All this is pronounced, declaimed or rather shouted, publicly, in full
daylight, under the King's windows, by stump-speakers mounted on chairs,
while similar provocations daily flow from the committee installed in
Santerre's establishment, now in the shape of displays posted in
the faubourgs, now in that of petitions circulated in the clubs and
sections, now through motions which are gotten up "among the groups in
the Tuileries, in the Palais-Royal, in the Place de Grève and especially
on the Place de la Bastille." After the 2nd of June the leaders founded
a new club in the church of the "Enfants Trouvés" that they might have
their special laboratory and thus do their work on the spot.[2531] Like
Plato's demagogues, they understand their business. They have discovered
the cries which make the popular animal take note, what offense offends
him, what charm attracts him, and on what road he should be made to
follow. Once drawn in and under way, he will march blindly on, borne
along by his own involuntary inspiration and crushing with his mass all
that he encounters on his path.
IV.--The 20th of June.
The programme.--The muster.--The procession before the
Assembly.--Irruption into the Château.--The King in the
presence of the people.
The bait has been carefully chosen and is well presented. It takes
the form of a celebration of the anniversary of the oath of the
Tennis-court. A tree of Liberty will be planted on the terrace of the
Feuillants and "petitions relating to circumstances" will be presented
in the Assembly and then to the King. As a precaution, and to impose on
the ill-disposed, the petitioners provide themselves with arms and line
the approaches.[2532]--A popular procession is an attractive thing, and
there are so many workers who do not know what to do with their empty
day! And, again, it is so pleasant to appear in a patriotic opera while
many, and especially women and children, want very much to see
Monsieur and Madame Veto. The people from the surrounding suburbs are
invited,[2533] the homeless prowlers and beggars will certainly join the
party, while the numerous body of Parisian loafers, the loungers that
join every spectacle can be relied on, and the curious who, even in
our time, gather by hundreds along the quays, following a dog that has
chanced to tumble into the river. All this forms a body which, without
thinking, will follow its head.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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