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president of the Abbaye massacres； has his head…quarters at the café
Chrétien；＇106＇ Rue Favart； from which； guzzling drams of brandy； 〃he
dispatches his mustached men； sixty…eight cutthroats； the terror of
the surrounding region；〃 we see them in coffee…houses and in the
foyers of the theaters 〃drawing their huge sabers；〃 and telling
inoffensive people： 〃I am Mr。 so and so； if you look at me with
contempt I'll cut you down！ A few months more and； under the
command of one of Henriot's aids； a squad of this band will rob and
toast （chauffer） peasants in the environment of Corbeil and
Meaux。＇107＇ In the meantime； even in Paris； they toast； rob； and rape
on grand occasions。 On the 25th and 26th of February； 1793；＇108＇ they
pillage wholesale and retail groceries； 〃save those belonging to
Jacobins；〃 in the Rue des Lombards； Rue des Cinq…Diamants； Rue
Beaurepaire； Rue Montmartre； in the Ile Saint…Louis； on the Port…au…
Blé； before the H？tel…de…ville； Rue Saint…Jacques； in short； twelve
hundred of them； not alone articles of prime necessity； soap and
candles； but again； sugar； brandy； cinnamon； vanilla； indigo and tea。
〃In the Rue de la Bourdonnaie； a number of persons came out with
loaves of sugar they had not paid for and which they re…sold。〃 The
affair was arranged beforehand； the same as on the 5th of October；
1789； among the women are seen 〃several men in disguise who did not
even take the precaution of shaving；〃 and in many places； thanks to
the confusion； they heartily abandon themselves to it。 With his feet
in the fire or a pistol at his head； the master of the house is
compelled to give them 〃gold； money； assignats and jewels；〃 only too
glad if his wife and daughters are not raped before his eyes as in a
town taken by assault。
VII。 The Jacobin Chieftains。
The make up of the rulers。 The nature and scope of their intellect。
The political views of M。 Saule。
Such are the politicians who； after the last months of the year 1792；
rule over Paris； and； through Paris； over the whole of France； five
thousand brutes and blackguards with two thousand hussies； just about
the number a good police force would expel from the city； were it
important to give the capital a cleaning out；＇109＇ they too； were
convinced of their rights； all the more ardent in their revolutionary
faith； because the creed converts their vices into virtues； and
transforms their misdeeds into public services。＇110＇ They are the
actual sovereign people； this is why we should try to unravel their
innermost thoughts。 If we truly are to comprehend the past events we
must discern the spontaneous feelings moving them on the trial of the
King； the defeat of Neerwinden； at the defection of Dumouriez； on the
insurrection in La Vendée； at the accusation of Marat； the arrest of
Hébert； and each of the dangers which in turn fall on their heads。
For； this is not borrowed emotion； it does not descend from above；
they are not a trusty army of disciplined soldiers； but a suspicious
accumulation of temporary adherents。 To command them requires
obedience to them； their leaders always remaining their tool。 However
popular and firmly established a chief may seem to be； he is there
only for a short time； at all times subject to their approval as the
bullhorn for their passions and the purveyor to their appetites。＇111＇
Such was Pétion in July； 1792； and such is Marat since the days of
September。 〃One Marat more or less （which will soon be seen） would not
change the course of events。〃＇112＇ 〃But one only would remain；＇113＇
Chaumette； for instance； one would suffice to lead the horde；〃 because
it is the horde itself which leads。 〃Its attachment will always be
awarded to whoever shows a disposition to follow it the closest in its
outrages without in any respect caring for its former leaders。 。 。
Its liking for Marat and Robespierre is not so great as for those who
will exclaim； Let us kill； let us plunder！〃 Let the leader of the day
stop following the current of the day； and he will be crushed as an
obstacle or cast off as a piece of wreckage。 Judge if they are
willing to be entangled in the spider's web which the Girondins put in
their way。 Instead of the metaphysical constitution with which the
Girondins confront them； they have one in their own head ready made；
simple to the last point； adapted to their capacity and their
instincts。 The reader will call to mind one of their chiefs； whom we
have already met； M。 Saule； 〃a stout； stunted little old man； drunk
all his life； formerly an upholsterer； then a peddler of quackeries in
the shape of four…penny boxes of hangman's grease； to cure pains in
the loins；＇114＇ afterwards chief of the claque in the galleries of the
Constituent Assembly and driven out for rascality； restored under the
Legislative Assembly； and； under the protection of a groom of the
Court； favored with a spot near the Assembly door； to set up a
patriotic coffee…shop； then awarded six hundred francs as a
recompense； provided with national quarters； appointed inspector of
the tribunes； a regulator of public opinion； and now 〃one of the
madcaps of the Corn…market。〃 Such a man is typical； an average
specimen of his party； not only in education； character and conduct；
but； again； in ambition； principles； logic and success。 〃He swore that
he would make his fortune； and he did it。 His constant cry was that
nobles and priests should be put down； and we no longer have either。
He has constantly shouted against the civil list； and the civil list
has been suppressed。 At last； lodged in the house belonging to Louis
XVI。； he told him to his face that his head ought to be struck off；
and the head of Louis XVI。 has fallen。〃 Here； in a nutshell； is the
history and the portrait of all the others； it is not surprising that
genuine Jacobins see the Revolution in the same way as M。 Saule；＇115＇
* when； for them； the sole legitimate Constitution is the definitive
establishment of their omnipotence；
* when they designate as order and justice the boundless despotism
they exercise over property and life；
* when their instinct； as narrow and violent as that of a Turkish bey；
comprises only extreme and destructive measures； arrests；
deportations； confiscations； executions； all of which is done with
head erect； with delight as if a patriotic duty； by right of a moral
priesthood； in the name of the people； either directly and
tumultuously with their own hands； or indirectly and legally by the
hands of their docile representatives。
This is the sum of their political system； from which nothing will
detach them； for they are anchored fast to it with the full weight and
with every hold upon it that characterizes their immorality； ignorance
and folly。 Through the hypocritical glitter of compulsory parades；
their one fixed idea imposes itself on the orator that he may utter it
in tirades； on the legislator that he may put it into decrees； on the
administra