按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
narrow brain； perverted and turned topsy…turvy by the disproportionate
notions put into it； only one idea suited to his gross instincts and
aptitudes finds a place there； and that is the desire to kill his
enemies； and these are also the State's enemies； however open or
concealed； present or future； probable or even possible。 He carries
this savagery and bewilderment into politics； and hence the evil
arising from his government。 Simply a brigand； he would have murdered
only to rob； and his murders would have been restricted。 As
representing the State； he undertakes wholesale massacres； of which he
has the means ready at hand。 For he has not yet had time enough to
take apart the old administrative implements； at all events the minor
wheels； gendarmes； jailers； employees； book…keepers； and accountants；
are always in their places and under control。 There can be no
resistance on the part of those arrested； accustomed to the protection
of the laws and to peaceable ways and times； they have never relied on
defending themselves nor ever could imagine that any one could be so
summarily slain。 As to the mass； rendered incapable of any effort of
its own by ancient centralization； it remains inert and passive and
lets things go their own way。 Hence； during many long； successive
days； without being hurried or impeded； with official papers quite
correct and accounts in perfect order； a massacre can be carried out
with the same impunity and as methodically as cleaning the streets or
clubbing stray dogs。＇4＇
II。
The development of the ideas of killings in the mass of the party。
The morning after August 10。 The tribunal of August 17。 The
funereal fête of August 27。 The prison plot。
Let us trace the progress of the homicidal idea in the mass of the
party。 It lies at the very bottom of the revolutionary creed。 Collot
d'Herbois； two months after this； aptly says in the Jacobin tribune：
〃The second of September is the great article in the credo of our
freedom。〃＇5＇ It is peculiar to the Jacobin to consider himself as a
legitimate sovereign； and to treat his adversaries not as
belligerents； but as criminals。 They are guilty of lèse… nation； they
are outlaws； fit to be killed at all times and places； and deserve
extinction； even when no longer able or in a condition do any harm。
Consequently； on the 10th of August the Swiss Guards； who do not fire
a gun and who surrender； the wounded lying on the ground； their
surgeons； the palace domestics； are killed； and worse still； persons
like M。 de Clermont…Tonnerre who pass quietly along the street。 All
this is now called in official phraseology the justice of the people。
On the 11th the Swiss Guards； collected in the Feuillants building；
come near being massacred； the mob on the outside of it demand their
heads；＇6＇ 〃it conceives the project of visiting all the prisons in
Paris to take out the prisoners and administer prompt justice on
them。〃 … On the 12th in the markets 〃diverse groups of the low class
call Pétion a scoundrel；〃 because 〃he saved the Swiss in the Palais
Bourbon〃； accordingly； 〃he and the Swiss must be hung to…day。〃…In
these minds turned topsy…turvy the actual； palpable truth gives way to
its opposite； 〃the attack was not begun by them； the order to sound
the tocsin came from the palace； it is the palace which was besieging
the nation； and not the nation which was besieging the palace。〃＇7＇
The vanquished 〃are the assassins of the people；〃 caught in the act；
and on the 14th of August the Federates demand a court…martial 〃to
avenge the death of their comrades。〃＇8＇ And even a court…martial will
not answer。 〃It is not sufficient to mete out punishment for crimes
committed on the 10th of August； but the vengeance of the people must
be extended to all conspirators；〃 to that 〃Lafayette； who probably was
not in Paris； but who may have been there；〃 to all the ministers；
generals； judges； and other officials guilty of maintaining legal
order wherever it had been maintained； and of not having recognized
the Jacobin government before it came into being。 Let them be brought
before； not the ordinary courts； which are not to be trusted because
they belong to the defunct régime； but before a specially organized
tribunal； a sort of 〃chambre ardente；〃＇9＇ elected by the sections；
that is to say； by a Jacobin minority。 These improvised judges must
give judgment on conviction； without appeal； there must be no
preliminary examinations； no interval of time between arrest and
execution； no dilatory and protective formalities。 And above all； the
Assembly must be expeditious in passing the decree； 〃otherwise；〃 it is
informed by a delegate from the Commune；＇10＇ 〃the tocsin will be rung
at midnight and the general alarm sounded； for the people are tired of
waiting to be avenged。 Look out lest they do themselves justice！ A
moment later； new threats and with an advanced deadline。 〃If the
juries are not ready to act in two or three hours great misfortunes
will overtake Paris。〃
Even if the new tribunal； set up on the spot； is quick； guillotining
three innocent persons in five days； it does not move fast enough。 On
the 23rd of August one of the sections declares to the Commune in
furious language that the people themselves； 〃wearied and indignant〃
with so many delays； mean to force open the prisons and massacre the
inmates。＇11＇ Not only do the sections harass the judges； but they
force the accused into their presence： a deputation from the Commune
and the Federates summons the Assembly 〃 to transfer the criminals at
Orleans to Paris to undergo the penalty of their heinous crimes〃。
〃Otherwise；〃 says the speaker； 〃we will not answer for the vengeance
of the people。〃＇12＇ And in a still more imperative manner：
〃You have heard and you know that insurrection is a sacred duty；〃 a
sacred duty towards and against all： towards the Assembly if it
refuses； and towards the tribunal if it acquits。 They dash at their
prey contrary to all legislative and judicial formalities； like a kite
across the web of a spider； while nothing detach them from their fixed
ideas。 On the acquittal of M。 Luce de Montmorin＇13＇ the gross
audience； mistaking him for his cousin the former minister of Louis
XVI。； break out in murmurs。 The president tries to enforce silence；
which increases the uproar； and M。 de Montmorin is in danger。 On this
the president； discovering a side issue； announces that one of the
jurors is related to the accused； and that in such a case a new jury
must be impaneled and a new trial take place； that the matter will be
inquired into； and meanwhile the prisoner will be returned to the
Conciergerie prison。 Thereupon he takes M。 de Montmorin by the arm and
leads him out of the court…room； amidst the yells of the audience and
not without risks to himself； in the outside court a soldier of the
National Guard strikes at him with a saber； and the following day the
court is obliged to authorize eight delegates from the audience to go
and see with their own eyes that M。 de Montmorin is really in prison。
At the moment of his acquittal a tragic remark is heard：
〃You discharge him to…day and in two weeks he will cut our throats！〃
Fear is evidently an adjunct of hatred。 The Jacobin rabble is vaguely
conscious of their inferior numbers； of their usurpation； of their
danger； which increases in proportion as Brunswick draws near。 They
feel that they live above a mine； and if the mine should explode！
Since they think that their adversaries are scoundrels they feel they
are capable of a dirty trick； of a plot； of a massacre。 As they
themselves have never behaved in any other way； they cannot conceive
anything else。 Through an inevitable inversion of thought； they impute
to others the murderous intentions obscurely wrought out in the dark
recesses of their own disturbed brains。 On the 27th of August；
after the funeral procession gotten up by Sergent expressly to excite
popular resentment； their suspicions； at once specific and guided；
begin to take the form of certainty。 Ten 〃commemorative〃 banners；＇14＇
each borne by a volunteer on horseback； have paraded before all eyes
the long list of massacres 〃by the court and its agents〃：
1。 the massacre at Nancy；
2。 the massacre at N？mes；
3。 the massacre at Montauban；
4。 the massacre at Avignon；
5。 the massacre at La Chapelle；
6。 the massacre at Carpentras；
7。 the massacre of the Champ de Mars； etc。
Faced with such displays； doubts and misgivings are out of the
question。 To the women in the galleries； to the frequenters of the
clubs； and to pikemen in the suburbs it is from now beyond any doubt
proved that the aristocrats are habitual killers。
And on the other side there is another sign equally alarming 〃This
lugubrious ceremony； which ought to inspire by turns both reflection
and indignation； 。 。 。 did not general