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Revolutionary Tribunal； less than ten votes elect their
substitutes；＇4＇ not one vote is cast for the adoption of the decree
indicting the deputy； Dulaure；＇5＇ 〃no member rises for or against it；
there is no vote；〃 the president； nevertheless； pronounces the act
passed and the Marais lets things take their course。〃 … 〃Marais
frogs〃＇6＇ is the appellation bestowed on them before the 2nd of June；
when； amongst the dregs of the 〃Center；〃 they 〃broke〃 with the
〃Mountain；〃 now； they still number four hundred and fifty； three times
as many as the 〃 Montagnards； 〃but they purposely keep quiet； their
old name 〃renders them； so to say； soft； their ears ring with eternal
menaces； their hearts shrivel up with terror；＇7＇ while their tongues；
paralyzed by habitual silence； remain as if glued to the roofs of
their mouths。 In vain do they keep in the back…ground； consent to
everything； ask nothing for themselves but personal safety； and
surrender all else； their votes； their wills and their consciences；
they feel that their life hangs by a thread。 The greatest mute among
them all； Siéyès； denounced in the Jacobin Club； barely escapes； and
through the protection of his shoemaker； who rises and exclaims ：
〃That Siéyès ！ I know him。 He don't meddle with politics。 He does
nothing but read his book。 I make his shoes and will answer for
him。〃＇8＇
Of course； previous to the 9th of Thermidor； none of them open their
mouths； it is only the 〃Montagnards〃 who make speeches； and on the
countersign being given。 If Legendre； the admirer； disciple and
confidential friend of Danton； dares at one time interfere in relation
to the decree which sends his friend to the scaffold； asking that he
may first be heard； it is only to retract immediately； that very
evening； at the Jacobin club； for greater security； 〃he wallows in the
mud；〃＇9＇ he declares 〃that he submits to the judgment of the
revolutionary Tribunal；〃 and swears to denounce 〃whoever shall oppose
any obstacle to the execution of the decree。〃＇10＇ Has not Robespierre
taught him a lesson； and in his most pedantic manner？ What is more
beautiful； says the great moralist； more sublime； than an Assembly
which purges itself？＇11＇ … Thus； not only is the net which has already
dragged out so many palpitating victims still intact； but it is
enlarged and set again； only； the fish are now caught on the 〃Left〃 as
well as on the 〃Right；〃 and preferably on the topmost benches of the
〃Mountain。〃＇12＇ And better still； through the law of Prairial 22； its
meshes are reduced in size and its width increased； with such
admirable contraption； the fishpond could not fail to be exhausted。 A
little before the 9th of Thermidor； David； who was one of
Robespierre's devoted adherents； himself exclaimed： 〃Will twenty of us
be left on the Mountain？〃 About the same time； Legendic； Thuriot；
Léonard Bourdon； Tallien； Bourdon de l'Oise； and others； each has a
spy all day long at his heels。 There are thirty deputies to be
proscribed and their names are whispered about； whereupon； sixty stay
out all night； convinced that they will be seized the next morning
before they can get up。＇13＇
Subject to such a system； prolonged for so many months； people sink
down and become discouraged。 〃Everybody made themselves small so as
to pass beneath the popular yoke。＇14＇ Everybody became one of the low
class。 。 。 。 Clothes； manners； refinement； cleanliness； the
conveniences of life； civility and politeness were all renounced。〃 …
People wear their clothes indecently and curse and swear； they try to
resemble the sans…culottes Montagnards 〃who are profane and dress
themselves like so many dock…loafers；〃＇15＇ at Armonville； the carder；
who presides （at a meeting） wears a woolen cap； and similarly at
Cusset； a gauze…workman； who is always drunk。 Only Robespierre dares
appear in neat attire； among the others； who do not have his
influence； among the demi…suspects with a pot…belly； such a residue of
the ancient régime might become dangerous； they do well not to attract
the attention of the foul…mouthed spy who cannot spell；＇16＇ especially
is it important at a meeting to be one of the crowd and remain
unnoticed by the paid claqueurs； drunken swaggerers and 〃fat
petticoats〃 of the tribunes。 It is even essential to shout in harmony
with them and join in their bar…room dances。 The deputations of the
popular clubs come for fourteen months to the bar of the house and
recite their common…place or bombastic tirades； and the Convention is
forced to applaud them。 For nine months；＇17＇ street ballad…singers
and coffee…house ranters attend in full session and sing the rhymes of
the day； while the Convention is obliged to join in the chorus。 For
six weeks；＇18＇ the profaners of churches come to the hall and display
their dance…house buffooneries； and the Convention has not only to put
up with these； but also to take part in them。 … Never； even in
imperial Rome； under Nero and Heliogabalus； did a senate descend so
low。
II。
How the parades are carried out。 … Its slavery and servility … Its
participation in crime。
Observe one of their parades； that of Brumaire 20th； 22nd or 30th；
which masquerade often occurs several times a week and is always the
same； with scarcely any variation。 … Male and female wretches march
in procession to the doors of the deputies' hall； still 〃drunk with
the wine imbibed from chalices； after eating mackerel broiled in
patens；〃 besides refreshing themselves on the way。 〃Mounted astride
of asses which they have rigged out in chasuble and which they guide
with a stole；〃 they halt at each low smoking…den； holding a drinking
cup in their hand； the bartender； with a mug in his hand； fills it；
and； at each station； they toss off their bumpers； one after the
other； in imitation of the Mass； and which they repeat in the street
in their own fashion。 … On finishing this； they don copes； chasubles
and dalmatica； and； in two long lines； file before the benches of the
Convention。 Some of them bear on hand…barrows or in baskets；
candelabra； chalices； gold and silver salvers； monstrances； and
reliquaries； others hold aloft banners； crosses and other
ecclesiastical spoils。 In the mean time 〃bands play the air of the
carmagnole and 'Malbrook。' 。 。 。 On the entry of the dais； they
strike up 'Ah！ le bel oiseau；'〃＇19＇ all at once the masqueraders throw
off their disguise； and； mitres； stoles； chasubles flung in the air；
〃disclose to view the defenders of the country in the national
uniform。〃 Peals of laughter； shouts and enthusiasm； while the
instrumental din becomes louder！ The procession； now in full blast；
demands the carmagnole； and the Convention consents； even some of the
deputies descend from their benches and cut the pigeon…wing with the
merry prostitutes。 … To wind up； the Convention decrees that it will
attend that evening the fête of Reason and； in fact； they go in a
body。 Behind an actress in short pett