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gesticulate and threaten them from the galleries。 Outside and inside；
necessity； with its iron hand； has seized them and holds them fast。
There is a dead silence。 Couthon； a paralytic； tries to stand up； his
friends carry him in their arms to the tribune； an intimate friend of
Robespierre's； he is a grave and important personage； he sits down；
and in his mild tone of voice； he speaks： 〃Citizens； all members of
the Convention must now be satisfied of their freedom。 。 。 。 You are
now aware that there is no restraint on your deliberations。〃＇166＇
The comedy is at an end。 Even in Molière there is none like it。 The
sentimental cripple in the tribune winds up by demanding that the
Twenty…two； the Twelve； and the Ministers； Clavière and Lebrun be
placed in arrest。 Nobody opposes the motion；＇167＇ 〃because physical
necessities begin to be felt； and an impression of terror pervades the
Assembly。〃 Several say to themselves； 〃Well； after all； those who are
proscribed will be as well off at home； where they will be safe。 。 。 。
It is better to put up with a lesser evil than encounter a greater
one。〃 Another exclaims： 〃It is better not to vote than to betray one's
trust。〃 The salvo being found； all consciences are easy。 Two…thirds of
the Assembly declare that they will no longer take part in the
discussions； hold aloof； and remain in their seats at each calling of
the vote。 With the exception of about fifty members of the 〃Right；〃
who rise on the side of the Girondists； the 〃Mountain；〃 whose forces
are increased by the insurgents and amateurs sitting fraternally in
its midst； alone votes for； and finally passes the decree。 Now that
the Convention has mutilated itself； it is check…mated； and is about
to become a governing machine in the service of a clique； the Jacobin
conquest is completed； and in the hands of the victors； the grand
operations of the guillotine are going to commence。
VIII。 Right or Wrong； my Country。
Character of the new governors。 … Why France accepted them。
Let us observe them at this decisive moment。 I doubt if any such
contrast ever presented itself in any country or in any age。 … Through
a series of purifications in an inverse sense； the faction has become
reduced to its dregs； nothing remains of the vast surging wave of 1789
but its froth and its slime； the rest has been cast off or has
withdrawn to one side； at first the highest class； the clergy； the
nobles； and the parliamentarians； next the middle class of traders；
manufacturers； and the bourgeois； and finally the best of the inferior
class； small proprietors； farmers；＇168＇ and master…workmen in
short； the prominent in every pursuit； profession； state； or
occupation； whoever possesses capital； a revenue； an establishment；
respectability； public esteem； education and mental and moral culture。
The party in June； 1793； is composed of little more than unreliable
workmen； town and country vagabonds； the habitués of hospices＇169＇；
sluts of the gutter； degraded and dangerous persons；＇170＇ the
déclassé； the corrupt； the perverted； the maniacs of all sorts。 In
Paris； from which they command the rest of France； their troop； an
insignificant minority； is recruited from that refuse of humanity
infesting all capitals； amongst the epileptic and scrofulous rabble
which； heirs of vitiated blood and； further degrading this by its
misconduct； introduces into civilization the degeneracy； imbecility；
and infatuations of shattered temperaments； retrograde instincts； and
deformed brains。＇171＇ What it did with the powers of the State is
narrated by three or four contemporary witnesses； we see it face to
face； in itself； and in its chiefs； we contemplate the true nature of
the men of action and of enterprise who have led the last attack and
who represent it the best。
Since the 2nd of June 〃nearly one…half of the deputies in the
Convention refrain from taking any part in its deliberations； more
than one hundred and fifty have even fled or disappeared＇172＇〃； the
silent； the fugitives； the incarcerated； and the convicted； all this
has been accomplished by the party。 On the evening of June 2nd its
bosom friend； its conscience； the filthy monstrosity； charlatan；
monomaniac and murderer； who regularly every morning； effuses his
political poison into its bosom； Marat； has at last obtained the
discretionary powers craved by him for the last four years； that of
Marius and Sylla； that of Octavius； Antony； and Lepidus； the power of
adding or removing names from lists of proscription：
〃while the reading was going on he indicated cancellations or
additions； the secretary effacing or adding names as he suggested
them； without any consultation whatever with the Assembly。〃＇173＇
At the H？tel…de…ville on the 3rd of June； in the Salle de la Reine；
Pétion and Guadet； under arrest； see with their own eyes this Central
Committee which has just started the insurrection； and which through
its singular delegation sits enthroned over all other established
authorities。
〃They were snoring；＇174＇ some stretched out on the benches and others
leaning on the tables with their elbows； some were barefoot others
were wearing their shoes slipshod like slippers； almost all were dirty
and poorly clad； their clothes were unbuttoned； their hair uncombed；
and their faces frightful； they wore pistols in their belts； and
sabers； with scarves turned into shoulder…straps。 Bottles； bits of
bread； fragments of meat and bones lay strewn around on the floor； and
smell was rotten。〃
It looks like a tapestry of a middle age battle field。 The chief of
the band here is not Chaumette； who has legal qualms；＇175＇ nor Pache；
who cunningly tacks under his mask of Swiss phlegm； but Hébert；
another Marat； yet more brutal and depraved； and who profits by the
opportunity to 〃put more coal into the furnace of his Père Duchesne；〃
striking off 600；000 copies of it； pocketing 135；000 francs for the
numbers sent to the armies； and gaining seventy…five per cent on the
contract。＇176＇ In the street the active body of supporters
consists of two bands； one military and other civil； the former
composed of roughs who are soon to furnish the revolutionary army。
〃This army；＇177＇ considered to be a recent institution； has actually
existed since 1789。 The agents of the Duke of Orleans formed its first
nucleus。 It grew； became organized； had officers appointed to it；
mustering points； orders of the day； and a peculiar slang。 。 。 。 All
the revolutions were carried out by its aid； it gave impetus to
popular violence wherever it did not appear en masse。 On the 12th of
July； 1789； it had Necker's bust carried in public and the theaters
closed； on the 5th of October it started the populace off to
Versailles； on the 20th of April； 1791； it caused the king's arrest in
the court of the Tuileries。 。 。 Led by Westermann and Fournier； it
formed the central battalion in the attack of August 10； 1792； it
carried out the September massacres； it protected the Maratists on the
31st of May； 1793； 。 。 。 its composition is in keeping with its
exploits and its functions。 It contains the most determined
scoundrels； the brigands of Avignon； the scum of Marseilles； Brabant；
Liège； Switzerland and the shores of Genoa。〃 Through a careful
sifting；＇178＇ it is to be inspected； strengthened； aggravated； and
converted into a legal body of Janissaries on triple pay； once
〃enlarged with idle hairdressers； unemployed lackeys； designers of
mad schemes； and other scoundrels unable to earn their keep in an
honest manner；〃 it will supply the detachments needed for garrison at
Bordeaux； Lyons； Dijon and Nantes； still leaving 〃ten thousand of
these Mamelukes to keep down the capital。〃
The civilian body of supporters comprises； first； those who haunt the
sections； and are about to receive 40 sous for attending each meeting；
next； the troop of figure…heads who； in other public places； are to
represent the people； about 1；000 bawlers and claqueurs； 〃two…thirds
of which are women。〃 〃While I was free；〃 says Beaulieu；＇179＇ 〃I
closely observed their movements。 It was a magic…lantern constantly in
operation。 They traveled to and from the Convention to the
Revolutionary Tribunal； and from this to the Jacobin Club； or to the
Commune； which held its meetings in the evening。 。 。 。 They scarcely
took time for their natural requirements； they were often seen dining
and supping at their posts when some action or an important murder was
in the offing。 Henriot； the commander…in…chief of both hordes； was at
one time a swindler； then a police…informer； then imprisoned at
Bicêtre for robbery； and then one of the September murderers。 His
military bearing and popularity are due to parading the streets in the
uniform of a general； and appearing in humbug performances； he is the
type of a swaggerer； always drunk or soaked with brandy。 A blockhead；
with a beery voice； bl