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take long for his way of thinking to become prevalent。 In ordinary
times； social and political ideas slumber in uncultured minds in the
shape of vague antipathies； restrained aspirations； and fleeting
desires。 Behold them aroused … energetic； imperious； stubborn； and
unbridled。 Objection or opposition is not to be tolerated； dissent；
with them； is a sure sign of treachery。 … Apropos of the nonjuring
priests；＇40＇ five hundred and twenty…seven of the National Guards of
Arras write； 〃that no one could doubt their iniquity without being
suspected of being their accomplices。 。 。 。 Should the whole
town combine and express a contrary opinion； it would simply show
that it is filled with enemies of the Constitution；〃 and forthwith；
in spite of the law and the remonstrances of the authorities； they
insist on the closing of the churches。 At Boulogne…sur…Mer； an
English vessel having shipped a quantity of poultry； game； and eggs；
〃the National Guards； of their own authority；〃 go on board and
remove the cargo。 On the strength of this； the accommodating
municipal body approves of the act； declares the cargo confiscated；
orders it to be sold； and awards one…half of the proceeds to the
National Guards and the other half to charitable purposes。 The
concession is a vain one； for the National Guards consider that one…
half is too little； 〃insult and threaten the municipal officers；〃
and immediately proceed to divide the booty in kind； each one going
home with a share of stolen hams and chickens。＇41＇ The magistrates
must necessarily keep quiet with the guns of those they govern
pointed at them。 … Sometimes； and it is generally the case； they are
timid； and do not try to resist。 At Douai；＇42＇ the municipal
officers； on being summoned three times to proclaim martial law；
refuse； and end by avowing that they dare not unfold the red flag：
〃Were we to take this course we should all be sacrificed on the
spot。〃 Neither the troops nor the National Guards； in fact； are to
be relied on。 In this universal state of apathy the field is open
to savages； and a dealer in wheat is hung。 … Sometimes the
administrative corps tries to resist； but in the end it has to
succumb to violence。 〃For more than six hours；〃 writes one of the
members of the district of Etampes；＇43＇ 〃we were closed in by
bayonets leveled at us and with pistols at our breasts ； and they
were obliged to sign a dismissal of the troops which had arrived to
protect the market。 At present 〃we are all away from Etampes； there
is no longer a district or a municipality；〃 almost all have handed
in their resignations； or are to return for that purpose。 …
Sometimes； and this is the rarest case；＇44＇ the officials do their
duty to the end； and perish。 In this same town； six months later；
Simoneau； the mayor； having refused to cut down the price of wheat；
is beaten with iron…pointed sticks； and his corpse is riddled with
balls by the murderers。 … Municipal bodies must take heed how they
undertake to stem the torrent； the； slightest opposition will soon
be at the expense of their lives。 In Touraine；＇45＇ 〃as the
publication of the tax…rolls takes place； riots break out against
the municipal authorities； they are forced to surrender the rolls
they have drawn up； and their papers are torn up。〃 And still more；
〃they kill； they assassinate the municipal authorities。〃 In that
large commune men and women 〃beat and kick them with their fists and
sabots。 。 。 。 The mayor is laid up after it； and the procureur
of the commune died between nine and ten o'clock in the morning。
Véteau； a municipal officer； received the last sacrament this
morning ；〃 the rest have fled； being constantly threatened with
death and incendiarism。 They do not； consequently； return； and 〃no
one now will take the office of either mayor or administrator。〃 …
The outrages which the municipalities thus commit against their
superiors are committed against themselves。 The National Guards；
the mob； the controlling faction； arrogating to themselves in the
commune the same violent sovereignty which the commune pretends to
exercise against the State。
I should never finish if I undertook to enumerate the outbreaks in
which the magistrates are constrained to tolerate or to sanction
popular usurpations； to shut up churches； to drive off or imprison
priests； to suppress octrois； tax grain； and allow clerks； bakers；
corn…dealers； ecclesiastics； nobles； and officers to be hung； beaten
to death； or to have their throats cut。 Ninety…four thick files of
records in the national archives are filled with these acts of
violence； and do not contain two…thirds of them。 It is worth while
to take in detail one case more； a special one； and one that is
authentic； which serves as a specimen； and which presents a
foreshortened image of France during one tranquil year。 At Aix； in
the month of December； 1790；＇46＇ in Opposition to the two Jacobin
clubs； a club had been organized； had complied with all the
formalities； and； like the 〃 Club des Monarchiens〃 at Paris； claimed
the same right of meeting as the others。 But here； as at Paris； the
Jacobins recognize no rights but for themselves alone； and refuse to
admit their adversaries to the privileges of the law。 Moreover；
alarming rumors are circulated。 A person who has arrived from Nice
states that he had 〃heard that there were twenty thousand men
between Turin and Nice； under the pay of the emigrants； and that at
Nice a neuvaine＇47＇ was held in Saint Fran？ois…de…Paule to pray God
to enlighten the French。〃 A counter…revolution is certainly under
way。 Some of the aristocrats have stated 〃with an air of triumph；
that the National Guard and municipalities are a mere toy； and that
this sort of thing will not last long。〃 One of the leading members
of the new club； M。 de Guiraitiand； an old officer of seventy…eight
years； makes speeches in public against the National Assembly； tries
to enlist artisans in his party； 〃affects to wear a white button on
his hat fastened by pins with their points jutting out；〃 and； as it
is stated； he has given to several mercers a large order for white
cockades。 In reality； on examination； not one is found in any shop；
and all the dealers in ribbons； on being interrogated； reply that
they know of no transaction of that description。 But this simply
proves that the culprit is a clever dissimulator； and the more
dangerous because he is eager to save the country。 … On the 12th of
December； at four o'clock in the afternoon； the two Jacobin clubs
fraternise； and pass in long procession before the place of meeting；
〃where some of the members； a few officers of the Lyons regiment and
other individuals； are quietly engaged at play or seeing others
play。〃 The crowd hoot； but they remain quiet。 The procession passes
by again； and they hoot and shout； 〃Down with the aristocrats to the
lamp post with them！ 〃 Two or three of the officers standing on the
threshold of the door become irritated； and one of them； drawing his
sword； threatens to strike a young man if he keeps on。 Upon this
the crowd cries out； 〃Guard！ Help！ An assassin！〃 and rushes at the
officer； who withdraws into the house； exclaiming； 〃To arms！〃 His
comrades； sword in hand； descend in order to defend the door； M。 de
Guiramand fires two pistol shots and receives a stab in the thigh。
A shower of stones smashes in the windows； and the door is on the
point of being burst open when several of the members of the club
save themselves by taking to the roof。 About a dozen others； most
of them officers； form in line； penetrate the crowd with uplifted
swords； strike and get struck； and escape； five of them being
wounded。 The municipality orders the doors and windows of the club…
house to be walled up； sends the Lyons regiment away； decrees the
arrest of seven officers and of M。 de Guiramand； and all this in a
few hours； with no other testimony than that of the conquerors。
But these prompt； vigorous and partial measures are not sufficient
for the Jacobin club； other conspirators must be seized； and it is
the club which designates them and goes to take them。 … Three months
before this； M。 Pascalis； an advocate； on addressing along with
some of his professional brethren the dissolved parliament； deplored
the blindness of the people； 〃exalted by prerogatives of which they
knew not the danger。〃 A man who dared talk in this way is evidently
a traitor。 … There is another； M。 Morellet de la Roquette； who
refused to join the proscribed club。 His former vassals； however；
had been obliged to bring an action against him to make him accept
the redemption of his feudal dues； also； six years before this； his
carriage； passing along the public promenade； had run over a child；
he likewise is an enemy of the people。 While the municipal officers
are deliberating； 〃a few members of the club〃 get together and
decide that M。 Pascalis and M。 de la Ro