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twenty…seven； and their intellectual ballast consists of college
reminiscences； souvenirs of the law schools； and the common…places
picked up in the houses of Raynal and his associates。 As to Brissot
and Marat； who are ostentatious humanitarians； their knowledge of
France and of foreign countries consists in what they have seen
through the dormer windows of their garrets； and through utopian
spectacles。 In minds like these； empty or led astray； the Contrat…
Social could not fail to become a gospel； for it reduces political
science to a strict application of an elementary axiom which
relieves them of all study； and hands society over to the caprice of
the people； or； in other words； delivers it into their own hands。 …
… Hence they demolish all that remains of social institutions； and
push on equalization until everything is brought down to the same
level。
〃With my principles；〃 writes Desmoulins；＇19＇ 〃is associated the
satisfaction of putting myself where I belong； of showing my
strength to those who have despised me； of lowering to my level all
whom fortune has placed above me： my motto is that of all honest
people： 'No superiors！'〃
Thus； under the great name of Liberty； each vain spirit seeks its
revenge and finds its nourishment。 What is sweeter and more natural
than to justify passion by theory； to be factious in the belief that
this is patriotism； and to cloak the interests of ambition with the
interests of humanity？
Let us picture to ourselves these directors of public opinion as
they were three months earlier： Desmoulins； a briefless barrister；
living in furnished lodgings with petty debts； and on a few louis
extracted from his relations。 Loustalot； still more unknown； was
admitted the previous year to the Parliament of Bordeaux； and has
landed at Paris in search of a career。 Danton； another second…rate
lawyer； coming out of a hovel in Champagne； borrowed the money to
pay his expenses； while his stinted household is kept up only by
means of a louis which is given to him weekly by his father…in…law；
who is a coffee…house keeper。 Brissot； a strolling Bohemian；
formerly employee of literary pirates； has roamed over the world for
fifteen years； without bringing back with him either from England or
America anything but a coat out at elbows and false ideas； and；
finally； Marat； a writer that has been hissed； an abortive scholar
and philosopher； a misrepresenter of his own experiences； caught by
the natural philosopher Charles in the act of committing a
scientific fraud； and fallen from the top of his inordinate ambition
to the subordinate post of doctor in the stables of the Comte
d'Artois。 At the present time； Danton； President of the
Cordeliers； can arrest any one he pleases in his district； and his
violent gestures and thundering voice secure to him； till something
better turns up； the government of his section of the city。 A word
of Marat's has just caused Major Belzunce at Caen to be
assassinated。 Desmoulins announces； with a smile of triumph； that
〃a large section of the capital regards him as one among the
principal instigators of the Revolution； and that many even go so
far as to say that he is the author of it。〃 Is it to be supposed
that； borne so high by such a sudden jerk of fortune； they wish to
put on the drag and again descend？ and is it not clear that they
will aid with all their might the revolt which hoists them towards
the loftiest summits？ Moreover； the brain reels at a height like
this ； suddenly launched in the air and feeling as if everything was
tottering around them； they utter exclamations of indignation and
terror； they see plots on all sides； imagine invisible cords pulling
in an opposite direction； and they call upon the people to cut them。
With the full weight of their inexperience； incapacity； and
improvidence； of their fears； credulity； and dogmatic obstinacy；
they urge on popular attacks； and their newspaper articles or
discourses are all summed up in the following phrases：
〃Fellow…citizens； you； the people of the lower class； you who listen
to me； you have enemies in the Court and the aristocracy。 The
H？tel…de…Ville and the National Assembly are your servants。 Seize
your enemies with a strong hand； and hang them； and let your
servants know that they must quicken their steps！〃
Desmoulins styles himself 〃District…attorney of the gallows；〃＇20＇
and if he at all regrets the murders of Foulon and Berthier； it is
because this too expeditious judgment has allowed the proofs of
conspiracy to perish； thereby saving a number of traitors： he
himself mentions twenty of them haphazard； and little does he care
whether he makes mistakes。
〃We are in the dark； and it is well that faithful dogs should bark；
even at all who pass by； so that there may be no fear of robbers。〃
》From this time forth Marat＇21＇ denounces the King； the ministers；
the administration； the bench； the bar； the financial system and the
academies； all as 〃suspicious；〃 at all events the people only suffer
on their account。
〃The Government is monopolizing grain； to make us to pay through
the nose for a poisonous bread。〃
The Government； again； through a new conspiracy is about to blockade
Paris； so as to starve it with greater ease。 Utterances of this
kind； at such a time； are firebrands thrown upon fear and hunger to
kindle the flames of rage and cruelty。 To this frightened and
fasting crowd the agitators and newspaper writers continue to repeat
that it must act； and act alongside of the authorities； and； if need
be； against them。 In other words； We will do as we please； we are
the sole legitimate masters；
〃in a well…constituted government； the people as a body are the real
sovereign： our delegates are appointed only to execute our orders ；
what right has the clay to rebel against the potter？〃
On the strength of such principles； the tumultuous club which
occupies the Palais…Royal substitutes itself for the Assembly at
Versailles。 Has it not all the titles for this office？ The Palais…
Royal 〃saved the nation〃 on the 12th and 13th of July。 The Palais…
Royal； 〃through its spokesmen and pamphlets；〃 has made everybody and
even the soldiers 〃philosophers。〃 It is the house of patriotism；
〃the rendezvous of the select among the patriotic；〃 whether
provincials or Parisians； of all who possess the right of suffrage；
and who cannot or will not exercise it in their own district。 〃It
saves time to come to the Palais…Royal。 There is no need there of
appealing to the President for the right to speak； or to wait one's
time for a couple of hours。 The orator proposes his motion； and； if
it finds supporters； mounts a chair。 If he is applauded； it is put
into proper shape。 If he is hissed； he goes away。 This was the way
of the Romans。〃 Behold the veritable National Assembly ！ It is
superior to the other semi…feudal affair； encumbered with 〃six
hundred deputies of the clerg