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〃Journal du Soir；〃 the 〃Journal de la Montagne；〃 〃Pêre Duchesne；〃 the
〃Révolutions de Paris；〃 and 〃Laclos' Gazette。〃 Revolutionary songs
are sung； and； if a good speaker happens to be present； a former monk
（oratorien）； lawyer； or school…master； he pours out his stock of
phrases； speaking of the Greeks and Romans； proclaiming the
regeneration of the human species。 One of them； appealing to the
women； wants to see
〃the declaration of the Rights of Man suspended on the walls of their
bedrooms as their principal ornament； and； should war break out； these
virtuous supporters； marching at the head of our armies like new
bacchantes with flowing hair； the wand of Bacchus in their hand。〃
Shouts of applause greet this sentiment。 The minds of the listeners；
swept away by this gale of declamation； become overheated and ignite
through mutual contact； like half…consumed embers that would die out
if let alone； they kindle into a blaze when gathered together in a
heap。 … … Their convictions； at the same time； gain strength。 There is
nothing like a coterie to make these take root。 In politics； as in
religion； faith generating the church； the latter； in its turn；
nourishes faith。 In the club； as in the private religious meeting；
each derives authority from the common unanimity； every word and
action of the whole tending to prove each in the right。 And all the
more because a dogma which remains uncontested； ends in seeming
incontestable； as the Jacobin lives in a narrow circle； carefully
guarded； no contrary opinions find their way to him。 The public； in
his eyes； seems two hundred persons； their opinion weighs on him
without any counterpoise； and； outside of their belief； which is his
also； every other belief is absurd and even culpable。 Moreover； he
discovers through this constant system of preaching； which is nothing
but flattery； that he is patriotic； intelligent； virtuous； of which he
can have no doubt； because； before being admitted into the club； his
civic virtues have been verified and he carries a printed certificate
of them in his pocket。 … … Accordingly； he is one of an élite corps； a
corps which； enjoying a monopoly of patriotism； holds itself aloof；
talks loud； and is distinguished from ordinary citizens by its tone
and way of conducting things。 The club of Pontarlier；＇22＇ from the
first； prohibits its members from using the common forms of
politeness。
〃Members are to abstain from saluting their fellow…citizens by
removing the hat； and are to avoid the phrase； 'I have the honor to
be；' and others of like import； in addressing persons。〃
A proper idea of one's importance is indispensable。
〃Does not the famous tribune of the Jacobins in Paris inspire traitors
and impostors with fear？ And do not anti…Revolutionaries return to
dust on beholding it？〃
All this is true； in the provinces as well as at the capital； for；
scarcely is a club organized before it sets to work on the population。
In may of the large cities； in Paris； Lyons； Aix and Bordeaux； there
are two clubs in partnership；＇23＇ one； more or less respectable and
parliamentary； 〃composed partly of the members of the different
branches of the administration and specially devoted to purposes of
general utility；〃 and the other； practical and active； made up of bar…
room politicians and club…haranguers； who indoctrinate workmen；
market…gardeners and the rest of the lower bourgeois class。 The latter
is a branch of the former； and； in urgent cases； supplies it with
rioters。
〃We are placed amongst the people；〃 says one of these subaltern
clubs； 〃we read to them the decrees； and； through lectures and
counsel； we warn them against the publications and intrigues of the
aristocrats。 We ferret out and track plotters and their machinations。
We welcome and advise all complainants； we enforce their demands； when
just； finally； we； in some way； attend to all details。〃
Thanks to these vulgar auxiliaries； but whose lungs and arms are
strong； the party soon becomes dominant； it has force and uses it；
and； denying that its adversaries have any rights； it re…establishes
all the privileges for its own advantage。＇24＇
III。
How they view the liberty of the press。 … Their political doings。
Let us consider its mode of procedure in one instance and upon a
limited field； the freedom of the press。＇25＇ In December； 1790； M。
Etienne； an engineer； whom Marat and Fréron had denounced as a spy in
their periodicals； brought a suit against them in the police court。
The numbers containing the libel were seized； the printers summoned to
appear； and M。 Etienne claimed a public retraction or 25；000 francs
damages with costs。 At this the two journalists； considering
themselves infallible as well as exempt from arrest； are indignant。
〃 It is of the utmost importance；〃 writes Marat； 〃that the informer
should not be liable to prosecution as he is accountable only to the
public for what he says and does for the public good。〃
M。 Etienne （surnamed Languedoc）； therefore； is a traitor： 〃Monsieur
Languedoc； I advise you to keep your mouth shut； if I can have you
hung I will。〃 M。 Etienne； nevertheless； persists and obtains a first
decision in his favor。 Fire and flame are at once belched forth by
Marat and Fréon：
〃Master Thorillon；〃 exclaims Fréron to the commissary of police； 〃you
shall be punished and held up to the people as an example； this
infamous decision must be canceled。〃 〃Citizens；〃 writes Marat； 〃go
in a body to the H？tel…de…Ville and do not allow one of the guards to
enter the court…room。 〃 On the day of the trial； and in the most
condescending spirit； but two grenadiers are let in。 Even these；
however； are too many and shouts from the Jacobin crowd arise 〃Turn
'em out！ We rule here；〃 upon which the two grenadiers withdraw。 On the
other hand； says Fréron triumphantly； that there were in the court…
room 〃sixty of the victors at the Bastille led by the brave Santerre；
who intended to interfere in the trial。〃 … They intervene； indeed； and
first against the plaintiff。 M。 Etienne is attacked at the entrance
of the court…room and nearly knocked down He is so maltreated that he
is obliged to seek shelter in the guard…room。 He is spit upon； and
they 〃move to cut off his ears。〃 His friends receive 〃hundreds of
kicks；〃 while he runs away； and the case is postponed。 It is
called up again several times； so no the judges have to be restrained。
A certain Mandart in the audience； author of a pamphlet on 〃Popular
Sovereignty；〃 springs to his feet and； addressing Bailly； mayor of
Paris； and president of the tribunal； challenges the court。 As usual
Bailly yields； attempting to cover up his weakness with an honorable
pretext： 〃Although a judge can be challenged only by the parties to a
suit； the appeal of one citizen is sufficient for me and I leave the
bench。〃 The other judges； who are likewise insulted and menaced； yield
also； and； through a sophism which admirably illustrates the times；
they discover in the oppression to which the plaintiff is subject a
legal device by which they can give a fair color to their denial of
justice。 M。 Etienne having signified to them that neither he nor his
counsel could attend in court； because their lives were in danger； the
court decides that M。 Etienne； 〃failing to appear in person； or by
counsel； is non…suited。〃 Victorious shouts at once proceed from the
two journalists； while their articles on the case disseminated
throughout France set a precedence contained in the 。ruling。 Any
Jacobin may after this with impunity denounce； insult； and calumniate
whomsoever he pleases； sheltered as he is from the action of courts；
and held superior to the law。
Let us see； on the other hand； what liberty they allow their
adversaries。 A fortnight before this； Mallet du Pan； a writer of great
ability； who； in the best periodical of the day； discusses questions
week after week free of all personalities； the most independent；
straight…forward； and honorable of men； the most eloquent and
judicious advocate of public order and true liberty； is waited upon by
a deputation from the Palais…Royal；＇26＇ consisting of about a dozen
well…dressed individuals； civil enough and not too ill…disposed； but
quite satisfied that they have a right to interfere。 The conversation
which ensues shows to what extent the current political creed had
turned peoples' heads。
〃One of the party； addressing me； informed me that he and his
associates were deputies of the Palais…Royal clubs； and that they had
called to notify me that I would do well to change my principles and
stop attacking the constitution； otherwise extreme violence would be
brought to bear on me。 I replied that I recognized no authority but
the law and that of the courts； the law is your master and mine； and
no respect is shown to the constitution by assailing the freedom of
the press。〃