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Assembly and at the Jacobin Club；〃 but then the galleries are full of
paid 〃applauders；'1 especially 〃females； who are more noisy and to be
had cheaper than males。〃 At the Jacobin Club are 〃the leaders； who
dread a turnaround or who have resentments to gratify＇16＇〃： thus the
only enragés are the leaders and the populace of the suburbs。 Lost
in the crowd of this vast city； in the face of a National Guard still
armed and three times their own number； confronting an indifferent or
discontented bourgeoisie； the patriots are alarmed。 In this state of
anxiety a feverish imagination； exasperated by the waiting；
involuntarily gives birth to imaginings passionately accepted as
truths。 All that is now required is an incident in order to put the
final touch to complete the legend； the germ of which has unwittingly
grown in their minds。
On the 1st of September a poor wagoner； Jean Julien；＇17＇ condemned to
twelve years in irons； has been exposed in the pillory。 After two
hours he becomes furious； probably on account of the jeers of the
bystanders。 With the coarseness of people of his kind he has vented
his impotent rage by abuse； he has unbuttoned and exposed himself to
the public； and has naturally chosen expressions which would appear
most offensive to the people looking at him：
〃Hurrah for the King！ Hurrah for the Queen！ Hurra for Lafayette！ To
hell with the nation！〃
It is also natural that he missed being torn to pieces。 He was at
once led away to the Conciergerie prison； and sentenced on the spot to
be guillotined as soon as possible； for being a promoter of sedition
in connection with the conspiracy of August the 10th。 The
conspiracy； accordingly； is still in existence。 It is so declared by
the tribunal； which makes no declaration without evidence。 Jean Julien
has certainly confessed； now what has he revealed？ On the following
day； like a crop of poisonous mushrooms； the growth of a single night；
the story obtains general credence。 〃Jean Julien has declared that
all the prisons in Paris thought as he did； that there would soon be
fine times； that the prisoners were armed； and that as soon as the
volunteers cleared out they would be let loose on all Paris。〃＇18＇ The
streets are full of anxious faces。 〃One says that Verdun had been
betrayed like Longwy。 Others shook their heads and said it was the
traitors within Paris and not the declared enemies on the frontier
that were to be feared。〃＇19＇ On the following day the story grows：
〃There are royalist officers and soldiers hidden away in Paris and in
the outskirts。 They are going to open the prisons； arm the prisoners；
set the King and his family free； put the patriots in Paris to death；
also the wives and children of those in the army。 。 。 Isn't it natural
for men to look after the safety of their wives and children； and to
use the only efficient means to arrest the assassin's dagger。〃＇20＇
The working…class inferno has been stirred up； now it's up to the
contractors of public revolt to fan and direct the flames。
III。 Terror is their Salvation。
Rise of the homicidal idea among the leaders。 Their situation。
The powers they seize。 Their pillage。 The risks they run
Terror is their rescue。
They have been fanning the flames for a long time。 Already； on the
11th of August； the new Commune had announced； in a proclamation；＇21＇
that 〃the guilty should perish on the scaffold；〃 while its threatening
deputations force the national Assembly into the immediate institution
of a bloody tribunal。 Carried into power by brutal force； it must
perish if it does not maintain itself； and this can be done only
through terror。 … Let us pause and consider this unusual situation。
Installed in the H？tel…de…ville by a nightly surprise attack； about
one hundred strangers； delegated by a party which thinks or asserts
itself to be the peoples' delegates； have overthrown one of the two
great powers of the State； mangled and enslaved the other； and now
rule in a capital of 700；000 souls； by the grace of eight or ten
thousand fanatics and cut…throats。 Never did a radical change promote
men from so low a point and raise so high！ The basest of newspaper
scribblers； penny…a…liners out of the gutters； bar…room oracles；
unfrocked monks and priests； the refuse of the literary guild； of the
bar； and of the clergy； carpenters； turners； grocers； locksmiths；
shoemakers； common laborers； many with no profession at all； strolling
politicians and ＇22＇public brawlers； who； like the sellers of
counterfeit wares； have speculated for the past three years on popular
credulity。 There were among them a number of men in bad repute； of
doubtful honesty or of proven dishonesty； who； in their youth led
shiftless lives。 They are still besmirched with old slime； they were
put outside the pale of useful labor by their vices； driven out of
inferior stations even into prohibited occupations； bruised by the
perilous leap； with consciences distorted like the muscles of a tight…
rope dancer。 Were it not for the Revolution； they would still grovel
in their native filth； awaiting prison or forced labor to which they
were destined。 Can one imagine their growing intoxication as they
drink deep draughts from the bottomless cup of absolute power？ For
it is absolute power which they demand and which they exercise。＇23＇
Raised by a special delegation above the regular authorities； they put
up with these only as subordinates； and tolerate none among them who
may become their rivals。 Consequently； they reduce the Legislative
body simply to the function of editor and herald of their decrees；
they have forced the new department electors to 〃abjure their title；〃
to confine themselves to tax assessments； while they lay their
ignorant hands daily on every other service； on the finances； the
army； supplies； the administration； justice； at the risk of breaking
the administrative wheels or of interrupting their action。
One day they summon the Minister of War before them； or； for lack of
one； his chief clerk； another day they keep the whole body of
officials in his department in arrest for two hours； under the pretext
of finding a suspected printer。＇24＇ At one time they affix seals on
the funds devoted to extraordinary expenses； at another time they do
away with the commission on supplies； at another they meddle with the
course of justice； either to aggravate proceedings or to impede the
execution of sentences rendered。＇25＇ There is no principle； no law； no
regulation； no verdict； no public man or establishment that is not
subject to the risk of their arbitrariness。 And； as they have laid
hands on power； they do the same with money。 Not only do they extort
from the Assembly 850；000 francs a months； with arrears from the 1st
of January； 1792； more than six millions in all； to defray the
expenses of their military police； which means to pay their bands；＇26＇
but again； 〃invested with the municipal scarf；〃 they seize；