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murderers of the Glacière。 On the 29th of April； 1792； Rebecqui and
Bertin； the vanquishers of Arles； enter Avignon＇53＇ along with a
cortége； at the head of which are from thirty to forty of the
principal murderers whom the Legislative Assembly itself had ordered
to be recommitted to prison； Duprat； Mainvielle； Toumal； Mende； then
Jourdan in the uniform of a commanding general crowned with laurel and
seated on a white horse； and； lastly； the dames Duprat； Mainvielle and
Tournal； in dashing style； standing on a sort of triumphal chariot；
during the procession the cry is heard； 〃The Glacière will be full
this time！ 〃 On their approach the public functionaries fly； twelve
hundred persons abandon the town。 Forthwith each terrorist； under the
protection of the Marseilles bayonets； resumes his office； like a man
at the head of his household。 Raphel； the former judge； along with his
clerk； both with warrants of arrest against them； publicly officiate；
while the relatives of the poor victims slain on the 16th of October；
and the witnesses that appeared on the trial； are threatened in the
streets； one of them is killed； and Jourdan； king of the department
for an entire year； begins over again on a grand scale； at the head of
the National Guard； and afterwards of the police body； the same
performance which； on a small scale； he pursued under the ancient
régime； when； with a dozen 〃armed and mounted〃 brigands； he traversed
the highways； forced open lonely houses at night； and； in one chateau
alone； stole 24；000 francs。
V。
The other departments。 Uniform process of the Jacobin conquest。
Preconceived formation of a Jacobin State。
The Jacobin conquest takes place like this： already in during April；
1792； through acts of violence almost equal to those we have just
described； it spreads over more than twenty departments and； to a
smaller degree； over the other sixty。＇54＇ The composition of the
parties is the same everywhere。 On one side are the irresponsible of
all conditions；
〃squanderers who； having consumed their own inheritance； cannot
tolerate that of another； men without property to whom disorder is a
door open to wealth and public office； the envious； the ungrateful
whose obligations to their benefactors the revolution cancels； the
hot…headed； all those enthusiastic innovators who preach reason with a
dagger in their hand； the poor； the brutal and the wretched of the
lower class who； possessed by one leading anarchical idea； one example
of immunity； with the law dumb and the sword in the scabbard； are
stimulated to dare all things
On the other side are the steady…going； peaceable class； minding their
own business； upper and lower middle class in mind and spirit；
〃weakened by being used to security and wealth； surprised at any
unforeseen disturbance and trying to find their way； isolated from
each other by diversity of interests； opposing only tact and caution
to persevering audacity in defiance of legitimate means； unable either
to make up their mind or to remain inactive； perplexed over sacrifices
just at the time when the enemy is going to render it impossible to
make any in the future； in a word； bringing weakness and egoism to
bear against the liberated passions； great poverty and hardened
immorality。〃＇55＇
The issue of the conflict is everywhere the same。 In each town or
canton an aggressive squad of unscrupulous fanatics and resolute
adventurers imposes its rule over a sheep…like majority which；
accustomed to the regularity of an old civilization； dares neither
disturb order for the sake of putting and end to disorder； or get
together a mob to put down another mob。 Everywhere the Jacobin
principle is the same。
〃Your system；〃 says one of the department Directories to them；＇56＇
〃is to act imperturbably on all occasions； even after a constitution
is established； and the limitations to power are fixed； as if the
empire would always be in a state of insurrection； as if you were
granted a dictatorship essential for the city's salvation； as if you
were given such full power in the name of public safety。〃
Everywhere are Jacobin tactics the same。 At the outset they assume to
have a monopoly of patriotism and； through the brutal destruction of
other associations； they are the only visible organ of public opinion。
Their voice； accordingly； seems to be the voice of the people； their
control is established on that of the legal authorities； they have
taken the lead through persistent and irresistible misdeeds； their
crimes are consecrated by exemption from punishment。
〃Among officials and agents； good or bad； constituted or not
constituted； that alone governs which is inviolable。 Now the club； for
a long time； has been too much accustomed to domineering； to annoying；
to persecuting； to wreaking vengeance； for any local administration to
regard it in any other light than as inviolable。〃＇57＇
They accordingly govern and their indirect influence is promptly
transformed into direct authority。 Voting alone； or almost alone；
in the primary meetings； which are deserted or under constraint； the
Jacobins easily choose the municipal body and the officers of the
National Guard。＇58＇ After this； through the mayor； who is their tool
or their accomplice； they have the legal right to launch or arrest the
entire armed force and they avail themselves of it。 Two obstacles
still stand in their way。 One the one hand； however conciliatory or
timid the Directory of the district or department may be； elected as
it is by electors of the second degree； it usually contains a fair
proportion of well…informed men； comfortably off； interested in
keeping order； and less inclined than the municipality to put up with
gross violations of the law。 Consequently the Jacobins denounce it to
the National Assembly as an unpatriotic and anti…revolutionary center
of 〃bourgeois aristocracy。〃 Sometimes； as at Brest；＇59＇ they
shamefully disobey orders which are perfectly legal and proper； often
repeated and strictly formal； afterward； still more shamefully； they
demand of the Minister if； 〃placed in the cruel alternative of giving
offense to the hierarchy of powers； or of leaving the commonwealth in
danger； they ought to hesitate。〃 Sometimes； as at Arras； they impose
themselves illegally on the Directory in session and browbeat it so
insolently as to make it a point of honor with the latter to solicit
its own suspension。＇60＇ Sometimes； as a Figeac； they summon an
administrator to their bar； keep him standing three…quarters of an
hour； seize his papers and oblige him； for fear of something worse； to
leave the town。＇61＇ Sometimes； as at Auch； they invade the
Directory's chambers； seize the administrators by the throat； pound
them with their fists and clubs； drag the president by the hair； and；
after a good deal of trouble； grant him his life。＇62＇ On the other
hand； the gendarmerie and the troops brought for the s