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the origins of contemporary france-2-第61章

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the spot and under the hands of its subordinates。  It loses its

prestige and independence when those who create it are precisely

those who have to submit to it。  For; in submitting to it; they

remember that they have created it。  This or that candidate among

them who has but lately solicited their suffrages is now a

magistrate who issues orders; and this sudden transformation is

their work。  It is with difficulty that they pass from the role of

sovereign electors to that of docile subjects of the administration;

and recognize a commander in one of their own creatures。'25' On the

contrary; they will submit to his control only in their own fashion;

reserving to themselves in practice the powers the right to which

they have conferred on him。



 〃We gave him his place; and he must do as we want him to do;〃



Such popular reasoning is the most natural in the world。  It is as

applicable to the municipal officer wearing his scarf as to the

officer in the National Guard wearing his epaulettes; the former as

well as the latter being conferred by the arbitrary voice of the

electors; and always seeming to them a gift which is revocable at

their pleasure。  The superior always; and more particularly in times

of danger or of great public excitement; seems; if directly

appointed by those whom he commands; to be their clerk。 … Such is

municipal authority at this epoch; intermittent; uncertain; and

weak; and all the weaker because the sword; whose hilt the men of

the H?tel…de…Ville seem to hold; does not always leave its scabbard

at their bidding。  They alone are empowered to summon the National

Guard; but it does not depend on them; and it is not at their

disposal。  To obtain its support it is needful that its independent

chiefs should be willing to respond to their requisition; that the

men should willingly obey their elected officers; that these

improvised soldiers should consent to quit their plow; their stores;

their workshops and offices; to lose their day; to patrol the

streets at night; to be pelted with stones; to fire on a riotous

crowd whose enmities and prejudices they often share。  Undoubtedly;

they will fire on some occasions; but generally they will remain

quiet; with their arms at rest; and; at last; they will grow weary

of a trying; dangerous; and constant service; which is disagreeable

to them; and for which they are not fitted。  They will not answer

the summons; or; if they do; they will come too late; and in too

small a number。  In this event; the regulars who are sent for; will

do as they do and remain quiet; following their example; while the

municipal magistrate; into whose hands the sword has glided; will be

able to do no more than make grievous reports; to his superiors of

the department or district; concerning the popular violence of which

he is a powerless witness。 … In other cases; and especially in the

country; his condition is worse。  The National Guard; preceded by

its drums; will come and take him off to the town hall to authorize

by his presence; and to legalize by his orders; the outrages that it

is about to commit。  He marches along seized by the collar; and

affixes his signature at the point of the bayonet。  In this case not

only is his instrument taken away from him; but it is turned against

of holding it by the hilt; he feels the point: the armed force which

he ought to make use of makes use of him。







IV。  On Universal Suffrage。



The National Guard as electors。 … Its great power。… Its important

task。 … The work imposed on active citizens。 … They avoid it。



Behold; then; the true sovereign; the elector; both National Guard

and voter。  They are the kings designed by the Constitution; there

he is; in every hierarchical stage; with his suffrage; with which to

delegate authority; and his gun to assure its exercise。 … Through

his free choice he creates all local powers; intermediary; central;

legislative; administrative; ecclesiastical; and judiciary。  He

appoints directly; and in the primary assemblies; the mayor; the

municipal board; the public prosecutor and council of the commune;

the justice of the peace and his assessors; and the electors of the

second degree。  Indirectly; and through these elected electors; he

appoints the administrators and procureurs…syndics of both district

and department; the civil and criminal judges; the public

prosecutor; bishops; and priests; the members of the National

Assembly and jurors of the higher National Court'26'。  All these

commissions which he issues are of short date; the principal ones;

those of municipal officer; elector; and deputy; having but two

years to run; at the end of this brief term their recipients are

again subject to his vote; in order that; if he is displeased with

them; he may replace them by others。  He must not be fettered in his

choice; in every well…conducted establishment the legitimate

proprietor must be free easily and frequently to renew his staff of

clerks。  He is the only one in whom confidence can be placed; and;

for greater security; all arms are given up to him。  When his clerks

wish to employ force he is the one to place it at their disposal。

Whatever he desired as elector he executes as National Guard。  On

two occasions he interferes; both times in a decisive manner; and

his control over the legal powers is irresistible because these are

born out of his vote and are obeyed only through his support。 … But

these rights are; at the same time; burdens。  The Constitution

describes him as an 〃active citizen;〃 and this he eminently is or

should be; since public action begins and ends with him; since

everything depends on his zeal and capacity; since the machine is

good and only works well in proportion to his discernment;

punctuality; calmness; firmness; discipline at the polls; and in the

ranks。  The law requires his services incessantly day and night; in

body and mind; as gendarme and as elector。 … How burdensome this

service of gendarme must be; can be judged by the number of riots。

How burdensome that of elector must be; the list of elections will

show。



In February; March; April; and May; 1789; there are prolonged parish

meetings; for the purpose of choosing electors and writing out

grievances; also bailiwick meetings of still longer duration to

choose deputies and draw up the memorial。  During the months of July

and August; 1789; there are spontaneous gatherings to elect or

confirm the municipal bodies; other spontaneous meetings by which

the militia is formed and officered; and then; following these;

constant meetings of this same militia to fuse themselves into a

National Guard; to renew officers and appoint deputies to the

federative assemblies。  In December; 1789; and January; 1790; there

are primary meetings; to elect municipal officers and their

councils。  In May; 1790; there are primary and secondary meetings;

to appoint district and departmental administrators。  In October;

1790; there are primary meetings; to elect the justice of the peace

and his assessors; also secondary meetings; to elect the district

courts。  In November; 1790; there are primary meetings; to renew

one…half of the municipal bodies。  In February and March; 1791;

there are secondary meetings; to nominate the bishop and curés。  In

June; July; August; September; 1791; there are primary and secondary

meetings; to renew one…half of the district and departmental

administrators; to nominate the president; the public prosecutor;

and the clerk of the criminal court; and to choose deputies。  In

November; 1791; there are primary meetings to renew one…half of the

municipal council。  Observe that many of these elections drag along

because the voters lack experience; because the formalities are

complicated; and because opinions are divided。  In August and

September; 1791; at Tours; they are prolonged for thirteen days;'27'

at Troyes; in January; 1790; instead of three days they last for

three weeks; at Paris; in September and October; 1791; only for the

purpose of choosing deputies; they last for thirty…seven days; in

many places their proceedings are contested; annulled; and begun

over again。  To these universal gatherings; which put all France in

motion; we must add the local gatherings by which a commune approves

or gainsays its municipal officers; makes claims on the department;

on the King; or on the Assembly; demands the maintenance of its

parish priest; the provisioning of its market; the arrival or

dispatch of a military detachment; … and think of all that these

meetings; petitions; and nominations presuppose in the way of

preparatory committees and preliminary meetings and debates! Every

public representation begins with rehearsals in secret session。  In

the choice of a candidate; and; above all; of a list of candidates;

in the appointment in each commune of from three to twenty…one

municipal officers; and from six to forty…two notables; in the

selec
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