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Parisian municipal body having proposed it； the Assembly decrees the
universal federation。 It is to take place on the 14th of July；
everywhere on the same day； both at the center and at the
extremities of the kingdom。 There is to be one in the principal
town of each district and of each department； and one in the
capital。 To the latter each body of the National Guards is to send
deputies in the proportion of one man to every two hundred； and each
regiment one officer； one non…commissioned officer； and four
privates。 Fourteen thousand representatives of the National Guard
of the provinces appear on the Champ de Mars； the theater of the
festival； also eleven to twelve thousand representatives of the land
and marine forces； besides the National Guard of Paris； and sixty
thousand spectators on the surrounding slopes； with a still greater
crowd on the heights of Chaillot and of Passy。 All rise to their
feet and swear fidelity to the nation； to the law； to the King and
to the new Constitution。 When the report of the cannon is heard
which announces the taking of the oath； those of the Parisians who
have remained at home； men； women； and children； raise their hands
in the direction of the Champ de Mars and likewise make their
affirmation。 In every principal town of every district； department；
and commune in France there is the same oath on the same day。 Never
was there a more perfect social compact heard of。 Here； for the
first time in the world； everybody beholds a veritable legitimate
society； for it is founded on free pledges； on solemn stipulations；
and on actual consent。 They possess the authentic act and the dated
official report of it。＇4＇
There is still something more … the time and the occasion betoken a
union of all hearts。 The barriers which have hitherto separated men
from each other are all removed and without effort。 Provincial
antagonisms are now to cease： the confederates of Brittany and Anjou
write that they no longer desire to be Angevins and Bretons； but
simply Frenchmen。 All religious discords are to come to an end： at
Saint…Jean…du…Gard； near Alais； the Catholic curé and the Protestant
pastor embrace each other at the altar； the pastor occupies the best
seat in the church； and at the Protestant meeting…house the curé has
the place of honor； and listens to the sermon of the pastor。＇5＇
Distinctions of rank and condition will no longer exist； at Saint…
Andéol 〃 the honor of taking the oath in the name of the people is
conferred on two old men； one ninety…three and the other ninety…four
years of age； one a noble and a colonel of the National Guard； and
the other a simple peasant。〃 At Paris； two hundred thousand persons
of all conditions； ages； and sexes； officers and soldiers； monks and
actors； school…boys and masters； dandies and ragamuffins； elegant
ladies and fishwives； workmen of every class and the peasants from
the vicinity； all flocked to the Champ de Mars to dig the earth
which was not ready； and in a week； trundling wheelbarrows and
handling the pick…ax as equals and comrades； all voluntarily yoked
in the same service； converted a flat surface into a valley between
two hills。 … At Strasbourg； General Luckner； commander…in…chief；
worked a whole afternoon in his shirt…sleeves just like the
commonest laborer。 The confederates are fed； housed； and have their
expenses paid everywhere on all the roads。 At Paris the publicans
and keepers of furnished houses lower their prices of their own
accord； and do not think of robbing their new guests。 〃The
districts；〃 moreover； 〃feast the provincials to their heart's
content。＇6＇ There are meals every day for from twelve to fifteen
hundred people。〃 Provincials and Parisians； soldiers and bourgeois；
seated and mingled together； drink each other's health and embrace。
The soldiers； especially； and the inferior officers are surrounded；
welcomed； and entertained to such an extent that they lose their
heads； their health； and more besides。 One 〃old trooper； who had
been over fifty years in the service； died on the way home； used up
with cordials and excess of pleasure。〃 In short； the joy is
excessive； as it should be on the great day when the wish of an
entire century is accomplished。 … Behold ideal felicity； as
displayed in the books and illustrations of the time！ The natural
man buried underneath an artificial civilization is disinterred； and
again appears as in early days； as in Tahiti； as in philosophic and
literary pastorals； as in bucolic and mythological operas；
confiding； affectionate； and happy。 〃The sight of all these beings
again restored to the sweet sentiments of primitive brotherhood is
an exquisite delight almost too great for the soul to support；〃 and
the Frenchman； more light…hearted and far more childlike than he is
to…day； gives himself up unrestrainedly to his social； sympathetic；
and generous instincts。 Whatever the imagination of the day offers
him to increase his emotions； all the classical； rhetorical； and
dramatic material at his command； are employed for the embellishment
of his festival。 Already wildly enthusiastic； he is anxious to
increase his enthusiasm。 … At Lyons； the fifty thousand confederates
from the south range themselves in line of battle around an
artificial rock； fifty feet high； covered with shrubs； and
surmounted by a Temple of Concord in which stands a huge statue of
Liberty； the steps of the rock are decked with flags； and a solemn
mass precedes the administration of the oath。 … At Paris； an alter
dedicated to the nation is erected in the middle of the Champ de
Mars； which is transformed into a colossal circus。 The regular
troops and the federations of the departments stand in position
around it； the King being in front with the Queen and the dauphin；
while near them are the princes and princesses in a gallery； and the
members of the National Assembly in an amphitheater； two hundred
priests； draped in their albs and with tricolored belts； officiate
around Talleyrand； Bishop of Autun； three hundred drums and twelve
hundred musicians all play at once； forty piece of cannon are
discharged at one volley； and four hundred thousand cheers go up as
if from one threat。 Never was such an effort made to intoxicate the
senses and strain the nerves beyond their powers of endurance！ … The
moral machine is made to vibrate to the same and even to a greater
extent。 For more than a year past； harangues； proclamations；
addresses； newspapers and events have daily added one degree more to
the pressure。 On this occasion； thousands of speeches； multiplied
by myriads of newspapers； carry the enthusiasm to the highest pitch。
Declamation foams and rolls along in a steady stream of rhetoric
everywhere throughout France。＇7＇ In this state of excitement the
difference between magniloquence and sincerity； between the false
and the true； between show and substance； is no longer
distinguishable。 The Federation becomes an opera which