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bread which the locked…up vagabond eats； and left in the bread which
is eaten by the soldier who locks him up＇9＇。 In this state of things
the soldier ought not to mediate on his lot； and yet this is just what
his officers incite him to do。 They also have become politicians and
fault…finders。 Some years before the Revolution＇10＇ 〃disputes
occurred〃 in the army； 〃discussions and complaints； and； the new ideas
fermenting in their heads； a correspondence was established between
two regiments。 Written information was obtained from Paris； authorized
by the Minister of War； which cost； I believe； twelve louis per annum。
It soon took a philosophic turn； embracing dissertations； criticisms
of the ministry； and of the government； desirable changes and；
therefore； the more diffused。〃 Sergeants like Hoche； and fencing…
masters like Augereau； certainly often read this news； carelessly left
lying on the tables； and commented on it during the evening in their
soldier quarters。 Discontent is of ancient date； and already； at the
end of the late reign； grievous words are heard。 At a banquet given by
a prince of the blood；＇11＇ with a table set for a hundred guests under
an immense tent and served by grenadiers； the odor these diffused
upset the prince's delicate nose。 〃These worthy fellows；〃 said he； a
little too loud； 〃smell strong of the stocking。〃 One of the grenadiers
bluntly responded； 〃Because we haven't got any；〃 which 〃was followed
by profound silence。〃 During the ensuring years irritation smolders
and augments； the soldiers of Rochambeau have fought side by side with
the free militia of America； and they keep this in mind。 In 1788；＇12＇
Marshal de Vaux； previous to the insurrection in Dauphiny； writes to
minister that 〃it is impossible to rely on the troops；〃 while four
months after the opening of the States…General 16；000 deserters
roaming around Paris leads the revolts instead of suppressing
them。＇13＇
II。
The social organization is dissolved。 … No central rallying
point。 … Inertia of the provinces。 … Ascendancy of Paris。
Once this barrier has disappeared； no other embankment remains
and the inundation spreads all over France like over an immense plain。
With other nations in like circumstances； some obstacles have been
encountered； elevations have existed； centers of refuge； old
constructions in which； in the universal fright； a portion of the
population could find shelter。 Here； the first crisis sweeps away all
that remains； each individual of the twenty…six scattered millions
standing alone by himself。 The administrations of Richelieu and Louis
XIV。 had been a long time at work insensibly destroying the natural
groupings which； when suddenly dissolved； unite and form over again of
their own accord。 Except in Vendée； I find no place； nor any class； in
which a good many men； having confidence in a few men； are able； in
the hour of danger； to rally around these and form a compact body。
Neither provincial nor municipal patriotism any longer exists。 The
inferior clergy are hostile to the prelates； the gentry of the
province to the nobility of the court； the vassal to the seignior； the
peasant to the townsman； the urban population to the municipal
oligarchy； corporation to corporation； parish to parish； neighbor to
neighbor。 All are separated by their privileges and their jealousies；
by the consciousness of having been imposed on； or frustrated； for the
advantage of another。 The journeyman tailor is embittered against his
foreman for preventing him from doing a day's work in private houses；
hairdressers against their employers for the like reason； the pastry…
cook against the baker who prevents him from baking the pies of
housekeepers； the village spinner against the town spinners who wish
to break him up； the rural wine…growers against the bourgeois who； in
the circle of seven leagues； strives to have their vines pulled
up；＇14＇ the village against the neighboring village whose reduction of
taxation has ruined it； the overtaxed peasant against the under taxed
peasant； one…half of a parish against its collectors； who； to its
detriment； have favored the other half。
〃The nation；〃 says Turgot； mournfully；＇15＇ 〃is a society composed
of different orders badly united and of a people whose members have
few mutual liens； nobody； consequently； caring for any interest but
his own。 Nowhere is there any sign of an interest in common。 Towns and
villages maintain no more relation with each other than the districts
to which they are attached； they are even unable to agree together
with a view to carry out public improvements of great importance to
them。〃
The central power for a hundred and fifty years rules through its
division of power。 Men have been kept separate； prevented from acting
in concert； the work being so successful that they no longer
understand each other； each class ignoring the other class； each
forming of the other a chimerical picture； each bestowing on the other
the hues of its own imagination； one composing an idyll； the other
framing a melodrama； one imagining peasants as sentimental swains； the
other convinced that the nobles are horrible tyrants。 … Through
this mutual misconception and this secular isolation； the French lose
the habit； the art and the faculty for acting in an entire body。 They
are no longer capable of spontaneous agreement and collective action。
No one； in the moment of danger； dares rely on his neighbors or on his
equals。 No one knows where to turn to obtain a guide。 〃A man willing
to be responsible for the smallest district cannot be found； and； more
than this； one man able to answer for another man＇16＇。〃 Utter and
irremediable disorder is at hand。 The Utopia of the theorists has been
accomplished； the savage condition has recommenced。 Individuals now
stand in by themselves； everyone reverting back to his original
feebleness； while his possessions and his life are at the mercy of the
first band that comes along。 He has nothing within him to control him
but the sheep…like habit of being led； of awaiting an impulsion； of
turning towards the accustomed center； towards Paris； from which his
orders have always arrived。 Arthur Young＇17＇ is struck with this
mechanical movement。 Political ignorance and docility are everywhere
complete。 He； a foreigner； conveys the news of Alsace into Burgundy：
the insurrection there had been terrible； the populace having sacked
the city…hall at Strasbourg； of which not a word was known at Dijon；
〃yet it is nine days since it happened； had it been nineteen I
question if they would more than have received the intelligence。〃
There are no newspapers in the cafés； no local centers of information；
of resolution； of action。 The province submits to events at the
capital； 〃people dare not move； they dare not even form an opinion
before Paris speaks。〃 … This is what Monarchical centralization leads
to。 It has deprived the