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the administration； the bench； the bar； the financial system and the
academies； all as 〃suspicious；〃 at all events the people only suffer
on their account。
〃The Government is monopolizing grain； to make us to pay through
the nose for a poisonous bread。〃
The Government； again； through a new conspiracy is about to blockade
Paris； so as to starve it with greater ease。 Utterances of this
kind； at such a time； are firebrands thrown upon fear and hunger to
kindle the flames of rage and cruelty。 To this frightened and
fasting crowd the agitators and newspaper writers continue to repeat
that it must act； and act alongside of the authorities； and； if need
be； against them。 In other words； We will do as we please； we are
the sole legitimate masters；
〃in a well…constituted government； the people as a body are the real
sovereign： our delegates are appointed only to execute our orders ；
what right has the clay to rebel against the potter？〃
On the strength of such principles； the tumultuous club which
occupies the Palais…Royal substitutes itself for the Assembly at
Versailles。 Has it not all the titles for this office？ The Palais…
Royal 〃saved the nation〃 on the 12th and 13th of July。 The Palais…
Royal； 〃through its spokesmen and pamphlets；〃 has made everybody and
even the soldiers 〃philosophers。〃 It is the house of patriotism；
〃the rendezvous of the select among the patriotic；〃 whether
provincials or Parisians； of all who possess the right of suffrage；
and who cannot or will not exercise it in their own district。 〃It
saves time to come to the Palais…Royal。 There is no need there of
appealing to the President for the right to speak； or to wait one's
time for a couple of hours。 The orator proposes his motion； and； if
it finds supporters； mounts a chair。 If he is applauded； it is put
into proper shape。 If he is hissed； he goes away。 This was the way
of the Romans。〃 Behold the veritable National Assembly ！ It is
superior to the other semi…feudal affair； encumbered with 〃six
hundred deputies of the clergy and nobility；〃 who are so many
intruders and who 〃should be sent out into the galleries。〃 Hence
the pure Assembly rules the impure Assembly； and 〃the Café Foy lays
claim to the government of France。〃
IV。
Intervention by the popular leaders with the Government。 … Their
pressure on the Assembly。
On the 30th of July； the harlequin who led the insurrection at Rouen
having been arrested； 〃it is openly proposed at the Palais Royal＇22＇
to go in a body and demand his release。〃 On the 1st of August；
Thouret； whom the moderate party of the Assembly have just made
President； is obliged to resign； the Palais…Royal threatens to send
a band and murder him along with those who voted for him； and lists
of proscriptions； in which several of the deputies are inscribed；
begin to be circulated。 From this time forth； on all great
questions…the abolition of the feudal system； the suppression of
tithes； a declaration of the rights of man； the dispute about the
Chambers； the King's power of veto；＇23＇ the pressure from without
inclines the balance： in this way the Declaration of Rights； which
is rejected in secret session by twenty…eight bureaus out of thirty；
is forced through by the tribunes in a public sitting and passed by
a majority。 Just as before the 14th of July； and to a still
greater extent； two kinds of compulsion influence the votes； and it
is always the ruling faction which employs both its hands to
throttle its opponents。 On the one hand this faction takes post on
the galleries in knots composed nearly always of the same persons；
〃five or six hundred permanent actors；〃 who yell according to
understood signals and at the word of command。＇24＇ Many of these
are French Guards； in civilian clothes； and who relieve each other：
previously they have asked of their favorite deputy 〃at what hour
they must come； whether all goes on well； and whether he is
satisfied with those fools of parsons （calotins） and the
aristocrats。〃 Others consist of low women under the command of
Théroigne de Méricourt； a virago courtesan； who assigns them their
positions and gives them the signal for hooting or for applause。
Publicly and in full session； on the occasion of the debate on the
veto； 〃the deputies are applauded or insulted by the galleries
according as they utter the word 'suspensive；' or the word
'indefinite。' 〃 〃Threats；〃 （says one of them） 〃circulated； I heard
them on all sides around me。〃 These threats are repeated on going
out： 〃Valets dismissed by their masters； deserters； and women in
rags；〃 threaten the refractory with the lamp post； 〃and thrust their
fists in their faces。 In the hall itself； and much more accurately
than before the 14th of July； their names are taken down； and the
lists； handed over to the populace；〃 travel to the Palais…Royal；
from where they are dispatched in correspondence and in newspapers
to the provinces。＇25＇ … Thus we see the second means of
compulsion； each deputy is answerable for his vote； at Paris； with
his own life； and； in the province； with those of his family。
Members of the former Third…Estate avow that they abandon the idea
of two Chambers； because 〃they are not disposed to get their wives'
and children's throats cut。〃 On the 30th of August； Saint…Hurugue；
the most noisy of the Palais…Royal barkers； marches off to
Versailles； at the head of 1；500 men； to complete the conversion of
the Assembly。 This garden club indeed； from the heights of its
great learning； integrity； and immaculate reputation； decides that
the ignorant； corrupt； and doubtful deputies must be got rid of。〃
That they are such cannot be questioned； because they defend the
royal sanction； there are over 600 and more； 120 are deputies of the
communes； who must be expelled to begin with； and then must be
brought to judgment。＇26＇ In the meantime they are informed； as well
as the Bishop of Langres； President of the National Assembly； that
〃15；000 men are ready to light up their chateaux and in particular
yours； sir。〃 To avoid all mistake； the secretaries of the Assembly
are informed in writing that 〃 2；000 letters〃 will be sent into the
provinces to denounce to the people the conduct of the malignant
deputies： 〃Your houses are held as a surety for your opinions： keep
this in mind； and save yourselves ！〃 At last； on the morning of the
1st of August； five deputations from the Palais…Royal； one of them
led by Loustalot； march in turn to the H？tel…de…Ville； insisting
that the drums should be beaten and the citizens be called together
for the purpose of changing the deputies； or their instructions； and
of ordering the National Assembly to suspend its discussion on the
veto until the districts and provinces could give expression to
their will： the people； in effect； alone being sovereign； and alone
competent； always has the right to dismiss or instruct anew its
servants； the deputies。 On the following day； August 2nd； to make
matters plainer； new delegates from the same Palais…Royal suit
gestures to words； they place two fingers on their throats； on being
introduced before the representatives of the commune； as a hint
that； if the latter do not obey； they will be hung。
After this it is vain for the National Assembly to make any show of
indignation； to declare that it despises threats； and to protest its
independence； the impression is already produced。 〃More than 300
members of the communes；〃 says Mounier； 〃had decided to support the
absolute veto。〃 At the end of ten days most of these had gone over；
several of them through attachment to the King； because they were
afraid of 〃a general uprising；〃 and 〃were not willing to jeopardize
the lives of the royal family。〃 But concessions like these only
provoke fresh extortions。 The politicians of the street now know by
experience the effect of brutal violence on legal authority。
Emboldened by success and by impunity； they reckon up their strength
and the weakness of the latter。 One blow more； and they are
undisputed masters。 Besides； the issue is already apparent to
clear…sighted men。 When the agitators of the public thoroughfares；
and the porters at the street…corners； convinced of their superior
wisdom； impose decrees by the strength of their lungs； of their
fists； and of their pikes； at that moment experience； knowledge；
good sense； cool…blood； genius； and judgment； disappear from human
affairs； and things revert back to chaos。 Mirabeau； in favor of the
veto for life； saw the crowd imploring him with tears in their eyes
to change his opinion ：
〃Monsieur le Comte； if the King obtains this veto； what will be the
use of a National Assembly？ We shall all be slaves 〃＇27＇
Outbursts of this description are not to be resisted； and all is
lost。 Already； near the end of September； the remark applies which
Mirabeau makes to the Comte de la Marck：
〃Yes； all is