按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
their conversation perfectly secure。 They are not imbued with that
sentiment of social danger which produces the veritable chief； the
man who subordinates the emotions of pity to the exigencies of the
public service。 They are not aware that it is better to mow down a
hundred conscientious citizens rather than let them hang a culprit
without a trial。 Repression； in their hands； is neither prompt；
rigid； nor constant。 They continue to be in the H？tel…de…Ville what
they were when they went into it； so many jurists and scribes；
fruitful in proclamations； reports； and correspondence。 Such is
wholly their role； and； if any amongst them； with more energy；
desires to depart from it； he has no hold on the commune which；
according to the Constitution； he has to direct； and on that armed
force which is entrusted to him with a view to insure the observance
of the laws。
To insure respect for authority； indeed； it must not spring up on
the spot and under the hands of its subordinates。 It loses its
prestige and independence when those who create it are precisely
those who have to submit to it。 For； in submitting to it； they
remember that they have created it。 This or that candidate among
them who has but lately solicited their suffrages is now a
magistrate who issues orders； and this sudden transformation is
their work。 It is with difficulty that they pass from the role of
sovereign electors to that of docile subjects of the administration；
and recognize a commander in one of their own creatures。＇25＇ On the
contrary； they will submit to his control only in their own fashion；
reserving to themselves in practice the powers the right to which
they have conferred on him。
〃We gave him his place； and he must do as we want him to do；〃
Such popular reasoning is the most natural in the world。 It is as
applicable to the municipal officer wearing his scarf as to the
officer in the National Guard wearing his epaulettes； the former as
well as the latter being conferred by the arbitrary voice of the
electors； and always seeming to them a gift which is revocable at
their pleasure。 The superior always； and more particularly in times
of danger or of great public excitement； seems； if directly
appointed by those whom he commands； to be their clerk。 … Such is
municipal authority at this epoch； intermittent； uncertain； and
weak； and all the weaker because the sword； whose hilt the men of
the H？tel…de…Ville seem to hold； does not always leave its scabbard
at their bidding。 They alone are empowered to summon the National
Guard； but it does not depend on them； and it is not at their
disposal。 To obtain its support it is needful that its independent
chiefs should be willing to respond to their requisition； that the
men should willingly obey their elected officers； that these
improvised soldiers should consent to quit their plow； their stores；
their workshops and offices； to lose their day； to patrol the
streets at night； to be pelted with stones； to fire on a riotous
crowd whose enmities and prejudices they often share。 Undoubtedly；
they will fire on some occasions； but generally they will remain
quiet； with their arms at rest； and； at last； they will grow weary
of a trying； dangerous； and constant service； which is disagreeable
to them； and for which they are not fitted。 They will not answer
the summons； or； if they do； they will come too late； and in too
small a number。 In this event； the regulars who are sent for； will
do as they do and remain quiet； following their example； while the
municipal magistrate； into whose hands the sword has glided； will be
able to do no more than make grievous reports； to his superiors of
the department or district； concerning the popular violence of which
he is a powerless witness。 … In other cases； and especially in the
country； his condition is worse。 The National Guard； preceded by
its drums； will come and take him off to the town hall to authorize
by his presence； and to legalize by his orders； the outrages that it
is about to commit。 He marches along seized by the collar； and
affixes his signature at the point of the bayonet。 In this case not
only is his instrument taken away from him； but it is turned against
of holding it by the hilt； he feels the point： the armed force which
he ought to make use of makes use of him。
IV。 On Universal Suffrage。
The National Guard as electors。 … Its great power。… Its important
task。 … The work imposed on active citizens。 … They avoid it。
Behold； then； the true sovereign； the elector； both National Guard
and voter。 They are the kings designed by the Constitution； there
he is； in every hierarchical stage； with his suffrage； with which to
delegate authority； and his gun to assure its exercise。 … Through
his free choice he creates all local powers； intermediary； central；
legislative； administrative； ecclesiastical； and judiciary。 He
appoints directly； and in the primary assemblies； the mayor； the
municipal board； the public prosecutor and council of the commune；
the justice of the peace and his assessors； and the electors of the
second degree。 Indirectly； and through these elected electors； he
appoints the administrators and procureurs…syndics of both district
and department； the civil and criminal judges； the public
prosecutor； bishops； and priests； the members of the National
Assembly and jurors of the higher National Court＇26＇。 All these
commissions which he issues are of short date； the principal ones；
those of municipal officer； elector； and deputy； having but two
years to run； at the end of this brief term their recipients are
again subject to his vote； in order that； if he is displeased with
them； he may replace them by others。 He must not be fettered in his
choice； in every well…conducted establishment the legitimate
proprietor must be free easily and frequently to renew his staff of
clerks。 He is the only one in whom confidence can be placed； and；
for greater security； all arms are given up to him。 When his clerks
wish to employ force he is the one to place it at their disposal。
Whatever he desired as elector he executes as National Guard。 On
two occasions he interferes； both times in a decisive manner； and
his control over the legal powers is irresistible because these are
born out of his vote and are obeyed only through his support。 … But
these rights are； at the same time； burdens。 The Constitution
describes him as an 〃active citizen；〃 and this he eminently is or
should be； since public action begins and ends with him； since
everything depends on his zeal and capacity； since the machine is
good and only works well in proportion to his discernment；
punctuality； calmness； firmness； discipline at the polls； and in the
ranks。 The law requires his services incessantly day and night； in
body and mind； as gendarme and as elector。 … How burdensome this
service of gendarme must be； can be judged by the number of riots。