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II。
Spontaneous associations after July 14； 1789。 How these dissolve。
… Withdrawal of people of sense and occupation。 Number of those
absent at elections。 Birth and multiplication of Jacobin societies。
Their influence over their adherents Their maneuvers and
despotism。
Men thus disposed cannot fail to draw near each other； to understand
each other； and combine together； for； in the principle of popular
sovereignty； they have a common dogma； and； in the conquest of
political supremacy； a common aim。 Through a common aim they form a
faction； and through a common dogma they constitute a sect； the league
between them being more easily effected because they are a faction and
sect at the same time。
At first their association is not distinguishable in the multitude of
other associations。 Political societies spring up on all sides after
the taking of the Bastille。 Some kind of organization had to be
substituted for the deposed or tottering government； in order to
provide for urgent public needs； to secure protection against
ruffians； to obtain supplies of provisions； and to guard against the
probably machinations of the court。 Committees installed themselves in
the town halls； while volunteers formed bodies of militia： hundreds of
local governments； almost independent； arose in the place of the
central government； almost destroyed。＇5＇ For six months everybody
attended to matters of common interest； each individual getting to be
a public personage and bearing his quota of the government load： a
heavy load at all times； but heavier in times of anarchy； this； at
least； is the opinion of the majority but not of all of them。
Consequently； a division arises amongst those who had assumed this
load； and two groups are formed； one huge； inert and disintegrating；
and the other small； compact and energetic； each taking one of two
ways which diverge from each other； and which keep on diverging more
and more。
On one hand are the ordinary； sensible people； those who are busy； and
who are； to some extent； not over…conscientious； and not over…
conceited。 The power is in their hands because they find it prostrate；
lying abandoned in the street； they hold it provisionally only； for
they knew beforehand； or soon discover； that they are not qualified
for the post； it being one of those which； to be properly filled；
needs some preparation and fitness for it。 A man does not become
legislator or administrator in one day； any more than he suddenly
becomes a physician or surgeon。 If an accident obliges me to act in
the latter capacity； I yield； but against my will； and I do no more
than is necessary to save my patients from hurting themselves； My fear
of their dying under the operation is very great； and； as soon as some
other person can be found to take my place； I go home。＇6＇ I should
be glad； like everybody else； to have my vote in the selection of this
person； and； among the candidates。 I should designate； to the best of
my ability； one who seemed to me the ablest and most conscientious。
Once selected； however； and installed； I should not attempt to dictate
to him； his cabinet is private； and I have no right to run there
constantly and cross…question him； as if he were a child or under
suspicion。 It does not become me to tell him what to do； he probably
knows more about the case than I do； in any event； to keep a steady
hand； he must not be threatened； and； to keep a clear head； he must
not be disturbed。 Nor must I be disturbed； my office and books； my
shop； my customers must be attended to as well。 Everybody has to mind
his own business； and whoever would attend to his own and another's
too； spoils both。 This way of thinking prevails with most healthy
minds towards the beginning of the year 1790； all whose heads are not
turned by insane ambition and the mania for theorizing； especially
after six months of practical experience and knowing the dangers；
miscalculation； and vexations to which one is exposed in trying to
lead an eager； over…excited population。 Just at this time； December
1789； municipal law becomes established throughout the country； all
the mayors and municipal officers are elected almost immediately； and
in the following months； all administrators of districts and
departments。 The interregnum has a length come to an end。 Legal
authorities now exist； with legitimate and clearly…determined
functions。 Reasonable； honest people gladly turn power over to those
to whom it belongs； and certainly do not dream of resuming it。 All
associations for temporary purposes are at once disbanded for lack of
an object； and if others are formed； it is for the purpose of
defending established institutions。 This is the object of the
Federation； and； for six months； people embrace each other and
exchange oaths of fidelity。 After this； July 14； 1790； they retire
into private life； and I have no doubt that； from this date； the
political ambition of a large plurality of the French people is
satisfied； for； although Rousseau's denunciation of the social
hierarchy are still cited by them； they； at bottom； desire but little
more than the suppression of administrative brutality and state
favoritism。＇7＇ All this is obtained； and plenty of other things
besides； the august title of sovereign； the respect of the public
authorities； honors to all who wield a pen or make a speech； and；
better still； actual sovereignty in the appointment to office of all
local land national administrators； not only do the people elect their
deputies； but every species of functionary of every degree； those of
commune； district； and department； officers in the national guard；
civil and criminal magistrates； bishops and priests。 Again； to ensure
the responsibility of the elected to their electors； the term of
office fixed by law is a short one；＇8＇ the electoral machine which
summons the sovereign to exercise his sovereignty being set agoing
about every four months。 This was a good deal； and too much； as
the sovereign himself soon discovers。 Voting so frequently becomes
unendurable； so many prerogatives end in getting to be drudgery。 Early
in 1790； and after this date； the majority forego the privilege of
voting and the number of absentees becomes enormous。 At Chartres； in
May； 1790；＇9＇ 1；447 out of 1；551 voters do not attend preliminary
meetings。 At Besan？on； in January； 1790； on the election of mayor and
municipal officers； 2；141 out of 3；200 registered electors are
recorded as absent from the polls； and 2；900 in the following month of
November。＇10＇ At Grenoble； in August and November of this year； out
of 2；500 registered voters； more than 2；000 are noted as absent。＇11＇
At Limoges； out of about the same number； there are only 150 voters。
At Paris； out of 81；400 electors； in August； 1790； 67；200 do not vote；
and； three months later； the number of absentees is 71 ；408。＇12＇
Thus for every elector that votes； there are four； six； eight； ten；