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sovereignty； and he does interfere with it when he undertakes to
forestall； obstruct； or impede its exercise。 The Assembly； even the
Constituent； usurps when it treats the people like a lazybones （roi
fainéant）； when it subjects them to laws； which they have not
ratified； and when it deprives them of action except through their
representatives。＇2＇ The people themselves must act directly； must
assemble together and deliberate on public affairs。 They must control
and censure the acts of those they elect； they must influence these
with their resolutions； correct their mistakes with their good sense；
atone for their weakness by their energy； stand at the helm alongside
of them； and even employ force and throw them overboard； so that the
ship may be saved； which； in their hands； is drifting on a rock。＇3＇
Such； in fact； is the doctrine of the popular party。 This doctrine
is carried into effect July 14 and October 5 and 6； 1789。 Loustalot；
Camille Desmoulins； Fréron； Danton； Marat； Pétion； Robespierre
proclaim it untiringly in the political clubs； in the newspapers； and
in the assembly。 The government； according to them； whether local or
central； trespasses everywhere。 Why； after having overthrown one
despotism； should we install another？ We are freed from the yoke of a
privileged aristocracy； but we still suffer from 〃the aristocracy of
our representatives。〃＇4＇ Already at Paris； 〃the population is
nothing； while the municipality is everything〃。 It encroaches on our
imprescriptible rights in refusing to let a district revoke at will
the five members elected to represent it at the H？tel…de…Ville； in
passing ordinances without obtaining the approval of voters； in
preventing citizens from assembling where they please； in interrupting
the out…door meetings of the clubs in the Palais Royal where
〃Patriots are driven away be the patrol。〃 Mayor Bailly； 〃who keeps
liveried servants； who gives himself a salary of 110；000 livres；〃 who
distributes captains' commissions； who forces peddlers to wear
metallic badges； and who compels newspapers to have signatures to
their articles is not only a tyrant； but a crook； thief and 〃guilty of
lése…nation。〃 Worse are the abuses of the National Assembly。 To
swear fidelity to the constitution； as this body has just done； to
impose its work on us； forcing us to take a similar oath； disregarding
our superior rights to veto or ratify their decisions；＇5＇ is to
〃slight and scorn our sovereignty〃。 By substituting the will of 1200
individuals for that of the people； 〃our representatives have failed
to treat us with respect。〃 This is not the first time； and it is not
to be the last。 Often do they exceed their mandate； they disarm；
mutilate； and gag their legitimate sovereign and they pass decrees
against the people in the people's name。 Such is their martial law；
specially devised for 〃suppressing the uprising of citizens〃； that is
to say； the only means left to us against conspirators； monopolists；
and traitors。 Such a decree against publishing any kind of joint
placard or petition； is a decree 〃null and void；〃 and 〃constitutes a
most flagrant attack on the nation's rights。〃＇6＇ Especially is the
electoral law one of these； a law which； requiring a small
qualification tax for electors and a larger one for those who are
eligible； 〃consecrates the aristocracy of wealth。〃 The poor； who are
excluded by the decree； must regard it as invalid； register themselves
as they please and vote without scruple； because natural law has
precedence over written law。 It would simply be 〃fair reprisal〃 if； at
the end of the session； the millions of citizens lately deprived of
their vote unjustly； should seize the usurping majority by the threat
and tell them：
〃You cut us off from society in your chamber； because you are the
strongest there； we； in our turn； cut you off from the living society；
because we are strongest in the street。 You have killed us civilly …
we kill you physically。〃
Accordingly； from this point of view； all riots are legitimate。
Robespierre from the rostrum＇7＇ excuses jacqueries； refuses to call
castle…burners brigands； and justifies the insurgents of Soissons；
Nancy； Avignon； and the colonies。 Desmoulins； alluding to two men hung
at Douai； states that it was done by the people and soldiers combined；
and declares that： 〃Henceforth； I have no hesitation in saying it
they have legitimated the insurrection；〃 they were guilty； and it
was well to hang them。＇8＇ Not only do the party leaders excuse
assassinations； but they provoke them。 Desmoulins； 〃attorney…general
of the Lantern； insists on each of the 83 departments being threatened
with at least one lamppost hanging。〃 （This sobriquet is bestowed on
Desmoulins on account of his advocacy of street executions； the
victims of revolutionary passions being often hung at the nearest
lanterne； or street lamp； at that time in Paris suspended across the
street by ropes or chains。 … （Tr。）） Meanwhile Marat； in the name of
principle； constantly sounds the alarm in his journal：
〃When public safety is in peril； the people must take power out of
the hands of those whom it is entrusted 。 。 。 Put that Austrian woman
and her brother…in…law in prison 。 。 。 Seize the ministers and their
clerks and put them in irons 。 。 。 Make sure of the mayor and his
lieutenants； keep the general in sight； and arrests his staff。 。 。 The
heir to the throne has no rights to a dinner while you want bread。
Organize bodies of armed men。 March to the National Assembly and
demand food at once； supplied to you out of the national stocks。 。 。
Demand that the nation's poor have a future secured to them out of the
national contribution。 If you are refused join the army； take the
land； as well as gold which the rascals who want to force you to come
to terms by hunger have buried and share it amongst you。 Off with the
heads of the ministers and their underlings； for now is the time； that
of Lafayette and of every rascal on his staff； and of every
unpatriotic battalion officer； including Bailly and those municipal
reactionaries … all the traitors in the National Assembly！〃
Marat； indeed； still passes for a furious ranter among people of some
intelligence。 But for all that； this is the sum and substance of his
theory： It installs in the political establishment； over the heads of
delegated； regular； and legal powers an anonymous； imbecile； and
terrific power whose decisions are absolute； whose projects are
constantly adopted； and whose intervention is sanguinary。 This power
is that of the crowd； of a ferocious； suspicious sultan； who；
appointing his viziers； keeps his hands free to direct them and his
scimitar ready sharpened to cut of their heads。
II。 The Jacobins。 …
Formation of the Jacobins。 … The common human elements of his
character。 … Conceit and dogmatism are sensitive and rebellious in
every community。 … How kept down in all well…founded societies。 …
Their