and the
clubs； 〃which cover the department；