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that they are statesmen。＇30＇ Because they have read Plutarch and 〃Le
Jeune Anacharsis；〃 because they aim to construct a perfect society out
of metaphysical conceptions； because they are in a ferment about the
coming millennium； they imagine themselves so many exalted spirits。
They have no doubt whatever on these two points even after everything
has fallen in through their blunders； even after their obliging hands
are sullied by the foul grasp of robbers whom they were the first to
instigate； and by that of executioners of which they are partners in
complicity。＇31＇ To this extent is self…conceit the worst of sophists。
Convinced of their superior enlightenment and of the purity of their
sentiments； they put forth the theory that the government should be in
their hands。 Consequently they lay hold of it in the Legislative body
in ways that are going to turn against them in the Convention。 They
accept for allies the worst demagogues of the extreme 〃Left；〃 Chabot；
Couthon； Merlin； Bazière； Thuriot； Lecointre； and outside of it；
Danton； Robespierre； Marat himself； all the levelers and destroyers
whom they think of use to them； but of whom they themselves are the
instruments。 The motions they make must pass at any cost and； to
ensure this； they let loose against their adversaries the low； yelping
mob which others； still more factious； will to…morrow let loose on
them。
V。
Their means of action。 Dispersion of the Feuillants' club。
Pressure of the tribunes on the Assembly。 Street mobs。
Thus； for the second time； the pretended freedom fighters seek power
by boldly employing force。 They begin by suppressing the meetings
of the Feuillants club。＇32＇ The customary riot is instigated against
these； whereupon ensue tumult； violent outcries and scuffles； mayor
Pétion complains of his position 〃between opinion and law；〃 and lets
things take their course； finally； the Feuillants are obliged to
evacuate their place of meeting。 … … Inside the Assembly they are
abandoned to the insolence of the galleries。 In vain do they get
exasperated and protest。 Ducastel； referring to the decree of the
Constituent Assembly； which forbids any manifestation of approbation
or disapprobation； is greeted with murmurs。 He insists on the decree
being read at the opening of each session； and 〃the murmurs begin
again。〃＇33＇ 〃Is it not scandalous；〃 says Vaublanc； 〃that the nation's
representatives speaking from the tribune are subject to hootings like
those bestowed upon an actor on the stage！〃 whereupon the galleries
give him three rounds more。 〃Will posterity believe；〃 says Quatremère；
〃that acts concerning the honor； the lives； and the fortunes of
citizens should be subject； like games in the arena； to the applause
and hisses of the spectators！〃 〃Come to the point！〃 shout the
galleries。 〃If ever；〃 resumes Quatremère； 〃the most important of
judicial acts （an act of capital indictment） can be exposed to this
scandalous prostitution of applause and menaces 。 。 。 〃 〃The murmurs
break out afresh。〃 Every time that a sanguinary or incendiary
measure is to be carried； the most furious and prolonged clamor stops
the utterance of its opponents： 〃Down with the speaker！ Send the
reporter of that bill to prison！ Down！ Down！ Sometimes only about
twenty of the deputies will applaud or hoot with the galleries； and
sometimes it is the entire Assembly which is insulted。 Fists are
thrust in the president's face。 All that now remains is 〃to call down
the galleries on the floor to pass decrees；〃 which proposition is
ironically made by one of the 〃Right。〃＇34＇
Great； however； as this usurpation may be； the minority； in order to
suppress the majority； accommodate themselves to it； the Jacobins in
the chamber making common cause with the Jacobins in the galleries。
The disturbers should not be put out； 〃it would be excluding from our
deliberations；〃 says Grangeneuve； 〃that which belongs essentially to
the people。〃 On one of the deputies demanding measures to enforce
silence； 〃Torné demands that the proposition be referred to the
Portugal inquisition。〃 Choudieu 〃declares that it can only emanate
from deputies who forget that respect which is due to the people；
their sovereign judge。〃＇35＇ 〃The action of the galleries；〃 says
Lecointe…Puyraiveaux； 〃is an outburst of patriotism。〃 Finally； this
same Choudieu； twisting and turning all rights about with incomparable
audacity； wishes to confer legislative privileges on the audience； and
demands a decree against the deputies who； guilty of popular lèse…
majesté； presume to complain of those who insult them。 Another
piece of oppressive machinery； still more energetic； operates outside
on the approaches to the Assembly。 Like their predecessors of the
Constituent Assembly； the members of the 〃Right〃 〃cannot leave the
building without encountering the threats and imprecations of enraged
crowds。 Cries of 'to the lantern！' greet the ears of Dumolard；
Vaublanc； Raucourd； and Lacretelle as often as those of the Abbé Maury
and Montlosier。〃＇36＇ After having hurled abuse at the president；
Mathieu Dumas； they insult his wife who has been recognized in a
reserved gallery。＇37＇ In the Tuileries； crowds are always standing
there listening to the brawlers who denounce suspected deputies by
name； and woe to any among them who takes that path on his way to the
chamber！ A broadside of insults greets him as he passes along。 If
the deputy happens to be a farmer； they exclaim： 〃Look at that queer
old aristocrat an old peasant dog that used to watch cows！〃 One day
Hua； on going up the steps of the Tuileries terrace； is seized by the
hair by an old vixen who bids him 〃Bow your head to your sovereigns；
the people； you bastard of a deputy！〃 On the 20th of June one of the
patriots； who is crossing the Assembly room； whispers in his ear； 〃You
scamp of a deputy； you'll never die but by my hand！〃 Another time；
having defended the juge…de…paix Larivière； there awaits him at the
door； in the middle of the night； 〃a set of blackguards； who crowd
around him and thrust their fists and cudgels in his face；〃 happily；
his friends Dumas and Daverhoult； two military officers； foreseeing
the danger； present their pistols and set him free 〃although with some
difficulty。〃 As the 10th of August draws near there is more open
aggression。 Vaublanc； for having defended Lafayette； just misses being
cut to pieces three times on leaving the Assembly； sixty of the
deputies are treated in the same fashion； being struck； covered with
mud； and threatened with death if they dare go back。＇38＇ With such
allies a minority is very strong。 Thanks to its two agencies of
constraint it will detach the votes it needs from the majority and；
either through terror or craft； secure the passage of all the decrees
it needs。
VI。
Parliamentary maneuvers。 Abuses of urgency。 Vote on the
principle。 Call by name。 …Intimidation of the 〃Center。〃
Opponents inactive。 The majority finally disposed of。
Sometimes it succeeds surreptitiously by rushing them through。 As
〃there is no order of the day circulated beforehand； and； in any
event； none which anybody is obliged to adhere to；〃＇39＇ the Assembly
is captured by surprise。 〃The first knave amongst the 'Left；' （which
expression； says Hua； I do not strike out； because there were many
among those gentlemen）； brought up a ready…made resolution； prepared
the evening before by a clique。 We were not prepared for it and
demanded that it should be referred to a committee。 Instead of doing
this； however； the resolution was declared urgent； and； whether we
would or not； discussion had to take place forthwith。〃＇40＇ 〃There
were other tactics equally perfidious； which Thuriot； especially；
made use of。 This great rascal got up and proposed； not the draft of a
law； but what he called a principle； for instance； a decree should be
passed confiscating the property of the émigrés； 。 。 or that unsworn
priests should be subject to special surveillance。＇41＇ 。 。 。 In
reply； he was told that his principle was the core of a law； the very
law itself； so let it be debated by referring it to a committee to
make a report on it。 Not at all the matter is urgent； a
committee might fix the articles as it pleases； they are worthless if
the principle is not common sense。〃 Through this expeditious method
discussion is stifled。 The Jacobins purposely prevent the Assembly
from giving the matter any consideration。 They count on its
bewilderment。 In the name of reason； they discard reason as far as
they can； and hasten a vote because their decrees do not stand up to
analysis。 At other times； and especially on grand occasions； they
compel a vote。 In general； votes are given by the members either
sitting down or standing up； and； for the four hundred deputies of the
〃Center；〃 subject to the scolding of the exasperated galleries； it is
a tolerably hard tri