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expression which describes the situation：
〃The deputies of the primary assemblies；〃 he says； 〃have just begun to
practice among us the initiative of terror。〃
He moreover reduces the absurd notions of the fanatics to a practical
measure： 〃A mobilization en masse； yes； but with order〃 by at once
calling out the first class of conscript； all men from eighteen to
twenty…five years of age； the arrest of all 'suspects'； yes； but not
to lead them against the enemy； 〃they would be more dangerous than
useful in our armies； let us shut them up； they will be our hostages。〃
He also proposes employment for the delegates who are only in the
way in Paris and might be useful in the provinces。 Let us make of
them 〃various kinds of representatives charged with animating
citizens。 。 。 Let them； along with all good citizens and the
constituted authorities； take charge of the inventories of grain and
arms； and make requisitions for men； and let the Committee of Public
Safety direct this sublime movement。 。 。 。 All will swear that； on
returning to their homes； they will give this impulse their fellow
citizens。〃 Universal applause； the delegates exclaim in one voice； 〃We
swear！〃 Everybody springs to his feet； the men in the tribunes wave
their hats and likewise should the same oath。 The scheme is
successful； a semblance of popular will has authorized the staff of
officials； the policy； the principles and the very name of Terror。 As
to the instruments for the operation they are all there ready to be
back into action。 The delegates； of whose demands and interference
the 〃Mountain〃 is still in dread； are sent back to their departmental
holes； where they shall serve as agents and missionaries。＇46＇ There is
no further mention of putting the Constitution into operation； this
was simply a bait； a decoy； contrived for fishing in turbid waters：
the fishing ended； the Constitution is now placed in a conspicuous
place in the hall； in a small monument for which David furnished the
design。＇47＇ The Convention； now； says Danton； 〃will rise to a sense
of its dignity； for it is now invested with the full power of the
nation。〃 In other words； artifice completes what violence has begun。
Through the outrages committed in May and June； the Convention had
lost its legitimacy； through the maneuvers of July and August it
recovered the semblance of it。 The Montagnards still hold their slave
by his lash； but they have restored his prestige so as to make the
most of him to their own profit。
VII。
Effect of this maneuver。 Extent and Manifesto of the departmental
insurrection。 Its fundamental weakness。 The mass of the
population inert and distrustful。 The small number of Girondists。
Their lukewarm adherents。 Scruples of fugitive deputies and
insurgent administrators。 They form no central government。
They leave military authority in the hands of the Convention。
Fatal progress of their concessions。 Withdrawal of the departments
one by one。 Retraction of the compromised authorities。 Effect
of administrative habits。 Failings and illusions of the Moderates。
Opposite character of the Jacobins。
With the same blow； and amongst the same playacting； they have nearly
disarmed their adversaries。 On learning the events of May 31 and
June 2； a loud cry of indignation arose among republicans of the
cultivated class in this generation； who； educated by the
philosophers； sincerely believed in the rights of man。＇48＇ Sixty…nine
department administrations had protested；＇49＇ and； in almost all the
towns of the west； the south； the east and the center of France； at
Caen； Alen？on； Evreux； Rennes； Brest； Lorient； Nantes and Limoges； at
Bordeaux； Toulouse； Montpellier； N？mes and Marseilles； at Grenoble；
Lyons； Clermont； Lons…le…Saunier； Besan？on； Macon and Dijon；＇50＇ the
citizens； assembled in their sections； had provoked； or maintained by
cheering them on； the acts of their administrators。 Rulers and
citizens； all declared that； the Convention not being free； its
decrees after the 31st of May； no longer had the force of law； that
the troops of the departments should march on Paris to deliver that
city from its oppressors； and that their substitutes should be called
out and assemble at Bourges。 In many places words were converted into
acts。 Already before the end of May； Marseilles and Lyons had taken
up arms and checkmated their local Jacobins。 After the 2nd of June；
Normandy； Brittany； Gard； Jura； Toulouse and Bordeaux； had also raised
troops。 At Marseilles； Bordeaux and Caen representatives on mission；
arrested or under guard； were retained as hostages。＇51＇ At Nantes； the
national Guard and popular magistrates who； a week before； had so
bravely repulsed the great Vendéan army； dared to more than this； they
limited the powers of the Convention and condemned all meddling：
according to them； the sending of representatives on mission was 〃an
usurpation； an attack on national sovereignty；〃 representatives had
been elected
〃to make and not to execute laws； to prepare a constitution and
regulate all public powers； and not to confound these together and
exercise them all at once； to protect and maintain intermediary powers
which the people have delegated； and not to encroach upon and
annihilate them。〃＇52＇
With still greater boldness； Montpellier enjoined all representatives
everywhere to meet at the headquarters of their respective
departments； and await the verdict of a national jury。 In short； in
accordance with the very democratic creed； 〃nothing was visible amid
the ruins of the Convention；〃 mutilated and degraded； but interloping
〃attorneys。〃 〃The people's workmen〃 are summoned 〃to return to
obedience and do justice to the reproaches addressed to them by their
legitimate master；〃＇53＇ the nation canceled the pay of its clerks at
the capital； withdrew the mandate they had misused； and declared them
usurpers if they persisted in not yielding up their borrowed
sovereignty 〃to its inalienable sovereignty。〃 To this stroke； which
strikes deep； the 〃Mountain〃 replies by a similar stroke； it also
renders homage to principles and falls back on the popular will。
Through the sudden manufacture of an ultra…democratic constitution；
through a convocation of the primary assemblies； and a ratification of
its work by the people in these assemblies； through the summoning of
delegates to Paris； through the assent of these converted； fascinated；
or constrained delegates； it exonerates and justifies itself； and thus
deprives the Girondins of the grievances to which they had given
currency； of the axioms they had displayed on their standards； and of
the popularity they thought they had acquired。＇54＇ Henceforth； the
ground their opponents had built on sinks under their feet； the
materials collected by them disintegrate in their hands； their league
dissolves before it is completed； and the incurable weakness of the
party appears