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evening； and 〃about six thousand men； found without a certificate of
civism；〃 are arrested； subject to the decision one by one of their
section。 Not only does the lightning flash； but already the bolt
descends in isolated places。＇38＇ On the 31st of December a man named
Louvain； formerly denounced by Marat as Lafayette's agent； is slain in
the faubourg St。 Antoine； and his corpse dragged through the streets
to the Morgue。 On the 25th of February； the grocer shops are pillaged
at the instigation of Marat； with the connivance or sanction of the
Commune。 On the 9th of March the printing establishment of Gorsas is
sacked by two hundred men armed with sabers and pistols。 The same
evening and on the next morning the riot extends to the Convention
itself； 〃the committee of the Jacobin club summons every section in
Paris to arms to 〃get rid〃 of the appelant deputies and the ministers；
the Cordeliers club requests the Parisian authorities 〃to take
sovereignty into their own hands and place the treacherous deputies
under arrest〃； Fournier； Varlet； and Champion ask the Commune 〃to
declare itself in insurrection and close the barriers〃； all the
approaches to the Convention are occupied by the 〃dictators of
massacre；〃 Pétion＇39＇ and Beurnonville being recognized on their
passing； pursued and in danger of death； while furious mobs gather on
the Feuillants terrace 〃to award popular judgment；〃 〃to cut off heads〃
and 〃send them into the departments。〃 Luckily； it rains； which
always cools down popular effervescence。 Kervélegan； a deputy from
Finistère； who escapes； finds means of sending to the other end of the
faubourg St。 Marceau for a battalion of volunteers from Brest that had
arrived a few days before； and who were still loyal； these come in
time and save the Convention。 Thus does the majority live under the
triple pressure of the 〃Mountain；〃 the galleries and the outside
populace； and from month to month； especially after March 10； the
pressure gets to be worse and worse。
III。 Physical fear and moral cowardice。
Defection among the majority。 Effect of physical fear。 Effect
of moral cowardice。 Effect of political necessity。 Internal
weakness of the Girondins。 Accomplices in principle of the
Montagnards。
Month by month the majority relents under this pressure。 Some are
simply overcome by physical fear。 On the King's trial； at the third
call of the House； as the deputies on the upper benches voted one by
one for his death； the deputy alongside Daunou 〃showed in a most
energetic manner his disapproval of this。〃 On his turn coming； 〃the
galleries； which had undoubtedly noticed his attitude；〃 burst out in
such violent threats that for some minutes his voice could not be
heard； 〃silence was at length restored； and he voted death。〃＇40＇
Others； like Durand…Maillane； 〃warned by Robespierre that the
strongest party is the safest；〃 say to themselves 〃that it is prudent；
and necessary not to annoy the people in their furor；〃 make up their
minds 〃to keep aloof shielded by their silence and
insignificance。〃＇41＇ Among the five hundred deputies of the Plain；
many are of this stamp。 They begin to be called 〃the Marsh Frogs。〃 In
six months they settle down of themselves into so many silent
onlookers； or； rather； homicidal puppets； 〃whose hearts； shrunk
through fear； rise in their throats〃＇42＇ every time that Robespierre
looks at them。 Long before the fall of the Girondists； 〃downcast at
the present state of things； and no longer finding any inspiration in
their heart；〃 their faces already disclosing 〃the pallor of fear or
the resignation of despair。＇43＇ Cambacérès hedges to find shelter in
his Committee on Legislation。＇44＇ Barrère； born a valet； and a valet
ready for anything； places his southern mode of doing things at the
service of the probable majority； up to the time of devoting his cruel
rhetoric to the service of the dominant minority。 Sièyes； after
casting his vote for death； maintains an obstinate silence； as much
through disgust as through prudence：
〃What does my glass of wine matter in this torrent of booze？〃＇45＇
Many； even among the Girondists； use sophistry to color their
concessions in their own eyes。 Some among these 〃think that they enjoy
some degree of popularity； and fear that this will be compromised。＇46＇
Again； they put forth the pretext of the necessity of maintaining
one's influence for important occasions。 Occasionally； they affect to
say； or say it in good faith； Let them （the extravagant） keep on； they
will find each other out and use themselves up。〃 Frequently； the
motives alleged are scandalous or grotesque。 According to Barbaroux；
immediate execution must be voted； because that is the best way to
exculpate the Gironde and shut the mouths of their Jacobin
calumniators。＇47＇ According to Berlier； it is essential to vote death
for； why vote for exile？ Louis XVI。 would be torn to pieces before
reaching the frontier。＇48＇ On the eve of the verdict； Vergniaud
says to M。 de Ségur： 〃I vote Death？ It is an insult to suppose me
capable of such a disgraceful act！〃 And； 〃he sets forth the frightful
iniquity of such a course； its uselessness； and even its danger。〃 〃I
would rather stand alone in my opinion than vote Death！〃＇49＇ The next
day； having voted Death； he excuses himself by saying 〃that he did not
think he ought to put the life of one man in the scale against the
public welfare。〃＇50＇ Fifteen or twenty deputies； influenced by his
example； voted as he did； which was enough to turn the majority。＇51＇
The same weakness is found at other decisive moments。 Charged with the
denunciation of the conspiracy of the 10th of March； Vergniaud
attributes it to the aristocrats； and admits to Louvet that 〃he did
not wish to name the real conspirators for fear of embittering violent
men already pushing things to excess。〃＇52＇ The truth is； the
Girondists； as formerly the Constitutionalists； are too civilized for
their adversaries； and submit to force for lack of resolution to
employ it themselves。
〃To put down the faction；〃 says one of them；＇53＇ 〃can be done only by
cutting its throat； which； perhaps； would not be difficult to do。 All
Paris is as weary as we are of its yoke； and if we had any liking for
or knowledge how to deal with insurrections； we could soon throw it
off。 But how can we make men adopt such necessary atrocious measures
when they are criticizing their adversaries for taking these？ And yet
they would have saved the country。〃 Consequently； incapable of action；
able only to talk； reduced to protests； to barring the way to
revolutionary decrees； to making appeals to the department against
Paris； they stand as an obstacle to all the practical people who are
heartily engaged in the brunt of the action。 〃There is no doubt
that Carnot is as honest as they are； as honest as a fanatic spectator
can be。〃＇54＇ Cambon； undoubtedly with as much integrity as Roland；
spoke as loudly up as he against the 2nd of September； the Commune；
and anarchy。＇55＇ But； to Carnot and Cambon； who pass their nights；
one in establishing his budgets； and the other in studying his
military maps； they require； first of all； a government which will
provide them with money and with soldiers； and； therefore； an
unscrupulous and unanimous Convention ； that is to say； there being no
other expedient； a Convention under compulsion； i。e。 a Convention
purged of troublesome some； dissentient speakers；＇56＇ in other words；
the dictatorship of the Parisian proletariat。 After the 15th of
December； 1792； Cambon completely accepts this； and even erects the
dictatorship of the proletariat into an European system。 From that
time＇57＇ he preaches universal sans…culotterie； a form of government
in which the poor will rule and the rich will pay； in short； the
restoration of privileges in an inverse sense。 The later expression of
Siéyès which has already come true： the problem is no longer how to
apply the principles of the Revolution； but the salvation of its men。
Faced with this more and more distressing imperative； many of
undecided deputies go with the tide； letting the Montagnards have
their own way and separate themselves from the Girondists。
And； what is graver still； the Girondists； apart from all these
defections； are untrue to themselves。 Not only are they ignorant of
how to draw a line； of how to form themselves into a compact body： not
only 〃is the very idea of a collective proceeding repulsive； each
member desiring to keep himself independent。 and act as he thinks
best；〃＇58＇ make motions without consulting others； and vote as the
occasion calls for against his party； but； through its abstract
principle； they are in accord with their adversaries； and； on the
fatal declivity whereon their honorable and humane instincts still
retain them； this common dogma； like a concealed weight； causes them
to sink lower and lower down；