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proposition and deduce its consequences； but who； for lack of special
preparation for it； and confined to the narrow circle of local
affairs； are incapable of forming accurate conceptions of a vast；
complex social organization； and of the conditions which enable it to
subsist。 Their talent lies in making a speech； in dashing off an
editorial； in composing a pamphlet； and in drawing up reports in more
or less pompous and dogmatic style； the genre admitted； a few of them
who are gifted become eloquent； but that is all。 Among those are the
lawyers； notaries； bailiffs and former petty provincial judges and
attorneys who furnish the leading actors and two…thirds of the members
of the Legislative Assembly and of the Convention： There are surgeons
and doctors in small towns； like Bo； Levasseur； and Baudot； second and
third…rate literary characters； like Barrère； Louvet； Garat； Manuel；
and Ronsin； college professors like Louchet and Romme； schoolmasters
like Leonard Bourdon； journalists like Brissot； Desmoulins and Freron；
actors like Collot d'Herbois； artists like Sergent； Oratoriens＇3＇ like
Fouché； capuchins like Chabot； more or less secularized priests like
Lebon； Chasles； Lakanal； and Grégoire； students scarcely out of school
like St。 Just； Monet of Strasbourg； Rousseline of St。 Albin； and
Julien of the Dr？me in short； the poorly sown and badly cultivated
minds； and on which the theory had only to fall to smother the good
grain and thrive like a nettle。 Add to these charlatans and others who
live by their wits； the visionary and morbid of all sorts； from
Fanchet and Klootz to Chalier or Marat； the whole of that needy；
chattering； irresponsible crowd； ever swarming about large cities
ventilating its shallow conceits and abortive pretensions。 Farther in
the background appear those whose scanty education qualifies them to
half understand an abstract principle and imperfectly deduce its
consequences； but whose roughly…polished instinct atones for the
feebleness of a coarse argumentation。 Through cupidity； envy and
rancor； they divine a rich pasture…ground behind the theory； and
Jacobin dogmas become dearer to them； because the imagination sees
untold treasures beyond the mists in which they are shrouded。 They can
listen to a club harangue without falling asleep； applaud its tirades
in the rights place； offer a resolution in a public garden； shout in
the tribunes； pen affidavits for arrests； compose orders…of…the…day
for the national guard； and lend their lungs； arms； and sabers to
whoever bids for them。 But here their capacity ends。 In this group
merchants' and notaries' clerks abound； like Hébert and Henriot；
Vincent and Chaumette； butchers like Legendre； postmasters like
Drouet； boss…joiners like Duplay； school…teachers like that Buchot who
becomes a minister； and many others of the same sort； accustomed to
jotting down ideas； with vague notions of orthography and who are apt
in speech…making；＇4＇ foremen； sub…officers； former begging friars；
peddlers； tavern…keepers； retailers； market…porters； and city…
journeymen from Gouchon； the orator of the faubourg St。 Antoine； down
to Simon； the cobbler of the Temple； from Trinchard； the juryman of
the Revolutionary Tribunal； down to grocers； tailors； shoemakers；
tapster； waiters； barbers； and other shopkeepers or artisans who do
their work at home； and who are yet to do the work of the September
massacres。 Add to these the foul remnants of every popular
insurrection and dictatorship； beasts of prey like Jourdain of
Avignon； and Fournier the American； women like Théroigne； Rose
Lacombe； and the tricoteuses of the Convention who have unsexed
themselves； the amnestied bandits and other gallows birds who； for
lack of a police； have a wide range； street…rollers and vagabonds；
rebels against labor and discipline； the whole of that class in the
center of civilization which preserves the instincts of savages； and
asserts the sovereignty of the people to glut a natural appetite for
license； laziness； and ferocity。 Thus is the party recruited
through an enlisting process that gleans its subjects from every
station in life； but which reaps them down in great swaths； and
gathers them together in the two groups to which dogmatism and
presumption naturally belong。 Here； education has brought man to the
threshold； even to the heart of general ideas； consequently； he feels
hampered within the narrow bounds of his profession or occupation； and
aspires to something beyond。 But as his education has remained
superficial or rudimentary； consequently； outside of his narrow circle
he feels out of his place。 He has a perception or obtains a glimpse of
political ideas and； therefore； assumes that he has capacity。 But his
perception is confided to a formula； and he sees them dimly through a
cloud； hence his incapacity； and the reason why his mental lacunae as
well as his attainments both contribute to make him a Jacobin。
II。
Spontaneous associations after July 14； 1789。 How these dissolve。
… Withdrawal of people of sense and occupation。 Number of those
absent at elections。 Birth and multiplication of Jacobin societies。
Their influence over their adherents Their maneuvers and
despotism。
Men thus disposed cannot fail to draw near each other； to understand
each other； and combine together； for； in the principle of popular
sovereignty； they have a common dogma； and； in the conquest of
political supremacy； a common aim。 Through a common aim they form a
faction； and through a common dogma they constitute a sect； the league
between them being more easily effected because they are a faction and
sect at the same time。
At first their association is not distinguishable in the multitude of
other associations。 Political societies spring up on all sides after
the taking of the Bastille。 Some kind of organization had to be
substituted for the deposed or tottering government； in order to
provide for urgent public needs； to secure protection against
ruffians； to obtain supplies of provisions； and to guard against the
probably machinations of the court。 Committees installed themselves in
the town halls； while volunteers formed bodies of militia： hundreds of
local governments； almost independent； arose in the place of the
central government； almost destroyed。＇5＇ For six months everybody
attended to matters of common interest； each individual getting to be
a public personage and bearing his quota of the government load： a
heavy load at all times； but heavier in times of anarchy； this； at
least； is the opinion of the majority but not of all of them。
Consequently； a division arises amongst those who had assumed this
load； and two groups are formed； one huge； inert and disintegrating；
and the other small； compact and energetic； each taking one of two
ways which diverge from each other； and which keep on diverging more
and more。
On one hand are the ordinary； sensible people； those who are busy； and
who are； to some extent； not over…conscientious； and not over…
conceited。 The power is in their hands because they find it prostrate；
lying abandoned in the street； they hold it provisionally only； for
they knew beforehand； or soon discover； that they are not qualified
for the post； it being one of those which； to be properly filled；
needs some preparation and fitness for it。 A man does not become
legislator or administrator in one day； any more than he suddenly
becomes a physician or surgeon。 If an accident obliges me to act in
the latter capacity； I yield； but against my will； and I do no more
than is necessary to save my patients from hurting themselves； My fear
of their dying under the operation is very great； and； as soon as some
other person can be found to take my place； I go home。＇6＇ I should
be glad； like everybody else； to have my vote in the selection of this
person； and； among the candidates。 I should designate； to the best of
my ability； one who seemed to me the ablest and most conscientious。
Once selected； however； and installed； I should not attempt to dictate
to him； his cabinet is private； and I have no right to run there
constantly and cross…question him； as if he were a child or under
suspicion。 It does not become me to tell him what to do； he probably
knows more about the case than I do； in any event； to keep a steady
hand； he must not be threatened； and； to keep a clear head； he must
not be disturbed。 Nor must I be disturbed； my office and books； my
shop； my customers must be attended to as well。 Everybody has to mind
his own business； and whoever would attend to his own and another's
too； spoils both。 This way of thinking prevails with most healthy
minds towards the beginning of the year 1790； all whose heads are not
turned by insane ambition and the mania for theorizing； especially
after six months of practical experience and knowing the dangers；
miscalculation； and vexations to which one is