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forced to draw between the actual state of things and the former one。
I saw what a privation the people had to endure in the loss of that
which； formerly； was the most imposing of all church ceremonies。
People of all ranks and ages were deeply affected and humble； and many
had tears in their eyes。〃 Now； in this respect； the Girondists； by
virtue of being philosophers； are more iconoclastic； more intolerant
than any one； and there is no reason for preferring them to their
adversaries。 At bottom； the government installed by the recent
electoral comedy； for the major portion of the Parisians； has no
authority but the fact of its existence； people put up with it because
there is no other； fully recognizing its worthlessness；＇59＇ it is a
government of strangers； of interlopers； of bunglers； of cantankerous；
weak and violent persons。 The Convention has no hold either on the
people or on the bourgeois class； and in proportion as it glides more
rapidly down the revolutionary hill； it breaks one by one the ties
with which it is still connected to the undecided。
In a reign of eight months the Convention has alienated public opinion
entirely。 〃Almost all who have property of any kind are
conservative；〃＇60＇ and all the conservatives are against it。 〃The
gendarmes here openly speak up against the Revolution； even up to the
revolutionary tribunal； whose judgments they loudly condemn。 All the
old soldiers detest the actual order of things。〃＇61＇ The volunteers
〃who come back from the army appear angry at putting the King to
death； and on that account they would flay all the Jacobins。〃＇62＇
No party in the Convention escapes this universal disaffection and
growing aversion。 〃If the question of guillotining the members of the
Convention could be put to an open vote； it would be carried against
them by a majority of nineteen…twentieths；〃＇63＇ which； in fact； is
about the proportion of electors who； through fright or disgust； keep
away from the polls。 Let the 〃Right〃 or the 〃Left〃 of the Convention
be victors or vanquished； that is a matter which concerns them； the
public at large does not enter into the discussions of its conquerors；
and no longer cares for either Gironde or 〃Mountain。〃 Its old
grievances always revive 〃against the Vergniauds； Guadets〃 and
company；＇64＇ it does not like them； and has no confidence in them； and
will let them be crushed without helping them。 The infuriates may
expel the Thirty…Two； if they choose； and put them under lock and key。
〃There is nothing the aristocracy （meaning by this； owners of
property； merchants； bankers； the rich； and the well…to…do）； desire so
much as to see them guillotined。〃＇65＇ 'Even the inferior aristocracy
（meaning petty tradesmen and head…workmen） take no more interest in
their fate than if they were so many escaped wild beasts 。 。 。
again caught and put in their cages。〃＇66＇ 〃Guadet； Pétion； Brissot；
would not find thirty persons in Paris who would take their part； or
even take the first step to save them。〃＇67＇
Apart from all this； it makes little difference whether the majority
has any preferences； its sympathies； if it has any； will never be
other than platonic。 It no longer counts for anything in either camp；
it has withdrawn from the battle…field； it is now simply the stakes of
the conflict； the prey and the booty of the winner。 For； unable or
unwilling to comply with the political system imposed on it； it is
self…condemned to utter powerlessness。 This system is the direct
government of the people by the people； with all that ensues；
permanence of the section assemblies； club debates in public； uproar
in the galleries； motions in the open air； mobs and manifestations in
the streets； nothing is less attractive and more impracticable to
civilized and busy people。 In our modern communities； work； the
family； and social intercourse absorb nearly all our time； hence； such
a system suits only the idle and rough outcasts who feel at home
there； the others refuse to enter an environment expressly set up for
singles； orphans； unskilled persons； living in lodgings； foul…mouthed；
lacking the sense of smell； with a gift of the gab； robust arms； tough
hide； solid haunches； expert in hustling； and with whom blows replace
arguments。＇68＇ After the September massacres； and on the opening
of the barriers； a number of proprietors and persons living on their
incomes； not alone the suspected but those who thought they might
become so； escaped from Paris； and； during the following months； the
emigration increases along with the danger。 Towards December rumor has
it that lists have been made up of former Feuillants； 〃we are assured
that during the past eight days more than fourteen thousand persons
have left the capital。〃＇69＇ According to the report of the Minister
himself；＇70＇ 〃many who are independent in fortune and position abandon
a city where the renewal of proscription is talked of daily。〃 〃
Grass grows in the finest streets；〃 writes a deputy； 〃while the
silence of the grave reigns in the Théba？des （isolated villas） of the
faubourg Saint…Germain。〃 As to the conservatives who remain； they
confine themselves to private life； from which it follows that； in the
political balance； those present are of no more account than the
absentees。 At the municipal elections in October； November； and
December； out of 160；000 registered voters； there are at first
144；000； then 150；000； and finally 153；000 who stay away from the
polls； these； certainly； and for a much better reason； do not show
themselves at the assemblies of their sections。 Commonly； out of three
or four thousand citizens； only fifty or sixty attend； one of these；
called a general assembly； which signifies the will of the people to
the Convention； is composed of twenty…five voters。＇71＇ Accordingly；
what would a sensible man； a friend of order； do in these dens of
fanatics？ He stays at home； as on stormy days； he lets the shower of
words spend itself； not caring to be spattered in the gutter of
nonsense which carries off the filth of this district。
If he leaves his house at all he goes out for a walk； the same as in
old times； to indulge the tastes he had under the old régime； those of
a talkative； curious on…looker and friendly stroller； of a Parisian
safe in his well run town。 〃Yesterday evening；〃 writes a man who
feels the coming Reign of Terror； 〃I took my stand in the middle of
the right alley of the Champs…Elysées；＇72＇ it was thronged with who
do you think？ Would you believe it； with moderates； aristocrats；
owners of property； and very pretty women； elegantly dressed； seeking
the caresses of the balmy spring breeze！ It was a charming sight。 All
were gay and smiling。 I was the only one that was not so。 。 。 I
withdrew hastily； and； on passing through the Tuileries garden； I saw
a repetition of what I had seen before； forty thousand wealthy people
scattered here and there； almost as many as Paris contains。〃 These
are evidently the sheep ready for the slaughter…house。 They no longer
think of defense； they have abandoned their posts to the sans…
culottes； 〃they refuse all civil and military functions；〃＇73＇ they
avoid doing duty in the National Guard and instead pay their
substitutes。 In short； they withdraw from a game which； in 1789； they
desired to play without understanding it； and in which； since the end
of 1791； they have always burnt their fingers。 The cards may be handed
over to others； especially as the cards are dirty and the players
fling them in each others' faces； as for themselves they are
spectators； they have no other ambitions。 〃Leave them their old
enjoyments；＇74＇ leave them the pleasure of going and coming throughout
the kingdom； but do not force them to take part in the war。 Subject
them to the heaviest taxation and they will not complain； nobody will
even know that they exist； while the most serious question that
disturbs them in their thoughtful days is； can one amuse one's self as
much under a republican form of government as under the ancient
régime？〃 They hope； perhaps； to escape under cover of inoffensive
neutrality。 Is it likely that the victor； whoever he is； will regard
people as enemies who are resigned to his rule before…hand？ 〃A
dandy＇75＇ alongside of me remarked； yesterday morning； 'They will not
take my arms away； for I never had any。' Alas；' I replied to him；
'don't make a boast of it； for you may find forty thousand simpletons
in Paris that would say the same thing； and； indeed； it is not at all
to the credit of Paris。'〃 Such is the blindness or self…complacency
of the city dweller who； having always lived under a good police； is
unwilling to change his habits； and is not aware that the time has
come for him to turn fighting man in his turn。
The manufacturers； the merchants and the man living on his income are
even less disposed than the independent gentleman； to give up his
private affairs for public af