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falsification of public contracts； and as needy as he is vicious；
rambles about Paris airing his disappointed ambitions and empty
pockets along with the swaggering crew who； if not striving to reach
the throne by a new massacre；＇5＇ tramp through the streets slipshod；
for lack of money 〃to redeem a pair of boots at the shoemakers；〃 or to
sell some snuff…box their last resource； for a morning dram。＇6＇
In this class we see the governing rabble fully and distinctly。
Separated from its forced adherents and the official robots who serve
it as they would any other power； it stands out pure and unalloyed by
any neutral influx； we recognize here the permanent residue； the deep；
settled slime of the social sewer。 It is to this sink of vice and
ignorance that the revolutionary government betakes itself for its
staff…officers and its administrative bodies。
Nowhere else could they be found。 For the daily task imposed upon
them； and which must be done by them； is robbery and murder； excepting
the pure fanatics； who are few in number； only brutes and blackguards
have the aptitudes and tastes for such business。 In Paris； as in the
provinces； it is from the clubs or popular associations in which they
congregate； that they are sought for。 … Each section of Paris
contains one of these clubs； in all forty…eight； rallied around the
central club in the Rue St。 Honoré； forty…eight district alliances of
professional rioters and brawlers； the rebels and blackguards of the
social army； all the men and women incapable of devoting themselves to
a regular life and useful labor；＇7＇ especially those who； on the 31st
of May and 2nd of June； had aided the Paris Commune and the 〃Mountain〃
in violating the Convention。 They recognize each other by this sign
that； 〃each would be hung in case of a counter…revolution；〃＇8＇ laying
it down 〃as an incontestable fact that； should a single aristocrat be
spared； all of them would mount the scaffold。〃＇9＇ They are naturally
wary and they stick together： in their clique 〃everything is done on
the basis of good fellowship；〃＇10＇ no one is admitted except on the
condition of having proved his qualifications 〃on the 10th of August
and 31st of May。〃＇11＇ And； as they have made their way into the
Commune and into the revolutionary committees behind victorious
leaders； they are able； through the certificates of civism which these
arbitrarily grant or refuse； to exclude； not only from political life
but； again； from civil life； whoever is not of their party。
〃See；〃 writes one of Danton's correspondents；＇12＇ 〃the sort of persons
who easily obtain these certificates； … the Ronsins； the Jourdans； the
Maillards； the Vincents； all bankrupts； keepers of gambling…hells and
cut…throats。 Ask these individuals whether they have paid the
patriotic contribution； whether they regularly pay the usual taxes；
whether they give to the poor of their sections； to the volunteer
soldiers； etc。； whether they mount guard or see it regularly done；
whether they have made a loyal declaration for the forced loan。 You
will find that they have not。 。 。 。 The Commune issues
certificates of civism to its satellites and refuses them to the best
citizens。〃
The monopoly is obvious； they make no attempt to conceal it； six weeks
later；＇13＇ it becomes official： several revolutionary committees
decide not to grant certificates of civism to citizens who are not
members of a popular club。〃 And strict exclusion goes on increasing
from month to month。 Old certificates are canceled and new ones
imposed； which new certificates have new formalities added to them； a
larger number of endorsers being required and certain kinds of
guarantees being rejected； there is greater strictness in relation to
the requisite securities and qualifications； the candidate is put off
until fuller information can be obtained about him； he is rejected at
the slightest suspicion：＇14＇ he is only too fortunate if he is
tolerated in the Republic as a passive subject； if he is content to be
taxed and taxed when they please； and if he is not sent to join the
〃suspects〃 in prison； whoever does not belong to the band does not
belong to the community。
Amongst themselves and in their popular club it is worse； for
〃the eagerness to get any office leads to every one denouncing each
other； 〃＇15＇
consequently； at the Jacobin club in the rue St。 Honoré； and in the
branch clubs of the quarter； there is constant purging； and always in
the same sense； until the faction is cleansed of all honest or
passable alloy and only a minority remains； which has its own way at
every balloting。 One of them announces that； in his club； eighty
doubtful members have already been gotten rid of； another that； in his
club； one hundred are going to be excluded。＇16＇ On Ventose 23； in the
〃Bon…Consei1〃 club； most of the members examined are rejected： 〃they
are so strict that a man who cannot show that he acted energetically
in critical times； cannot form part of the assembly； he is set aside
for a mere trifle。〃 On Vent？se 13； in the same club； 〃out of twenty…
six examined； seven only are admitted； one citizen； a tobacco dealer；
aged sixty…eight； who has always performed his duty； is rejected for
having called the president Monsieur； and for having spoken in the
tribune bareheaded； two members； after this； insisted on his being a
Moderate； which is enough to keep him out。〃 Those who remain； consist
of the most restless and most loquacious； the most eager for office；
the self…mutilated club being thus reduced to a nucleus of charlatans
and scoundrels。
To these spontaneous eliminations through which the club deteriorates；
add the constant pressure through which the Committee of Public Safety
frightens and degrades it。 The lower the revolutionary government
sinks； and the more it concentrates its power； the more servile and
sanguinary do its agents and employees become。 It strikes right and
left as a warning； it imprisons or decapitates the turbulent among its
own clients； the secondary demagogues who are impatient at not being
principal demagogues； the bold who think of striking a fresh blow in
the streets； Jacques Roux； Vincent； Momoro； Hébert； leaders of the
Cordeliers club and of the Commune。 After these； the indulgent who
are disposed to exercise some discernment or moderation in terrorism；
Camille Desmoulins； Danton and their adherents； and lastly； many
others who are more or less doubtful； compromised or compromising；
wearied or eccentric； from Maillard to Chaumette； from Antonelle to
Chabot； from Westermann to Clootz。 Each of the proscribed has a gang
of followers； and suddenly the whole gang are obliged to do a volte…
face； those who were able to show initiative； grovel； while those who
could show mercy； become hardened。 Henceforth； amongst the subaltern
Jacobins； the roots of independence； humanity； and loyalty； hard to
extirpate even in an ignoble and cruel nature； are