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society can count on other faithfuls。 〃Brière； wine…dealer； Nicolas；
a sapper in the 'Enfants Trouvés' battalion； Gonor； claiming to be one
of the victors of the Bastille；〃＇27＇ Rossignol； an old soldier and
afterwards a journeyman…jeweler； who； after presiding at the massacres
of La Force； is to become an improvised general and display his
incapacity； debauchery； and thievery throughout La Vendée。 〃There are
yet more of them；〃 Huguenin undoubtedly； a ruined ex…lawyer；
afterwards carabineer； then a deserter； next a barrier…clerk； now
serving as spokesman for the Faubourg St。 Honoré and finally president
of the September commune； there was also； doubtless； St。 Huruge alias
Père Adam； the great barker of the Palais…Royal； a marquis fallen
into the gutter； drinking with and dressing like a common porter；
always flourishing an enormous club and followed by the riffraff。＇28＇
These are all the leaders。 The Jacobins of the municipality and of
the Assembly confine their support of the enterprise to conniving at
it and to giving it their encouragement。＇29＇ It is better for the
insurrection to seem spontaneous。 Through caution or shyness the
Girondins； Pétion； Manual and Danton himself； keep in the background …
… there is not reason for their coming forward。 The rest；
affiliated with the people and lost in the crowd； are better qualified
to fabricate the story which their flock will like。 This tale； adapted
to the crowd's intellectual limits； form and activity； is both simple
and somber； such as children like； or rather a melodrama taken from an
alien stage in which the good appear on one side； and the wicked on
the other with an ogre or tyrant in the center； some infamous traitor
who is sure to be unmasked at the end of the piece and punished
according to his deserts； the whole grandiloquent terms and； as a
finale； winding up with a grand chorus。 In the raw brain of an over…
excited workman politics find their way only in the shape of rough…
hewn； highly…colored imagery； such as is furnished by the
Marseillaise； the Carmagnole； and the ？a ira。 The requisite motto is
adapted to his use； through this misshapen magnifying glass the most
gracious figure appears under a diabolical aspect。 Louis XVI。 is
represented here 〃as a monster using his power and treasure to oppose
the regeneration of the French。 A new Charles IX。； he desires to bring
on France death and desolation。 Be gone； cruel man； your crimes must
end！ Damiens was less guilty than thou art！ He was punished with the
most horrible torture for having tried to rid France of a monster；
while you； attempting twenty…five million times more； are allowed full
immunity！＇30＇ Let us trample under our feet this simulacra of royalty
！ Tremble tyrants； Sc？volas are still amongst you！〃
All this is pronounced； declaimed or rather shouted； publicly； in full
daylight； under the King's windows； by stump…speakers mounted on
chairs； while similar provocations daily flow from the committee
installed in Santerre's establishment； now in the shape of displays
posted in the faubourgs； now in that of petitions circulated in the
clubs and sections； now through motions which are gotten up 〃among the
groups in the Tuileries； in the Palais…Royal； in the Place de Grève
and especially on the Place de la Bastille。〃 After the 2nd of June the
leaders founded a new club in the church of the 〃Enfants Trouvés〃
that they might have their special laboratory and thus do their work
on the spot。＇31＇ Like Plato's demagogues； they understand their
business。 They have discovered the cries which make the popular animal
take note； what offense offends him； what charm attracts him； and on
what road he should be made to follow。 Once drawn in and under way； he
will march blindly on； borne along by his own involuntary inspiration
and crushing with his mass all that he encounters on his path。
IV。
The 20th of June。 The programme。 The muster。 The
procession before the Assembly。 Irruption into the Chateau。 The
King in the presence of the people。
The bait has been carefully chosen and is well presented。 It takes the
form of a celebration of the anniversary of the oath of the Tennis…
court。 A tree of Liberty will be planted on the terrace of the
Feuillants and 〃petitions relating to circumstances〃 will be presented
in the Assembly and then to the King。 As a precaution； and to impose
on the ill…disposed； the petitioners provide themselves with arms and
line the approaches。＇32＇ A popular procession is an attractive
thing； and there are so many workers who do not know what to do with
their empty day！ And； again； it is so pleasant to appear in a
patriotic opera while many； and especially women and children； want
very much to see Monsieur and Madame Veto。 The people from the
surrounding suburbs are invited；＇33＇ the homeless prowlers and beggars
will certainly join the party； while the numerous body of Parisian
loafers； the loungers that join every spectacle can be relied on； and
the curious who； even in our time； gather by hundreds along the quays；
following a dog that has chanced to tumble into the river。 All this
forms a body which； without thinking； will follow its head。
At five o'clock in the morning on the 20th of June groups are already
formed in the faubourgs St。 Antoine and St。 Marcel； consisting of
National Guards； pikemen； gunners with their cannon； persons armed
with sabers or clubs； and women and children。 A notice； indeed；
just posted on the walls； prohibits any assemblage； and the municipal
officers appear in their scarves and command or entreat the crowd not
to break the law。＇34＇ But； in a working…class brain； ideas are as
tenacious as they are short…lived。 People count on a civic procession
and get up early in the morning to attend to it； the cannon have been
hitched up； the maypole tree is put on wheels and all is ready for the
ceremony； everybody takes a holiday and none are disposed to return
home。 Besides； they have only good intentions。 They know the law as
well as the city officials； they are 〃armed solely to have it observed
and respected。〃 Finally； other armed petitioners have already filed
along before the National Assembly； and； as one is as good as another；
〃the law being equal for all；〃 others must be admitted as well。 In
any event they； too； will ask permission of the National Assembly and
they go expressly。 This is the last and the best argument of all； and
to prove to the city officials that they have no desire to engage in a
riot； they request them to join the procession and march along with
them。
Meanwhile； time passes。 In a crowd irritated by delay； the most
impatient； the rudest； those most inclined to commit violence； always
lead the rest。 At the head…quarters of the Val…de…Grace＇35＇ the
pikemen seize the cannon and drag them along； the National Guards let
things take their course； Saint…Prix and Leclerc； the officers in
command； threaten