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suspected。〃＇92＇ Even this is simply an installment on account：
〃There is no desire on the part of the Committee at the present moment
to demand more than a portion of your surplus；〃 that which rest will
be taken later。 Desfieux； the bankrupt；＇93＇ has already； in the
tribune of the Jacobin club； estimated the fortunes of one hundred of
the wealthiest notaries and financiers in Paris at 640；000；000 francs；
the municipality sent a list of their names to the sections to have it
completed； if only one…tenth was taken from them； it would amount to
64；000；000； which 〃big sponges；〃 thoroughly squeezed； would disgorge a
much larger amount。
〃The richest of Frenchmen；〃 says Robespierre； 〃should not have more
than 3；000 francs a year。〃＇94＇
The contributions of 〃these gentlemen〃 suffice to arm the sans…
culottes； 〃remunerate artisans for their attendance in the section
meetings； and support laborers without work。〃＇95＇ Already through the
sovereign virtue of summary requisitions； everything is spoil；
carriage…horses are seized in their stables； while vehicles belonging
to aged ladies； mostly widows； and the last of the berlins and elegant
carriages still remaining in Paris； are taken out of the livery…
stables。＇96＇
With such powers used in this way； the section makes the most of the
old deep…seated enmity of the poor against the rich；＇97＇ it secures
the firm loyalty of the needy and of vagabonds； thanks to the vigorous
arms of its active clients； it completely overcomes the feeble；
transient； poorly…contrived resistance which the National Convention
and the Parisian population still oppose to its rule。
On the 13th of April Marat； accused three months before and daily
becoming bolder in his fractiousness； is finally indicted through a
decree of the incensed majority；＇98＇ on the 24th he appears before the
revolutionary tribunal。 But the revolutionary tribunal； like other
newly organized institutions； is composed of pure Jacobins； and；
moreover； the party has taken its precautions。 Marat； for his escort
to the court…room has 〃the municipal commissaries； envoys from the
various sections； delegates from all the patriotic clubs〃； besides
these； 〃a multitude of good patriots〃 fill the hall beforehand； 〃early
in the morning the other chambers of the Palais de Justice； the
corridors； the courts and adjacent streets〃 overflow with 〃sans…
culottes ready to avenge any outrage that may be perpetrated on their
favorite defender。〃＇99＇ Naturally； excessively conceited； he speaks
not like an accused； but 〃as an apostle and martyr。〃 He is overwhelmed
with applause； unanimously acquitted； crowned with laurel； borne in
triumph to the Convention； where he thunders a song of victory； while
the Girondist majority is obliged to suffer his presence awaiting to
be subjected to their banishments。 Equally as impotent as the
moderates of the Legislative Assembly are the moderates in the street
who recover themselves only again to be felled to the ground。 On the
4th and 5th of May； five or six hundred young fellows； well…dressed
and without arms； have assembled in the Champs…Elysées and at the
Luxembourg to protest against the ordinance of the Commune； which
drafts them for the expedition to La Vendée；＇100＇ they shout； 〃Vive la
Republique！ Vive la Loi！ Down with anarchists！ Send Marat； Danton and
Robespierre to the Devil！〃 Naturally； Santerre's paid guard disperses
these young sparks； about a thousand are arrested； and henceforth the
rest will be careful not to make any open demonstration on the public
thoroughfares。 Again； for lack of something better to do； we see
them frequently returning to the section assemblies； especially early
in May； they find themselves in a majority； and enter on discussions
against Jacobin tyranny； at the Bon…Conseil section； and at those of
Marseilles and l'Unité； Lhuillier is hooted at； Marat threatened； and
Chaumette denounced。＇101＇ But these are only flashes in the pan； to
be firmly in charge in these permanent assemblies； the moderates； like
the sans…culottes； would have to be in constant attendance； and use
their fists every night。 Unfortunately； the young men of 1793 have
not yet arrived at that painful experience； that implacable hate； that
athletic ruggedness which is to sustain them in 1795。 〃After one
evening； in which the seats everywhere were broken 〃＇102＇ on the backs
of the contestants； they falter； and never recover themselves； the
professional roughs； at the end of a fortnight； being victorious all
along the line。 The better to put resistance down； the roughs form
a special league amongst themselves； and go around from section to
section to give each other help。＇103＇ Under the title of a
deputation； under the pretext of preventing disturbance； a troop of
sturdy fellows； dispatched by the neighboring section； arrives at the
meeting； and suddenly transforms the minority into a majority； or
controls the vote by force of clamor。 Sometimes； at a late hour； when
the hall is nearly empty； they declare themselves a general meeting；
and about twenty or thirty will cancel the discussions of the day。 At
other times； being； through the municipality； in possession of the
police； they summon an armed force to their aid； and oblige the
refractory to decamp。 And； as examples are necessary to secure perfect
silence； the fifteen or twenty who have formed themselves into a full
meeting； with the five or six who form the Committee of Supervision；
issue warrants of arrest against the most prominent of their
opponents。 The vice…president of the Bon…Conseil section； and the
juge…de…paix of the Unité section； learn in prison that it is
dangerous to present to the Convention an address against anarchists
or sign a debate against Chaumette。＇104＇ Towards the end of May； in
the section assemblies； nobody dares open his mouth against a Jacobin
motion； often； even； there are none present but Jacobins； for example；
at the Gravilliers； they have driven out all not of their band； and
henceforth no 〃intriguer〃＇105＇ is imprudent enough to present himself
there。 Having become the sovereign People assembled in Council；
with full power to
* disarm；
* put on the index；
* displace；
* tax；
* send off to the army； and
* imprison whoever gives them umbrage；
they are able now； with the municipality at their back and as guides；
to turn the armament which they have obtained from the Convention
against it； attack the Girondists in their last refuge； and possess
themselves of the only fort not yet surrendered。
VI。 Jacobin tactics。
Jacobin tactics to constrain the Convention。 … Petition of April 15
against the Girondins。 … Means employed to obtain signatures。 … The
Convention declares the petition calumnious。 … The commission of
Twelve and the arrest of Hébert。 … Plans for massacres。 … Intervention
of the Mountain leaders。
To conquer the last bastion of the Girondists a