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Prairial separated and formed two camps of enemies； watching each
other with arms in hand； entrenched and making sorties on each other：
On one side are the simple bandits and the lowest of the populace； the
followers of Marat； incorrigible monomaniacs； headstrong； conceited
spirits proud of their crimes and disposed to repeat them rather than
admit their guilt； the dogmatic simpletons who go ahead with their
eyes shut and who have forgotten everything and learnt nothing。 On
the other side； men still possessing common sense； and who have
profited somewhat by experience； who know what a government of clubs
and pikes leads to； who fear for themselves and are unwilling to begin
again； step by step； the mad course on which at each stage； they have
come near perishing。
On one side two members of the Directory； the minority of the
Ancients； the majority of the Five Hundred； and the vilest of the
Parisian rabble。 On the other； the majority of the Ancients； the
minority of the Five Hundred and three members of the Directory； the
latter supported by their executive staff。＇142＇ …
Which of the two troops will crush the other？ Nobody knows； for most
of them are ready to pass from one to the other camp according as the
chances for success appear more or less great。 And； from day to day；
any defection amongst the Five Hundred； amongst the Ancients or in the
Directory； foreseen or not； may change a minority into a majority。
Where will the majority be to…morrow？ From which side is the next coup
d'état to come … Who will make it？ Will it be the ultra Jacobins；
and； through another 9th of Thermidor； will they declare the mitigated
Jacobins 〃outlaws？〃 Will it be the mitigated Jacobins； and； through
another 18th of Fructidor； will they put the ultras under lock and
key？ If one or the other of these blows is struck； will it succeed？
And if it succeeds will a stable government be at last established？
Siéyès well knows that it will not； he is farseeing in his acts；
although chimerical in his theories。 In power himself； titular
Director； counselor and guardian of the intelligent republic against
the stupid republic； he well knows that all of them； so long as they
are republicans of both bands； take a road without an issue。＇143＇
Barras is of the same opinion； and taking time by the forelock； turns
around and promises Louis XVIII。 his co…operation in restoring the
legitimate monarchy in exchange he receives letters patent granting
him full pardon； exemption from all future prosecution and a promise
of twelve millions。 …Siéyès； more sagacious； seeks force where it
exists； in the army； he prepares Joubert； sounds Moreati； thinks of
Jourdan； of Bernadotte and of Macdonald； before surrendering himself
to Bonaparte； 〃he requires a sword。〃 Boulay de la Meurthe； comparing
in a pamphlet the English revolution with the French revolution；
announces and brings on the establishment of a military protectorate。
… 〃The Constitution of the year III。 will not work；〃 said Baudin； one
of the Five Hundred； to Cornet； one of the Ancients； 〃only I do not
see where to find the executive arm。〃 The Jacobin republic still
lives； and its servants； its doctors； already speak aloud of its
interment the same as strangers and heirs in the room of a dying man
who has become unconscious； like Tiberius when sinking in his palace
at Misene。＇144＇ … If the expiring man does not go fast enough some one
will help him。 The old monster； borne down with crimes and rotten
with vices； rattles in his throat on his purple cushions； his eyes are
closed； his pulse is feeble； and he gasps for breath。 Here and there；
around is bed； stand groups of those who minister to his debauches at
Capri and his murders at Rome； his minions and executioners who
publicly take part in the new reign； the old one is finished； one need
no longer be circumspect and mute before corpse。 Suddenly the dying
man opens his eyes； speaks and asks for food。 The military tribune； 〃
the executive arm；〃 boldly clears the apartment； he throws a pile of
bedclothes over the old man's head and quickens the last sigh。 Such
is the final blow； an hour later and breathing stops。
X。 Contrast between Civil and Military France。
Anti…social character of the sect and the faction。 … Contrast between
civil and military France。 … Elements of reorganization in
institutions； habits； and in military sentiments。 … Character of the
régime instituted on the 18th of Brumaire； year VIII。
If the Jacobin Republic dies； it is not merely on account of decay；
nor because of its murders； but； and above all； because it is not born
viable： at the outset it harbored within itself a principle of
dissolution an innate mortal poison； not alone for others but for
itself。 … That which maintains a political society is the mutual
respect of its members； especially the respect of the governed for its
rulers and of the rulers for the governed； and； therefore； habits of
mutual trust and confidence。 On the part of the governed； a well…
grounded certainty that the rulers will not attack private rights；
and； on the part of the rulers； a well…founded certainty that the
governed will not attack public powers； both inwardly recognizing that
these rights； more or less broad or restricted； are inviolable； that
these powers； more or less ample or limited； are legitimate。 Finally；
each being convinced that； in case of conflict； the trial will be
conducted according to forms which law or custom provide； that pending
the discussion； the strongest will not abuse his strength； and that；
when the discussion is over； the successful party will not wholly
sacrifice the loser。 Only on this condition can there be harmony
between governors and the governed； participation of all in the common
work； internal tranquility； and； accordingly； stability； security；
well…being and force。 Without this deep and persistent disposition of
minds and hearts； the bond of union among men is absent。 It
constitutes the brightest of social sentiments； it may be said that
this is the soul of which the State is the body。 … Now； in the
Jacobin State； this soul has perished； it has not died out through
unforeseen accidents； but through a forced result of the system；
through a practical effect of the speculative theory； which；
converting each man into an absolute sovereign； sets every man warring
against other men； and which； under the pretence of regenerating the
human species； lets loose； authorizes and consecrates the worst
instincts of human nature； all the lusts of license； tyranny and
domination。 … In the name of a non…existent ideal people whom it
declares sovereign； the Jacobins have violently usurped all public
powers； brutally abolished all private rights； regarding the actual
living people as a beast of burden； and yet worse； as a robot；
subjecting their human machine to the cruelest restraints in order to
mechanically maintain it in the unnatural； rigid posture； which；
according to principles； they inflict upon it。 Thenceforth； all ties
are sundered between them and the nation； to prey upon； bleed and
starve this nation； to re…conquer it after it bad escaped them； to
repeatedly enchain and gag it … all this they could well do； but to
reconcile it to their government； never！ … Between them； and for the
same reason； through another consequence of the same theory； and
another effect of the same lusts； no bond between them would hold。
Each faction inside of the party； having forged its ideal people
according to its own logical process and necessities； exercised the
orthodox privilege of claiming the monopoly of sovereignty。＇145＇ To
secure the benefits of omnipotence； it has combated its rivals with
falsified； annulled or constrained elections； with plots and
mendacity； with ambushes and sudden assaults； with the pikes of the
rabble and with the bayonets of soldiers。 It has then massacred；
guillotined； shot； and deported the vanquished as tyrants； traitors or
rebels； and survivors do not forget this。 They have learnt what their
so called eternal constitutions amount to； they know how to estimate
their proclamations and oaths； their respect for law； justice； their
humanity； they understand them and know that they are all so many
fraternal Cains；＇146＇ all more or less debased； dangerous； soiled and
depraved by their work； the distrust is irremediable。 They can still
turn out manifests； decrees and cabals； and get up revolutions； but
they can no longer agree amongst themselves and heartily defer to the
justified ascendancy and recognized authority of any one or among
their own body。 … After ten years of mutual assault there is not one
among the three thousand legislators who have sat in the sovereign
assemblies that can count on the deference and loyalty of a hundred
Frenchmen。 The social body is disintegrated； amongst the millions of
disconnected atoms not a nucleus of spon