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consent； to this arrangement。＇13＇ … In the first place； they relied on
the majority of electors abstaining from a response。 Experience
indeed； had shown that； for a long time； the masses were disgusted
with the plebiscite farces； moreover； terror has stifled in
individuals all sentiment of a common interest；＇14＇ each cares for
himself alone。 Since Thermidor； electors and mayors in the boroughs
and in the rural districts are found with a good deal of difficulty；
even electors of the second degree； people saw that it was useless and
even dangerous to perform the duties of a citizen； they would have
nothing to do with public functions。 A foreigner writes；＇15＇ after
traversing France from Bourg…en…Bresse to Paris： 〃Ninety times out of
a hundred that I have asked the question；
'Citizen； what was done in the primary meeting of your canton？'
the answer would be：
'Me； citizen； what have I to do with it？ I' faith； they had hard work
to agree！'
Or；
'What's the use？ There were not many there！ Honest folks stayed at
home。'〃
In fact； out of at least six million electors convoked； five millions
do not come near the ballot…box； there being no embarrassment in this
matter as they do not vote。＇16＇
In the second place； precautions have been taken to prevent those who
come to vote on the Constitution from entertaining the idea of voting
on the decrees。 No article of the Constitution； nor in the decrees；
calls upon them to do so； slight inducement is held out to them to
come； in a vague style； through an oratorical interrogation； or in a
tardy address。＇17＇ … In addition to this； on the printed blanks sent
to them from Paris； they find but three columns； one for the number of
votes accepting the Constitution； another for the number rejecting it；
and the third for 〃written observations〃 in case there are any。 There
are no special columns for marking the number of votes accepting or
rejecting the decrees。 Thereupon； many illiterate or ill…informed
electors might think that they were convoked to vote solely on the
Constitution and not at all on the decrees； which is just what
happened； and especially in the remote departments； and in the rural
assemblies。 Moreover； many assemblies； nearer Paris and in the towns；
comprehend that if the Convention consults them it is only for form's
sake； to give a negative answer is useless and perilous； it is better
to keep silent； as soon as the decrees are mentioned they very
prudently 〃unanimously〃 demand the order of the day。＇18＇ Hence out of
five primary assemblies on the average which vote for or against the
Constitution； there is only one which votes for or against the
decrees。＇19＇ … Such is the mode of getting at the voice of the
nation。 Apparently； it is induced to speak； in practice； its silence
is ensured。
The last and most ingenious expedient of all： when a primary assembly
speaks too loudly it is taken for granted that it kept silent。 In
Paris； where the electors are more clear sighted and more decided than
in the provinces； in eighteen well…known departments； and probably in
many others； the electors who voted on the decrees almost all voted
against them； in many cases； even their minutes state that the
negative vote was 〃unanimous；〃 but the minutes fail to state the exact
number of the noes。 On this； in the total of noes hostile to the
decrees； these noes are not counted。＇20＇ Through this trickery； the
Convention； in Paris alone； reduced the number of negatives by 50；000
and the same in the provinces； after the fashion of a dishonest
steward who； obliged to hand in an account； falsifies the figures by
substituting subtractions for additions。…Such is the way； in relation
to the decrees； in which； out of the 300；000 votes which it accepts；
it is able to announce 200；000 yeas and 100；000 noes and thus proclaim
that its master； the sovereign people； after giving it a general
acquittance； a discharge in full； invests it anew with its confidence
and expressly continues its mandate。
It now remains to keep by force this power usurped by fraud。 …
Immediately after the suppression of the Jacobin riots the Convention；
menaced on the right； turns over to the left； it requires allies；
persons of executive ability。 It takes them wherever it can find
them； from the faction which decimated it before Thermidor and which；
since Thermidor； it decimates。 Consequently； its executive committee
suspends all proceedings begun against the principal 〃Montagnards ；〃 a
number of terrorists； former presidents of the sections； 〃the matadors
of the quarter；〃 arrested after Prairial 1； are set free at the end of
a month。 They have good arms； are accustomed to vigorous striking
without giving warning； especially when honest folks are to be knocked
down or ripped open。 The stronger public opinion is against the
government the more does the government rely on men with bludgeons and
pikes； on the strikers 〃 turned out of the primary assemblies；〃 on the
heroes of September 2 and May 31； dangerous nomads； inmates of
Bicêtre； paid assassins out of employment； and roughs of the Quinze…
Vingts and faubourg Saint… Antoine。＇21＇ Finally on the 11th of
Vendémiaire； it gathers together fifteen or eighteen hundred of them
and arms them in battalions。＇22＇ Such brigands are they； that Menon；
〃major…general of the army of the interior and commandant of the armed
force of Paris；〃 comes the next day with several of his staff…officers
and tells the Committee of Five that he 〃will not have such bandits in
his army nor under his orders〃。 〃I will not march with a lot of
rascals and assassins organized in battalions 〃under the name of
〃patriots of '89。〃 Indeed； the true patriots of '89 are on the other
side； the constitutionalists of 1791； sincere liberals； 〃forty
thousand proprietors and merchants；〃 the elite and mass of the
Parisian population；＇23＇ 〃the majority of men really interested in
public matters；〃 and at this moment； the common welfare is all that
concerns them。 Republic or royalty is merely a secondary thought； an
idea in the back…ground； nobody dreams of restoring the ancient
régime； but very few are preoccupied with the restoration of a limited
monarchy。＇24＇ 〃On asking those most in earnest what government they
would like in place of the Convention； they reply 'We want that no
longer； we want nothing belonging to it； we want the Republic and
honest people for our rulers。'〃＇25＇ … That is all； their upraisal is
not a political insurrection against the form of the government； but a
moral insurrection against the criminals in office。 Hence； on seeing
the Convention arm their old executioners； 〃the tigers〃 of the Reign
of Terror； admitted malefactors； against them； they cannot contain
themselves。＇26＇ 〃That day；〃 says a foreigner； who visited many public
places in Paris； 〃I saw everywhere the deepest despair； the greatest
expression of rage and fury。 。 。 。 Wit