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by AL Sorel； 〃Le Patriote Palloy；〃 by V Fournel。
＇149＇ Granier de Cassagnac； 〃Histoire des Girondins；〃 409。 … 〃Archives
Nationales；〃 F7 3196。 Letters of de Sades on the sacking of his house
near Apt； with supporting document and proofs of his civism； among
others a petition drawn up by him in the name of the Pique section and
read at the Convention year II。 brumaire 25。 〃Legislators； the reign
of philosophy has at last annihilated that of imposture。 。 。 The
worship of a Jewish slave of the Romans is not adapted to the
descendants of Sc？vola。 The general prosperity which is certain to
proceed from individual happiness will spread to the farthest regions
of the universe and everywhere the dreaded hydra of ultramontane
superstition； chased by the combined lights of reason and virtue； no
longer finding a refuge in the hateful haunts of a dying aristocracy；
will perish at her side in despair at finally beholding on this earth
the triumph of philosophy！〃
＇150＇ Barbaroux； 〃Mémoires；〃 57； 59。 The latter months of the
legislative assembly。
BOOK THIRD。 THE SECOND STAGE OF THE CONQUEST。
CHAPTER I。
I。
Government by gangs in times of anarchy。 … Case where anarchy is
recent and suddenly brought on。 The band that succeeds the fallen
government and its administrative tools。
The worst feature of anarchy is not so much the absence of the
overthrown government as the rise of new governments of an inferior
grade。 In every state which breaks up； new groups will form to conquer
and become sovereign： it was so in Gaul on the fall of the Roman
empire； also under the latest of Charlemagne's successors； the same
state of things exists now （1875） in Rumania and in Mexico。
Adventurers； gangsters； corrupted or downgraded men； social outcasts；
men overwhelmed with debts and lost to honor； vagabonds； deserters；
dissolute troopers； born enemies of work； of subordination； and of the
law； unite to break the worm…eaten barriers which still surround the
sheep…like masses； and as they are unscrupulous； they slaughter on all
occasions。 On this foundation their authority rests； each in turn
reigns in its own area； and their government； in keeping with its
brutal masters； consists in robbery and murder； nothing else can be
looked for from barbarians and brigands。
But never are they so dangerous as when； in a great State recently
fallen； a sudden revolution places the central power in their hands；
for they then regard themselves as the legitimate inheritors of the
shattered government； and； under this title； they undertake to manage
the commonwealth。 Now in times of anarchy the ruling power does not
proceed from above； but from below； and the chiefs； therefore； who
would remain such； are obliged to follow the blind impulsion of their
flock。＇1＇ Hence the important and dominant personage； the one whose
ideas prevail； the veritable successor of Richelieu and of Louis XIV。
is here the subordinate Jacobin； the pillar of the club； the maker of
motions； the street rioter； Panis Sergent； Hébert； Varlet； Henriot；
Maillard； Fournier； Lazowski； or； still lower in the scale； the
Marseilles 〃rough；〃 the Faubourg gunner； the drinking market…porter
who elaborates his political conceptions in the interval between his
hiccups。＇2＇ For information he has the rumors circulating in the
streets which tell of a traitor to each house； and for confirmed
knowledge the club slogans inciting him to rule over the vast machine。
A machinery so vast and complicated； a whole assembly of entangled
services ramifying in innumerable offices； with so much apparatus of
special import； so delicate as to require constant adaptation to
changing circumstances； diplomacy； finances； justice； army
administration all this surpasses his limited comprehension； a
bottle cannot be made to contain the bulk of a hogshead。＇3＇ In his
narrow brain； perverted and turned topsy…turvy by the disproportionate
notions put into it； only one idea suited to his gross instincts and
aptitudes finds a place there； and that is the desire to kill his
enemies； and these are also the State's enemies； however open or
concealed； present or future； probable or even possible。 He carries
this savagery and bewilderment into politics； and hence the evil
arising from his government。 Simply a brigand； he would have murdered
only to rob； and his murders would have been restricted。 As
representing the State； he undertakes wholesale massacres； of which he
has the means ready at hand。 For he has not yet had time enough to
take apart the old administrative implements； at all events the minor
wheels； gendarmes； jailers； employees； book…keepers； and accountants；
are always in their places and under control。 There can be no
resistance on the part of those arrested； accustomed to the protection
of the laws and to peaceable ways and times； they have never relied on
defending themselves nor ever could imagine that any one could be so
summarily slain。 As to the mass； rendered incapable of any effort of
its own by ancient centralization； it remains inert and passive and
lets things go their own way。 Hence； during many long； successive
days； without being hurried or impeded； with official papers quite
correct and accounts in perfect order； a massacre can be carried out
with the same impunity and as methodically as cleaning the streets or
clubbing stray dogs。＇4＇
II。
The development of the ideas of killings in the mass of the party。
The morning after August 10。 The tribunal of August 17。 The
funereal fête of August 27。 The prison plot。
Let us trace the progress of the homicidal idea in the mass of the
party。 It lies at the very bottom of the revolutionary creed。 Collot
d'Herbois； two months after this； aptly says in the Jacobin tribune：
〃The second of September is the great article in the credo of our
freedom。〃＇5＇ It is peculiar to the Jacobin to consider himself as a
legitimate sovereign； and to treat his adversaries not as
belligerents； but as criminals。 They are guilty of lèse… nation； they
are outlaws； fit to be killed at all times and places； and deserve
extinction； even when no longer able or in a condition do any harm。
Consequently； on the 10th of August the Swiss Guards； who do not fire
a gun and who surrender； the wounded lying on the ground； their
surgeons； the palace domestics； are killed； and worse still； persons
like M。 de Clermont…Tonnerre who pass quietly along the street。 All
this is now called in official phraseology the justice of the people。
On the 11th the Swiss Guards； collected in the Feuillants building；
come near being massacred； the mob on the outside of it demand their
heads；＇6＇ 〃it conceives the project of visiting all the prisons in
Paris to take out the prisoners and administer prompt justice on
them。〃 … On the 12th in the markets 〃diverse groups of the low class
call Pétion a scoundrel；〃 because 〃he saved the Swiss in th