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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 political ideas slumber in uncultured minds in the
shape of vague antipathies； restrained aspirations； and fleeting
desires。 Behold them aroused … energetic； imperious； stubborn； and
unbridled。 Objection or opposition is not to be tolerated； dissent；
with them； is a sure sign of treachery。 … Apropos of the nonjuring
priests；＇40＇ five hundred and twenty…seven of the National Guards of
Arras write； 〃that no one could doubt their iniquity without being
suspected of being their accomplices。 。 。 。 Should the whole
town combine and express a contrary opinion； it would simply show
that it is filled with enemies of the Constitution；〃 and forthwith；
in spite of the law and the remonstrances of the authorities； they
insist on the closing of the churches。 At Boulogne…sur…Mer； an
English vessel having shipped a quantity of poultry； game； and eggs；
〃the National Guards； of their own authority；〃 go on board and
remove the cargo。 On the strength of this； the accommodating
municipal body approves of the act； declares the cargo confiscated；
orders it to be sold； and awards one…half of the proceeds to the
National Guards and the other half to charitable purposes。 The
concession is a vain one； for the National Guards consider that one…
half is too little； 〃insult and threaten the municipal officers；〃
and immediately proceed to divide the booty in kind； each one going
home with a share of stolen hams and chickens。＇41＇ The magistrates
must necessarily keep quiet with the guns of those they govern
pointed at them。 … Sometimes； and it is generally the case； they are
timid； and do not try to resist。 At Douai；＇42＇ the municipal
officers； on being summoned three times to proclaim martial law；
refuse； and end by avowing that they dare not unfold the red flag：
〃Were we to take this course we should all be sacrificed on the
spot。〃 Neither the troops nor the National Guards； in fact； are to
be relied on。 In this universal state of apathy the field is open
to savages； and a dealer in wheat is hung。 … Sometimes the
administrative corps tries to resist； but in the end it has to
succumb to violence。 〃For more than six hours；〃 writes one of the
members of the district of Etampes；＇43＇ 〃we were closed in by
bayonets leveled at us and with pistols at our breasts ； and they
were obliged to sign a dismissal of the troops which had arrived to
protect the market。 At present 〃we are all away from Etampes； there
is no longer a district or a municipality；〃 almost all have handed
in their resignations； or are to return for that purpose。 …
Sometimes； and this is the rarest case；＇44＇ the officials do their
duty to the end； and perish。 In this same town； six months later；
Simoneau； the mayor； having refused to cut down the price of wheat；
is beaten with iron…pointed sticks； and his corpse is riddled with
balls by the murderers。 … Municipal bodies must take heed how they
undertake to stem the torrent； the； slightest opposition will soon
be at the expense of their lives。 In Touraine；＇45＇ 〃as the
publication of the tax…rolls takes place； riots break out against
the municipal authorities； they are forced to surrender the rolls
they have drawn up； and their papers are torn up。〃 And still more；
〃they kill； they assassinate the municipal authorities。〃 In that
large commune men and women 〃beat and kick them with their fists and
sabots。 。 。 。 The mayor is laid up after it； and the procureur
of the commune died between nine and ten o'clock in the morning。
Véteau； a municipal officer； received the last sacrament this
morning ；〃 the rest have fled； being constantly threatened with
death and incendiarism。 They do not； consequently； return； and 〃no
one now will take the office of either mayor or administrator。〃 …
The outrages which the municipalities thus commit against their
superiors are committed against themselves。 The National Guards；
the mob； the controlling faction； arrogating to themselves in the
commune the same violent sovereignty which the commune pretends to
exercise against the State。
I should never finish if I undertook to enumerate the outbreaks in
which the magistrates are constrained to tolerate or to sanction
popular usurpations； to shut up churches； to drive off or imprison
priests； to suppress octrois； tax grain； and allow clerks； bakers；
corn…dealers； ecclesiastics； nobles； and officers to be hung； beaten
to death； or to have their throats cut。 Ninety…four thick files of
records in the national archives are filled with these acts of
violence； and do not contain two…thirds of them。 It is worth while
to take in detail one case more； a special one； and one that is
authentic； which serves as a specimen； and which presents a
foreshortened image of France during one tranquil year。 At Aix； in
the month of December； 1790；＇46＇ in Opposition to the two Jacobin
clubs； a club had been organized； had complied with all the
formalities； and； li