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！
the official record of his acts； he is satisfied that human society
has come to an end； and that each local group has the right to begin
over again and apply in its own way the Constitution which it has
accorded to itself without reference to anybody else。 … This man；
undoubtedly； talks too loudly； an proceeds too quickly； and first
the bailiwick； next the Chatelet； and afterwards the National
Assembly temporarily put a stop to his proceedings； but his
principle is a popular one； and the forty thousand communes of
France are about to act like so many distinct republics； under the
sentimental and constantly more powerless reprimands of the central
authority。
Excited and invigorated by a new sentiment； men now abandon
themselves to the proud consciousness of their own power and
independence。 Nowhere is greater satisfaction found than among the
new local chiefs； the municipal officers and commanders of the
National Guard； for never before has such supreme authority and such
great dignity fallen upon men previously so submissive and so
insignificant。 … Formerly the subordinates of an intendant or sub…
delegate； appointed； maintained； and ill…used by him； kept aloof
from transactions of any importance； unable to defend themselves
except by humble protestations against the aggravation of taxation；
concerned with precedence and the conflicts of etiquette；＇16＇ plain
townspeople or peasants who never dreamt of interfering in military
matters； henceforth become sovereigns in all military and civil
affairs。 This or that mayor or syndic of a little town or parish； a
petty bourgeois or villager in a blouse； whom the intendant or
military commander could imprison at will； now orders a gentleman； a
captain of dragoons； to march or stand still； and the captain stands
still or marches at his command。 On the same bourgeois or villager
depends the safety of the neighboring chateau； of the large land…
owner and his family； of the prelate； and of all the prominent
personages of the district。 in order that they may be out of harm's
way he must protect them； they will be pillaged if； in case of
insurrection； he does not send troops and the National Guard to
their assistance。 It is he who； lending or refusing public force to
the collection of their rents； gives them or deprives them of the
means of living。 He accordingly rules； and on the sole condition of
ruling according to the wishes of his equals； the vociferous
multitude； the restless； dominant mob which has elected him。 … In
the towns； especially； and notably in the large towns； the contrast
between what he was and what he is immense； since to the plenitude
of his power is added the extent of his jurisdiction。 Judge of the
effect on his brain in cities like those of Marseilles； Bordeaux；
Nantes； Rouen and Lyons； where he holds in his hand the lives and
property of eighty or a hundred thousand men。 And the more as； amid
the municipal officers of the towns； three…quarters of them；
prosecutors or lawyers； are imbued with the new dogmas； and are
persuaded that in themselves alone； the directly elected of the
people； is vested all legitimate authority。 Bewildered by their
recent elevation； distrustful as upstarts； in revolt against all
ancient or rival powers； they are additionally alarmed by their
imagination and ignorance； their minds being vaguely disturbed by
the contrast between their role in the past and their present role：
anxious on their own account； they find no security but in abuse and
use of power。 The municipalities； on the strength of the reports
emanating from the coffee…houses； decide that the ministry are
traitors。 With an obstinacy of conviction and a boldness of
presumption alike extraordinary； they believe that they have the
right to act without and against their orders； and against the
orders of the National Assembly itself； as if； in the now
disintegrated France； each municipality constituted the nation。
Thus； if the armed force of the country is now obedient to any body；
it is to them and to them alone； and not only the National Guard；
but also the regular troops which； placed under the orders of
municipalities by a decree of the National Assembly；＇17＇ will comply
with no other。 Military commanders in the provinces； after
September； 1787； declare themselves powerless； when they and the
municipality give orders； it is only those of the municipality which
the troops recognize。 〃However pressing may be the necessity for
moving the troops where their presence is required； they are stopped
by the resistance of the village committee。〃＇18＇ 〃Without any
reasonable motive；〃 writes the commander of the forces in Brittany；
〃Vannes and Auray made opposition to the detachment which I thought
it prudent to send to Belle…Ile； to replace another one 。 。 。 The
Government cannot move without encountering obstacles。 。 。 。 The
Minister of War no longer has the direction of the army。 。 。 。
No orders are executed。 。 。 Every one wants to command； and no
one to obey。 。 。 How could the King； the Government； or the
Minister of War send troops where they are wanted if the towns
believe that they have the right to countermand the orders given to
the regiments and change their destination？ 〃…And it is still worse；
for； 〃on the false supposition of brigands and conspiracies which do
not exist；＇19＇ the towns and villages make demands on me for arms
and even cannon。 。 。 The whole of Brittany will soon be in a
frightful belligerent state on this account； for； having no real
enemies； they will turn their arms against each other。〃 … This is
of no consequence。 The panic is an 〃epidemic。〃 People are
determined to believe in 〃brigands and enemies。〃 At Nantes； the
assertion is constantly repeated that the Spaniards are going to
land； that the French regiments are going to make an attack； that an
army of brigands is approaching； that the castle is threatened； that
it is threatening； and that it contains too many engines of war。
The commandant of the province writes in vain to the mayor to
reassure him； and to explain to him that 〃the municipality； being
master of the chateau； is likewise master of its magazine。 Why then
should it entertain fear about that which is in its own possession？
Why should any surprise be manifested at an arsenal containing arms
and gunpowder？ 〃 … Nothing is of any effect。 The chateau is
invaded； two hundred workmen set to work to demolish the
fortifications； they listen only to their fears； and cannot exercise
too great precaution。 However inoffensive the citadels may be； they
are held to be dangerous； however accommodating the commanders may
be； they are regarded with suspicion。 The people chafe against the
bridle； relaxed and slack as it is。 It is broken and cast aside；
that it may not be used again when occasion requires。 Each
municipal body； each company of the National Guard； wants to reign
on its own plot of ground out of the