按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
conformity with their principles。 The journals； deducing their
consequences； explain to the people the use they ought to make of
their reconquered sovereignty。＇6＇ 〃Under the present circumstances；
community of property is the law； everything belongs to everybody。〃
Besides； 〃an equalizing of fortunes must be brought about； a leveling；
which shall abolish the vicious principle of the domination of the
rich over the poor。〃 This reform is all the more pressing because 〃the
people； the real sovereign people； have nearly as many enemies as
there are proprietors； large merchants； financiers； and wealthy men。
In a time of revolution； we must regard all men who have more than
enough as the enemies； secret or avowed； of popular government。〃
Therefore； 〃let the people of each commune； before they quit their
homes〃 for the army； 〃put all those who are suspected of not loving
liberty in a secure place； and under the safe…keeping of the law； let
them be kept shut up until war is over； let them be guarded with
pikes；〃 and let each one of their guardians receive thirty sous per
day。
* As for the partisans of the fallen government； the members of the
Paris directory； 〃with Roederer and Blondel at their head；〃
* as for the general officers； 〃with Lafayette and d'Affry at their
head；〃
* as for 〃the critical deputies of the Constituent Assembly； with
Barnave and Lameth at their head；〃
* as for the Feuillant deputies of the Legislative Assembly； 〃with
Ramond and Jaucourt at their head；〃＇7＇
* as for 〃all those who consented to soil their hands with the profits
of the civil list；〃
* as for 〃the 40；000 hired assassins who were gathered at the palace
on the night of August 9…10；
they are all （say the Jacobins）furious monsters； who ought to be
strangled to the last one。 People！ you have risen to your feet； stand
firm until not one of these conspirators remains alive。 Your humanity
requires you for once to show yourselves inexorable。 Strike terror to
the wicked。 The proscriptions which we impose on you as a duty； are
the sacred wrath of your country。〃
There is no mistaking this； it is a tocsin sounding against all the
powers that be； against all social superiority； against priests and
nobles； proprietors； capitalists； the leaders of business and
industry； it is sounding； in short； against the whole élite of France；
whether of old or recent origin。 The Jacobins of Paris； by their
journals； their examples； their missionaries； give the signal； and in
the provinces their kindred spirits； imbued with the same principles；
only wait the summons to hurl themselves forward。
II。
In several departments it establishes itself in advance。 An instance
of this in the Var。
In many departments＇8＇ they have forestalled the summons。 In the Var；
for example； pillages and proscriptions have begun with the month of
May。 According to custom； they first seize upon the castles and the
monasteries； although these have become national property； at one time
alleging as a reason for this that the administration 〃is too slow in
carrying out sentence against the émigrés；〃 and again； that 〃the
chateau； standing on an eminence； weighs upon the inhabitants。〃＇9＇
There is scarcely a village in France that does not contain twoscore
wretches who are always ready to line their pockets； which is just the
number of thieves who thoroughly sacked the chateau of Montaroux；
carrying off 〃furniture； produce； clothing； even the jugs and bottles
in the cellar。〃 There are the same doings by the same band at the
chateau of Tournon； the chateau of Salerne is burned； that of Flagose
is pulled down； the canal of Cabris is destroyed； then the convent of
Montrieux； the chateaux of Grasse； of Canet； of Régusse； of Brovaz；
and many others； all devastated； and the devastations are made
〃daily。〃 It is impossible to suppress this country brigandage。 The
reigning dogma； weakening authority in the magistrates' hands； and the
clubs； 〃which cover the department；〃 have spread the fermentation of
anarchy everywhere。 〃Administrators； judges； municipal officers； all
who are invested with any authority； and who have the courage to use
it in forcing respect for law； are one by one denounced by public
opinion as enemies of the constitution and of liberty； because；
people say； they talk of nothing but the law； as if they did not know
that the will of the people makes the law； and that we are the
people。〃＇10＇ This is the real principle； here； as at Paris； it
instantly begets its consequences。 〃In many of these clubs nothing is
discussed but the plundering of estates and cutting off the heads of
aristocrats。 And who are designated by this infamous title？ In the
cities； the great traders and rich proprietors； in the country； those
whom we call the bourgeois； everywhere； all peaceable citizens； the
friends of order； who wish to enjoy； under the shadow of the
protecting law； the blessings of the Constitution。 Such was the rage
of their denunciations that in one of these clubs a good and brave
peasant was denounced as an aristocrat； the whole of his aristocracy
consisting in his having said to those who plundered the chateau of
their seigneur； already mentioned； that they would not enjoy in peace
the fruits of their crime。〃 Here is the Jacobin programme of Paris
in advance； namely； the division of the French into two classes； the
spoliation of one； the despotism of the other； the destruction of the
well…to…do； orderly and honest under the dictation of those who are
not so。
Here； as in Paris； the programme is carried out step by step。 At
Beausset； near Toulon； a man named Vidal； captain of the National
Guard； 〃twice set at liberty by virtue of two consecutive
amnesties；〃＇11＇ punishes not resistance merely； but even murmurs； with
death。 Two old men； one of them a notary； the other a turner； having
complained of him to the public prosecutor； the general alarm is
beaten； a gathering of armed men is formed in the street； and the
complainants are clubbed； riddled with balls； and their bodies thrown
into a pit。 Many of their friends are wounded； others take to flight；
seven houses are sacked； and the municipality； 〃either overawed or in
complicity；〃 makes no interference until all is over。 There is no way
of pursuing the guilty ones； the foreman of the jury； who goes；
escorted by a thousand men； to hold an inquest； can get no testimony。
The municipal officers feign to have heard nothing； neither the
general alarm nor the guns fired under their windows。 The other
witnesses say not a word； but they declare； sotto voce； the reason for
their silence。 If they should testify； 〃they would be sure of being
killed as soon as the troops should have gone away。〃 The foreman of
the jury is himself menaced； after remaining three…quarters of an
hour； he finds it prudent to leave the city。 After this the clubs
of Beausset and of the neighborhood； gaining hardihood from