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and； three months later； the number of absentees is 71 ；408。＇12＇
Thus for every elector that votes； there are four； six； eight； ten；
and even sixteen that abstain from voting。 In the election of
deputies； the case is the same。 At the primary meetings of 1791； in
Paris； out of 81；200 registered names more than 74；000 fail to
respond。 In the Doubs； three out of four voters stay away。 In one of
the cantons of the C？te d'Or； at the close of the polls； only one…
eighth of the electors remain at the counting of the votes； while in
the secondary meetings the desertion is not less。 At Paris； out of
946 electors chosen only 200 are found to give their suffrage； at
Rouen； out of 700 there are but 160； and on the last day of the
ballot； only 60。 In short； 〃in all departments；〃 says an orator in the
tribune； 〃scarcely one out of five electors of the second degree
discharges his duty。〃
In this manner the majority hands in its resignation。 Through inertia；
want of forethought； lassitude； aversion to the electoral hubbub； lack
of political preferences； or dislike of all the political candidates；
it shirks the task which the constitution imposes on it。 Most
certainly is has no taste for the painstaking burden of being involved
in a league （of human rights）。 Men who cannot find time once in three
months to drop a ballot in the box； will not come three times a week
to attend the meetings of a club。 Far from meddling with the
government； they abdicate； and as they refuse to elect it； they cannot
undertake to control it。
It is； on the other hand； just the opposite with the upstarts and
dogmatists who regard their royal privileges seriously。 They not only
vote at the elections； but they mean to keep the authority they
delegate in their own hands。 In their eyes every official is one of
their creatures； and remains accountable to them； for； in point of
law； the people may not part with their sovereignty； while； in fact；
power has proved so sweet that they are not disposed to part with
it。＇13＇ During six months preceding the regular elections； they have
come to know； comprehend； and test each other； they have held secret
meetings； a mutual understanding is arrived at； and henceforth； as
other associations disappear like fleeting bloom； theirs＇14＇ rise
vigorously on the abandoned soil。 A club is established at Marseilles
before the end of 1789； each large town has one within the first six
months of 1790； Aix in February； Montpellier in March； N？mes in April；
Lyons in May； and Bordeaux in June。＇15＇ But their greatest increase
takes place after the Federation festival。 Just when local gatherings
merge into that of the whole country； the sectarian Jacobins keep
aloof； and form leagues of their own。 At Rouen； July 14； 1790； two
surgeons； a printer； a chaplain at the prison； a widowed Jewess； and
four women or children living in the house； … eight persons in all；
pure and not to be confounded with the mass；＇16＇ bind themselves
together； and form a distinct association。 Their patriotism is of
superior quality； and they take a special view of the social
compact；＇17＇ in swearing fealty to the constitution they reserve to
themselves the Rights of Man； and they mean to maintain not only the
reforms already effected； but to complete the Revolution just begun。 …
During the Federation they have welcomed and indoctrinated their
fellows who； on quitting the capital or large cities； become bearers
of instructions to the small towns and hamlets； they are told what the
object of a club is； and how to form one； and； everywhere； popular
associations arise on the same plan； for the same purpose； and bearing
the same name。 A month later； sixty of these associations are in
operation； three months later； one hundred； in March； 1791； two
hundred and twenty…nine； and in August； 1791； nearly four hundred。＇18＇
After this date a sudden increase takes place； owing to two
simultaneous impulses； which scatter their seeds over the entire
territory。 On the one hand； at then end of July； 1791； all moderate
men； the friends of law and order； who still hold the clubs in check；
all constitutionalists； or Feuillants； withdraw from them and leave
them to exaggeration or the triviality of proposing motions； the
political tone immediately falls to that of the tavern and guard…
house； so that wherever one or the other is found； there is a
political club。 On the other hand； a convocation of the electoral body
is held at the same date for the election of a new National Assembly；
and for the renewal of local governments； the prey being in sight；
hunting…parties are everywhere formed to capture it。 In two
months；＇19＇ six hundred new clubs spring up； by the end of September
they amount to one thousand； and in June； 1792； to twelve hundred
as many as there are towns and walled boroughs。 On the fall of the
throne； and at the panic caused by the Prussian invasion； during a
period of anarchy which equaled that of July； 1789； there were；
according to Roederer； almost as many clubs as there were communes；
26；000； one for every village containing five or six hot…headed；
boisterous fellows； or roughs； （tape…durs）； with a clerk able to pen a
petition。
After November； 1790；＇20＇ 〃every street in every town and hamlet；〃
says a Journal of large circulation； 〃must have a club of its own。 Let
some honest craftsman invite his neighbors to his house； where； with
using a shared candle； he may read aloud the decrees of the National
Assembly； on which he and his neighbors may comment。 Before the
meeting closes； in order to enliven the company； which may feel a
little disturbed on account of Marat's articles； let him read the
patriotic oaths in 'Pêre Duchesne。'〃＇21＇ The advice is followed。 At
the meetings in the club are read aloud pamphlets； newspapers； and
catechisms dispatched from Paris； the 〃Gazette Villageoise；〃 the
〃Journal du Soir；〃 the 〃Journal de la Montagne；〃 〃Pêre Duchesne；〃 the
〃Révolutions de Paris；〃 and 〃Laclos' Gazette。〃 Revolutionary songs
are sung； and； if a good speaker happens to be present； a former monk
（oratorien）； lawyer； or school…master； he pours out his stock of
phrases； speaking of the Greeks and Romans； proclaiming the
regeneration of the human species。 One of them； appealing to the
women； wants to see
〃the declaration of the Rights of Man suspended on the walls of their
bedrooms as their principal ornament； and； should war break out； these
virtuous supporters； marching at the head of our armies like new
bacchantes with flowing hair； the wand of Bacchus in their hand。〃
Shouts of applause greet this sentiment。 The minds of the listeners；
swept away by this gale of declamation； become overheated and ignite
through mutual contact； like half…consumed embers that would die out
if let alone； they kindle into a blaze when gathered together in a
heap。 … … Their convictions； at the same time； gain strength。 There is
nothing like a coterie to make th