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conduct； the surveillance of the constituted authorities will be
extended to you in the most energetic manner； the tribunals will show
you less leniency and the guillotine will insure prompt and imposing
justice。〃
Each； called by name； receives in turn the threatened admonition； and；
descending from the tribune amidst hues and cries； all sign the
procès…verbal。 But shame and guilt are often absent； and some of
them do not seem to be sufficiently penitent。 Consequently； at the
close of the ceremony； the National Agent calls the attention of the
assembly to 〃the impudence manifested by certain aristocrats； so
degraded that even national justice fails to make them blush；〃 and the
Revolutionary Committee； 〃considering the indifference and derisive
conduct of four women and three men； just manifested in this assembly；
considering the necessity of punishing an inveterate aristocracy which
seems to make sport of corrective acts that bear only （sic） on morals；
in a most exemplary manner； decides that the seven delinquents 〃shall
be put under arrest； and confined in the jail of Sainte…Marie。〃 The
three who have shown indifference； are to be confined three months；
the four who have shown derision； are to be confined until peace is
restored。 Besides this； the decree of the National Agent and the
minutes of the meeting are to be printed and six thousand impressions
struck off at the expense of the signers； 〃the richest and most
'suspect；' 〃 … a former treasurer of France； a notary； a grocer； the
wife of the former commandant of the gendarmerie； a widow and another
woman； … all； says the agent； 〃 of very solid wealth and aristocracy。〃
〃Bravo！〃 shouts the assembly； at this witticism； applause is given and
it sings 〃the national hymn。〃 It is nine o'clock in the evening。 This
public penitence lasts six hours and the Jacobins of Montargis retire；
proud of their work； having punished as a public affront； an old and
legal manifestation of respect for the public magistrate； having sent
either to the scaffold or to prison； and fined or disgraced the small
local élite； having degraded to the level of prostitutes and felons
under surveillance； reputable women and honorable men who are； by law；
most esteemed under a normal system of government and who； under the
revolutionary system are； by law； the least so。＇118＇
IX。 The Jacobin Citizen Robot。
Two characteristics of the upper class； wealth and education。 … Each
of these is criminal。 … Measures against rich and well…to…do people。
… Affected in a mass and by categories。 … Measures against cultivated
and polite people。 … Danger of culture and distinction。 …
Proscription of 〃honest folks。〃
Two advantages； fortune and education； each involving the other； cause
a man to be ranked in the upper class； hence； one or the other；
whether each by itself or both together； mark a man out for
spoliation； imprisonment and death。 … In vain may he have
demonstrated his Jacobinism； and Jacobinism of the ultra sort。
Hérault…Séchelles； who voted for murdering the King； who belongs to
the Committee of Public Safety； who； in the Upper…Rhine； has just
carried out the worst revolutionary ordinances；＇119＇ but who has the
misfortune to be rich and a man of the world； is led to the scaffold；
and those devoted to the guillotine readily explain his condemnation：
he is no patriot； … how could he be； enjoying an income of two hundred
thousand livres； and； moreover； is he not a general…advocate？＇120＇ One
of these offenses is sufficient。 … Alone and by itself； 〃opulence；〃
writes Saint…Just； 〃is a disgrace；〃 and； according to him； a man is
opulent 〃who supports fewer children than he has thousands of livres
income； in effect； among the persons confined as 〃rich and egoists〃 we
find； according to the very declaration of the Revolutionary
Committee； persons with incomes of only 4；000； 3；700； 1；500； and even
500 livres。＇121＇ Moreover； a fortune or a competence； inspires its
possessor with anti…revolutionary sentiments； consequently； he is for
the moment an obstruction； 〃You are rich；〃 says Cambon； making use of
a personification； 〃you cherish an opinion； which compels us to be on
the defensive； pay then； so as to indemnify us and be thankful for our
indulgence which； precautionary and until peace is declared； keeps you
under bolt and bar。〃＇122＇ Rich； anti…revolutionary； and vicious；〃
according to Robespierre；＇123＇ 〃these three traits depend on each
other； and； therefore； the possession of the superfluous is an
infallible sign of aristocracy； a visible mark of incivism〃 and； as
Fouché says； 〃a stamp of reprobation。〃 〃The superfluous is an evident
and unwarrantable violation of the people's rights； every man who has
more than his wants call for； cannot use； and therefore he must only
abuse。〃＇124＇ Whoever does not make over to the masses the excess of
what is strictly necessary。 。 。 。 places himself in the rank of
'suspects。' Rich egoists； you are the cause of our misfortunes！〃＇125＇
〃You dared to smile contemptuously on the appellation of sans…
culottes；＇126＇ you have enjoyed much more than your brethren alongside
of you dying with hunger； you are not fit to associate with them； and
since you have disdained to have them eat at your table； they cast you
out eternally from their bosom and condemn you； in turn； to wear the
shackles prepared for them by your indifference or your maneuvers。〃 In
other words； whoever has a good roof over his head； or wears good
clothes； man or woman； idler or industrious； noble or commoner； is
available for the prison or the guillotine； or； at the very least； he
is a taxable and workable serf at pleasure； his capital and
accumulations； if not spontaneously and immediately handed over； form
a criminal basis and proof of conviction。 … The orders of arrest are
generally issued against him on account of his wealth； in order to
drain a town of these offenders one by one； all are penned together
according to their resources； at Strasbourg；＇127＇ 193 persons are
taxed； each from 6；000 to 300；000 livres； in all 9 million livres；
payable within twenty…four hours； by the leading men of each
profession or trade； bankers； brokers； merchants； manufacturers；
professors； pastors； lawyers； physicians； surgeons； publishers；
printers； upholsterers； glass…dealers； rope…makers； master…masons；
coffee…house and tavern keepers。 And let there be no delay in
responding to these orders within the prescribed time！ Otherwise the
delinquents will be placed in the stocks； on the scaffold； face to
face with the guillotine。 〃One of the best citizens in the commune；
who had steadily manifested his attachment to the Revolution； being
unable to realize a sum of 250；000 livres in one day； was fastened in
the pillory。〃＇128＇ Sometimes the orders affected an entire class； not
alone nobles or priests； but all the members of any bourgeois
profession or even of any handicraft。 At Strasbourg； a little later；