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the origins of contemporary france-2-第71章

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the King; at the request of the National Assembly;'34' order the

municipality to restore the forts to the commandants; and to make

the National Guards leave them。  The municipal authorities become

indignant; and resist。  According to them the wrong is all on the

side of the commandant and the ministers。  It is the commandants

who; 〃with the threatening equipment of their citadels; their stores

of provisions and of artillery; are disturbers of the public peace。

What does the minister mean by driving the national troops out of

the forts; in order to entrust their guardianship to foreign troops?

His object is apparent in this plan 。  。  。  。  he wants to kindle

civil war。〃  … 〃All the misfortunes of Marseilles originate in the

secret under…standing existing between the ministers and the enemies

of the State。〃 The municipal corps is at last obliged to evacuate

the forts; but it is determined not to give them up。  The day

following that on which it receives the decree of the National

Assembly; it conceives the design of demolishing them。  On the 17th

of May; two hundred laborers; paid in advance; begin the work of

destruction。  To save appearances the municipal body betakes itself

at eleven o'clock in the morning to the different localities; and

orders them to stop。  But; on its departure; the laborers keep on;

and; at six o'clock in the evening; a resolution is passed that; 〃to

prevent the entire demolition of the citadel; it is deemed advisable

to authorize only that of the part overlooking the town。〃 On the

18th of May the Jacobin club; at once agent; accomplice; and

councilor of the municipal body; compels private individuals to

contribute something towards defraying the expenses of the

demolition。  It 〃sends round to every house; and to the syndics of

all corporations; exacting their quotas; and making all citizens

subscribe a document by which they appear to sanction the action of

the municipal body; and to express their thanks to it。  People had

to sign it; pay; and keep silent。  Woe to any one that refused !〃 On

the 20th of May the municipal body presumes to write to the

Assembly; that 〃this threatening citadel; this odious monument of a

stupendous despotism; is about to disappear。〃 To justify its

disobedience; it takes occasion to remark; 〃that the love of country

is the most powerful and most enduring of an empire's ramparts。〃 On

the 28th of May it secures the performance in two theaters of a

piece representing the capture of the forts of Marseilles; for the

benefit of the men engaged in their demolition。  Meanwhile; it has

summoned the Paris Jacobins to its support; it has proposed to

invite the Lyons federation and all the municipalities of the

kingdom to denounce the minister。  It has forced M。  de Miran;

threatened with death and watched by a party in ambush on the road;

to quit Aix; and then demands his recall。'35'  Only on the 6th of

June does it decide; at the express command of the National

Assembly; to suspend the almost completed demolition。 … ?Authorities

to which obedience is due could not be treated more insolently。  The

end; however; is attained; there is no longer a citadel; and the

troops have departed; the regiment commanded by Ernest alone

remains; to be tampered with; insulted; and then sent off。  It is

ordered to Aix; and the National Guard of Marseilles will go there

to disarm and disband it。  Henceforth the municipal body has full

sway。  It 〃observes only those laws which suit it; makes others to

its own liking; and; in short; governs in the most despotic and

arbitrary manner。〃'36'  And not only at Marseilles; but throughout

the department where; under no authority but its own; it undertakes

armed expeditions and makes raids and sudden attacks。







III。



Independent Assemblies。 … Why they took the initiative。 … The people

in council。 … Powerlessness of the municipalities。 … the violence to

which they are subject。 … Aix in 1790。 … Government disobeyed and

perverted everywhere。



Were it but possible for the dissolution to stop here! But each

commune is far from being a tranquil little state under the rule of

a body of respected magistrates。  The same causes which render

municipalities rebellious against the central authority render

individuals rebellious against local authority。  They also feel that

they are in danger and want to provide for their own safety。  They

also; in virtue of the Constitution and of circumstances; believe

themselves appointed to save the country。  They also consider

themselves qualified to judge for themselves on all points and

entitled to carry out their judgments with their own hands。  The

shopkeeper; workman or peasant; at once elector and National Guard;

furnished with his vote and a musket; suddenly becomes the equal and

master of his superiors; instead of obeying; he commands; while all

who see him again after some years' absence; find that 〃in his

demeanor and manner all is changed。〃 〃There was great agitation

everywhere;〃'37' says M。 de Ségur; 〃I noticed groups of men talking

earnestly in the streets and on the squares。  The sound of the drum

struck my ear in the villages; while I was astonished at the great

number of armed men I encountered in the little towns。  On

interrogating various persons among the lower classes they would

reply with a proud look and in a bold and confident tone。  I

observed everywhere the effect of those sentiments of equality and

liberty which had then become such violent passions。〃  … Thus

exalted in their own eyes they believed themselves qualified to take

the lead in everything; not only in local affairs; but also in

general matters。  France is to be governed by them; by virtue of the

Constitution they arrogate to themselves the right; and; by dint of

ignorance; attribute to themselves the capacity; to govern it。  A

torrent of new; shapeless; and disproportionate ideas have taken

possession of their brains in the space of a few months。  Vast

interests about which they have never thought; have to be

considered。  Government; royalty; the church; creeds; foreign

powers; internal and external dangers; what is occurring at Paris

and at Coblentz; the insurrection in the Low Countries; the acts of

the cabinets of London; Vienna; Madrid; Berlin; and; of all this;

they inform themselves as they best can。  An officer;'38' who

traverses France at this time; narrates that at the post…stations

they made him wait for horses until he had 〃given them details。  The

peasants stopped my carriage in the middle of the road and

overwhelmed me with questions。  At Autun; I was obliged; in spite of

the cold; to talk out of a window opening upon the square and tell

what I knew about the Assembly。〃  … These on…dits are all changed

and amplified in passing from mouth to mouth。  They finally become

circumstantial stories adapted to the caliber of the minds they pass

into and to the dominant passion that propagates them。  Trace the

effect of these fables in the house of a peasant or fish…woman in an

outlying village or a populous suburb; on brutish or almost brutal

minds; especially when they are lively; heated; and over…excited  …

the effect is tremendous。  For; in minds of this stamp; belief is at


once converted into action; and into rude and destructive action。

It is an acquired self…control; reflection; and culture which

interposes between belief and action the solicitude for social

interests; the observance of forms and respect for the law。  These

restraints are all wanting in the new sovereign。  He does not know

how to stop and will not suffer himself to be stopped。  Why so many

delays when the peril is urgent? What is the use of observing

formalities when the safety of the people is at stake? What is there

sacred in the law when it protects public enemies? What is more

pernicious than passive deference and patient waiting under timid or

blind officials? What can be more just than to do one's self justice

at once and on the spot?  … Precipitation and passion; in their

eyes; are both duties and merits。  One day 〃the militia of Lorient

decide upon marching to Versailles and to Paris without considering

how they are to get over the ground or what they will do on their

arrival。〃'39'  Were the central government within reach they would

lay their hands on it。  In default of this they substitute

themselves for it on their own territory; and exercise its functions

with a full conviction of right; principally those of gendarme;

judge; and executioner。



During the month of October; 1789; at Paris; after the assassination

of the baker Fran?ois; the leading murderer; who is a porter at the

grain depot; declares 〃that he wanted to avenge the nation。〃 It is

quite probable that this declaration is sincere。  In his mind;

assassination is one of the forms of patriotism; and it does not

take long for his way of thinking to become prevalent。  In ordinary

times; social and 
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