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the Assembly was greatly embarrassed by riots which went far
beyond its theoretical expectations。 It had supposed that order
would be restored while it fabricated a Constitution destined to
assure the eternal happiness of mankind。
We know that during the whole duration of the Revolution one of
the chief occupations of the assemblies was to make； unmake； and
remake Constitutions。 The theorists attributed to them then； as
they do to…day； the power of transforming society； the
Assembly； therefore； could not neglect its task。 In the meantime
it published a solemn Declaration of the Rights of Man which
summarised its principles。
The Constitution； proclamations； declarations； and speeches had
not the slightest effect on the popular movements； nor on the
dissentients who daily increased in number in the heart of the
Assembly。 The latter became more and more subjected to the
ascendancy of the advanced party； which was supported by the
clubs。 Danton； Camille Desmoulins； and later Marat and
Hebert； violently excited the populace by their harangues and
their journals。 The Assembly was rapidly going down the slope
that leads to extremes。
During all these disorders the finances of the country were not
improving。 Finally convinced that philanthropic speeches would
not alter their lamentable condition； and seeing that bankruptcy
threatened； the Assembly decreed； on the 2nd of November； 1789；
the confiscation of the goods of the Church。 Their revenues；
consisting of the tithes collected from the faithful； amounted to
some L8；000；000； and their value was estimated at about
L120；000；000。 They were divided among some hundreds of
prelates； Court abbes； &c。； who owned a quarter of all France。
These goods； henceforth entitled is ‘‘national domains；'' formed
the guarantee of the assignats； the first issue of which was
for 400；000；000 francs （L16；000；000 sterling）。 The public
accepted them at the outset； but they multiplied so under the
Directory and the Convention； which issued 45；000；000；000 francs
in this form （L1；800；000；000 sterling）； that an assignat of
100 livres was finally worth only a few halfpence。
Stimulated by his advisers； the feeble Louis attempted in
vain to struggle against the decrees of the Assembly by refusing
to sanction them。
Under the influence of the daily suggestions of the leaders and
the power of mental contagion the revolutionary movement was
spreading everywhere independently of the Assembly and often even
against it。
In the towns and villages revolutionary municipalities were
instituted； protected by the local National Guards。 Those of
neighbouring towns commenced to make mutual arrangements to
defend themselves should need arise。 Thus federations were
formed； which were soon rolled into one； this sent 14；000
National Guards to Paris； who assembled on the Champ…de…Mars on
the 14th of July； 1790。 There the king swore to maintain the
Constitution decreed by the National Assembly。
Despite this vain oath it became more evident every day that no
agreement was possible between the hereditary principles of the
monarchy and those proclaimed by the Assembly。
Feeling himself completely powerless； the king thought only of
flight。 Arrested at Varennes and brought back a prisoner to
Paris； he was shut up in the Tuileries。 The Assembly； although
still extremely royalist； suspended him from power； and decided
to assume the sole charge of the government。
Never did sovereign find himself in a position so difficult as
that of Louis at the time of his flight。 The genius of a
Richelieu would hardly have extricated him。 The only element of
defence on which he could have relied had from the beginning
absolutely failed him。
During the whole duration of the Constituent Assembly the
immense majority of Frenchmen and of the Assembly remained
royalist； so that had the sovereign accepted a liberal monarchy
he could perhaps have remained in power。 It would seem that
Louis had little to promise in order to come to an agreement with
the Assembly。
Little； perhaps； but with his structure of mind that little was
strictly impossible。 All the shades of his forbears would have
risen up in front of him had he consented to modify the mechanism
of the monarchy inherited from so many ancestors。 And even had
he attempted to do so； the opposition of his family； the clergy；
the nobles； and the Court could never have been surmounted。 The
ancient castes on which the monarchy rested； the nobility and the
clergy； were then almost as powerful as the monarch himself。
Every time it seemed as though he might yield to the injunctions
of the Assembly it was because he was constrained to do so by
force； and to attempt to gain time。 His appeals to alien Powers
represented the resolution of a desperate man who had seen all
his natural defences fail him。
He； and especially the queen； entertained the strangest illusions
as to the possible assistance of Austria； for centuries the rival
of France。 If Austria indolently consented to come to his aid；
it was only in the hope of receiving a great reward。 Mercy gave
him to understand that the payment expected consisted of Alsace；
the Alps； and Navarre。
The leaders of the clubs； finding the Assembly too royalist； sent
the people against it。 A petition was signed； inviting the
Assembly to convoke a new constituent power to proceed to the
trial of Louis XVI。
Monarchical in spite of all； and finding that the Revolution was
assuming a character far too demagogic； the Assembly resolved to
defend itself against the actions of the people。 A battalion of
the National Guard； commanded by La Fayette； was sent to the
Champ…de…Mars； where the crowd was assembled； to disperse it。
Fifty of those present were killed。
The Assembly did not long persist in its feeble resistance。
Extremely fearful of the people； it increased its arrogance
towards the king； depriving him every day of some part of his
prerogatives and authority。 He was now scarcely more than a mere
official obliged to execute the wishes of others。
The Assembly had imagined that it would be able to exercise the
authority of which it had deprived the king； but such a task was
infinitely above its resources。 A power so divided is always
weak。 ‘‘I know nothing more terrible；'' said Mirabeau； ‘‘than
the sovereign authority of six hundred persons。''
Having flattered itself that it could combine in itself all the
powers of the State； and exercise them as Louis XVI。 had done；
the Assembly very soon exercised none whatever。
As its authority failed anarchy increased。 The popular leaders
continually stirred up the people。 Riot and insurrection became
the sole power。 Every day the Assembly was invaded by rowdy and
imperious delegations which operated by means of threats and
demands。
All these popular movements； which the Assembly； under the stress