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the King； at the request of the National Assembly；＇34＇ order the
municipality to restore the forts to the commandants； and to make
the National Guards leave them。 The municipal authorities become
indignant； and resist。 According to them the wrong is all on the
side of the commandant and the ministers。 It is the commandants
who； 〃with the threatening equipment of their citadels； their stores
of provisions and of artillery； are disturbers of the public peace。
What does the minister mean by driving the national troops out of
the forts； in order to entrust their guardianship to foreign troops？
His object is apparent in this plan 。 。 。 。 he wants to kindle
civil war。〃 … 〃All the misfortunes of Marseilles originate in the
secret under…standing existing between the ministers and the enemies
of the State。〃 The municipal corps is at last obliged to evacuate
the forts； but it is determined not to give them up。 The day
following that on which it receives the decree of the National
Assembly； it conceives the design of demolishing them。 On the 17th
of May； two hundred laborers； paid in advance； begin the work of
destruction。 To save appearances the municipal body betakes itself
at eleven o'clock in the morning to the different localities； and
orders them to stop。 But； on its departure； the laborers keep on；
and； at six o'clock in the evening； a resolution is passed that； 〃to
prevent the entire demolition of the citadel； it is deemed advisable
to authorize only that of the part overlooking the town。〃 On the
18th of May the Jacobin club； at once agent； accomplice； and
councilor of the municipal body； compels private individuals to
contribute something towards defraying the expenses of the
demolition。 It 〃sends round to every house； and to the syndics of
all corporations； exacting their quotas； and making all citizens
subscribe a document by which they appear to sanction the action of
the municipal body； and to express their thanks to it。 People had
to sign it； pay； and keep silent。 Woe to any one that refused ！〃 On
the 20th of May the municipal body presumes to write to the
Assembly； that 〃this threatening citadel； this odious monument of a
stupendous despotism； is about to disappear。〃 To justify its
disobedience； it takes occasion to remark； 〃that the love of country
is the most powerful and most enduring of an empire's ramparts。〃 On
the 28th of May it secures the performance in two theaters of a
piece representing the capture of the forts of Marseilles； for the
benefit of the men engaged in their demolition。 Meanwhile； it has
summoned the Paris Jacobins to its support； it has proposed to
invite the Lyons federation and all the municipalities of the
kingdom to denounce the minister。 It has forced M。 de Miran；
threatened with death and watched by a party in ambush on the road；
to quit Aix； and then demands his recall。＇35＇ Only on the 6th of
June does it decide； at the express command of the National
Assembly； to suspend the almost completed demolition。 … ？Authorities
to which obedience is due could not be treated more insolently。 The
end； however； is attained； there is no longer a citadel； and the
troops have departed； the regiment commanded by Ernest alone
remains； to be tampered with； insulted； and then sent off。 It is
ordered to Aix； and the National Guard of Marseilles will go there
to disarm and disband it。 Henceforth the municipal body has full
sway。 It 〃observes only those laws which suit it； makes others to
its own liking； and； in short； governs in the most despotic and
arbitrary manner。〃＇36＇ And not only at Marseilles； but throughout
the department where； under no authority but its own； it undertakes
armed expeditions and makes raids and sudden attacks。
III。
Independent Assemblies。 … Why they took the initiative。 … The people
in council。 … Powerlessness of the municipalities。 … the violence to
which they are subject。 … Aix in 1790。 … Government disobeyed and
perverted everywhere。
Were it but possible for the dissolution to stop here！ But each
commune is far from being a tranquil little state under the rule of
a body of respected magistrates。 The same causes which render
municipalities rebellious against the central authority render
individuals rebellious against local authority。 They also feel that
they are in danger and want to provide for their own safety。 They
also； in virtue of the Constitution and of circumstances； believe
themselves appointed to save the country。 They also consider
themselves qualified to judge for themselves on all points and
entitled to carry out their judgments with their own hands。 The
shopkeeper； workman or peasant； at once elector and National Guard；
furnished with his vote and a musket； suddenly becomes the equal and
master of his superiors； instead of obeying； he commands； while all
who see him again after some years' absence； find that 〃in his
demeanor and manner all is changed。〃 〃There was great agitation
everywhere；〃＇37＇ says M。 de Ségur； 〃I noticed groups of men talking
earnestly in the streets and on the squares。 The sound of the drum
struck my ear in the villages； while I was astonished at the great
number of armed men I encountered in the little towns。 On
interrogating various persons among the lower classes they would
reply with a proud look and in a bold and confident tone。 I
observed everywhere the effect of those sentiments of equality and
liberty which had then become such violent passions。〃 … Thus
exalted in their own eyes they believed themselves qualified to take
the lead in everything； not only in local affairs； but also in
general matters。 France is to be governed by them； by virtue of the
Constitution they arrogate to themselves the right； and； by dint of
ignorance； attribute to themselves the capacity； to govern it。 A
torrent of new； shapeless； and disproportionate ideas have taken
possession of their brains in the space of a few months。 Vast
interests about which they have never thought； have to be
considered。 Government； royalty； the church； creeds； foreign
powers； internal and external dangers； what is occurring at Paris
and at Coblentz； the insurrection in the Low Countries； the acts of
the cabinets of London； Vienna； Madrid； Berlin； and； of all this；
they inform themselves as they best can。 An officer；＇38＇ who
traverses France at this time； narrates that at the post…stations
they made him wait for horses until he had 〃given them details。 The
peasants stopped my carriage in the middle of the road and
overwhelmed me with questions。 At Autun； I was obliged； in spite of
the cold； to talk out of a window opening upon the square and tell
what I knew about the Assembly。〃 … These on…dits are all changed
and amplified in passing from mouth to mouth。 They finally become
circumstantial stories adapted to the caliber of the minds they pass
into and to the dominant passion that propagates them。 Trace the
effect of these fables in the house of a peasant or fish…woman in an
outlying village or a populous suburb； on brutish or almost brutal
minds； especially when they are lively； heated； and over…excited …
the effect is tremendous。 For； in minds of this stamp； belief is at
once converted into action； and into rude and destructive action。
It is an acquired self…control； reflection； and culture which
interposes between belief and action the solicitude for social
interests； the observance of forms and respect for the law。 These
restraints are all wanting in the new sovereign。 He does not know
how to stop and will not suffer himself to be stopped。 Why so many
delays when the peril is urgent？ What is the use of observing
formalities when the safety of the people is at stake？ What is there
sacred in the law when it protects public enemies？ What is more
pernicious than passive deference and patient waiting under timid or
blind officials？ What can be more just than to do one's self justice
at once and on the spot？ … Precipitation and passion； in their
eyes； are both duties and merits。 One day 〃the militia of Lorient
decide upon marching to Versailles and to Paris without considering
how they are to get over the ground or what they will do on their
arrival。〃＇39＇ Were the central government within reach they would
lay their hands on it。 In default of this they substitute
themselves for it on their own territory； and exercise its functions
with a full conviction of right； principally those of gendarme；
judge； and executioner。
During the month of October； 1789； at Paris； after the assassination
of the baker Fran？ois； the leading murderer； who is a porter at the
grain depot； declares 〃that he wanted to avenge the nation。〃 It is
quite probable that this declaration is sincere。 In his mind；
assassination is one of the forms of patriotism； and it does not
take long for his way of thinking to become prevalent。 In ordinary
times； social and