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Chatelet； Brochet and Lerry； when they met Robespierre； returning to
the National Convention arm…in…arm with Barère。 Fouquier adds； that
they were treated as aristocrats and anti…revolutionaries； and
threatened with death if they refused to remain on their posts。〃
Analogous declarations by Pigeot； Ganne； Girard； Dupley； Foucault；
Nollin and Madre。 〃Sellier adds； that the tribunal having
remonstrated against the law of Prairial 22； he was threatened with
arrest by Dumas。 Had we resigned； he says； Dumas would have
guillotined us。
＇124＇ Moniteur； XXIV。； 12。 （Session of Vent？se 29； year III。； speech
by Baileul）。 〃Terror subdued all minds； suppressed all emotions； it
was the force of the government； while such was this government that
the numerous inhabitants of a vast territory seemed to have lost the
qualities which distinguish man from a domestic animal。 They seemed
even to have no life except what the government accorded to them。
Human personality no longer existed； each individual was simply a
machine； going； coming； thinking or not thinking as he was impelled or
stimulated by tyranny。〃
＇125＇ Decree of Frimaire 14； year II。； Dec。 4； 1793。
＇126＇ Moniteur； XVII。； 473； 474； 478。 （Speech by Billaud…Varennes）。
〃The sword of Damocles must henceforth be brandished over the entire
surface。〃 This expression of Billaud sums up the spirit of every new
institution。
＇127＇ Moniteur； XVIII。； 275。 （Session of Oct。 26。 1793； speech by
Barère。） 〃This is the most revolutionary step you can take。〃
（Applause。）
＇128＇ Ibid。； 520。 （Report of Barère and decree in conformity）。 〃The
representatives sent on mission are required to conform strictly to
the acts of the Committee of Public Safety。 Generals and other agents
of the executive power will； under no pretext； obey any special order；
that they may refuse to carry out the said acts。〃 … Moniteur； XVIII。；
291。 （Report by Barère； Oct。 29； 1793。） At this date one hundred and
forty representatives are on mission。
＇129＇ Archives Nationales； AF。 II。； 22。 （Papers of the 'Committee of
Public Safety。 Note on the results of the revolutionary government
without either date or signature。） 〃The law of Frimaire 14 created two
centers of influence from which action spread； in the sense of the
Committee； and which affected the authorities。 These two pivots of
revolutionary rule outside the Committee were the representatives of
the people on missions and the national agents controlling the
district committees。 The word revolutionary government alone
exercised an incalculable magical influence。〃 … Mallet…Dupan；
〃Mémoires；〃 II。； p。 2； and following pages。
BOOK SECOND。 THE JACOBIN PROGRAM。
CHAPTER I。
I。 The Doctrine。
Program of the Jacobin party。 Abstract principle and spontaneous
development of the theory。
Nothing is more dangerous than a general idea in narrow and empty
minds： as they are empty； it finds no knowledge there to interfere
with it； as they are narrow it is not long before it occupies the
place entirely。 Henceforth they no longer belong to themselves but
are mastered by it； it works in them and through them； the man； in the
true sense of the word； being possessed。 Something which is not
himself； a monstrous parasite； a foreign and disproportionate
conception； lives within him； developing and giving birth to the evil
purposes with which it is pregnant。 He did not foresee that he would
have them； he did not know what his dogma contained； what venomous and
murderous consequences were to issue from it。 They issue from it
fatally； each in its turn； and under the pressure of circumstances； at
first anarchical consequences and now despotic consequences。 Having
obtained power； the Jacobin brings his fixed idea along with him；
whether at the head of the government or in opposition to it； this
idea is fruitful； and the all…powerful dogma projects over a new
domain the innumerable links of its endless chain。
II。 A Communist State。。
The Jacobin concept of Society。 The Contrat…Social。 Total
surrender of the Individual to the Community。 Everything belongs
to the State。 Confiscations and Sequestrations。 Pre…emption
and requisition and requisition of produce and merchandise。
Individuals belong to the State。 Drafts of persons for Military
service。 Drafts of persons for the Civil service。 The State
philanthropist； educator； theologian； moralist； censor and director of
ideas and intimate feelings。
Let us trace this inward development and go back； along with the
Jacobin； to first principles； to the original pact； to the first
organization of society。 There is but one just and sound society； the
one founded on the 〃contrat…social；〃 and
〃the clauses of this contract； fully understood； reduce themselves to
one； the total transfer of each individual； with all his rights； to
the community； 。 。 。 。 each surrendering himself up absolutely；
just as he actually stands； he and all his forces； of which the
property he possesses forms a part。〃＇1＇
There must be no exception or reservation。 Nothing of what he
previously was； or had； now belongs to him in his own right；
henceforth； what he is； or has； devolves upon him only through
delegation。 His property and his person now form a portion of the
commonwealth。 If he is in possession of these； his ownership is at
second hand； if he derives any benefit there from； it is as a
concession。 He is their depository； trustee and administrator； and
nothing more。＇2＇ In other words； with respect to these he is simply a
managing director； that is to say a functionary like others； with a
precarious appointment and always revocable by the State which has
appointed him。
〃As nature gives to every man absolute power over the members of his
body the social pact gives the social body absolute power over all its
members。〃
The State； as omnipotent sovereign and universal proprietor； exercises
at discretion； its boundless rights over persons and things；
consequently we； its representatives； take all things and persons into
our hands； as they belong to it； so do they belong to us。
We have confiscated the possessions of the clergy； amounting to about
four billion livres； we confiscate the property of the emigrés；
amounting to three billion livres；＇3＇ we confiscate the property of
the guillotined and deported： all this amounts to some hundreds of
millions； later on； the count will be made； because the list remains
open and is being daily added to。 We will sequestrate the property of
〃suspects；〃 which gives us the right to use it： here are many hundred
millions more； after the war and the banishment of 〃suspects；〃 we
shall seize the property along with its income： here； again； are
billions of capital。＇4＇ Meanwhile we take the property of hospitals
and of other benevolent institutions； about eight hundred million
livres ； we take the propert