of immunity, with the law
dumb and the sword in the scabbard, are stimulated to dare all things

On the other side are the steady-going, peaceable class, minding their
own business, upper and lower middle class in mind and spirit,

"weakened by being used to security and wealth, surprised at any
unforeseen disturbance and trying to find their way, isolated from
each other by diversity of interests, opposing only tact and caution to
persevering audacity in defiance of legitimate means, unable either to
make up their mind or to remain inactive, perplexed over sacrifices just
at the time when the enemy is going to render it impossible to make any
in the future, in a word, bringing weakness and egoism to bear against
the liberated passions, great poverty and hardened immorality."[2455]

The issue of the conflict is everywhere the same. In each town or canton
an aggressive squad of unscrupulous fanatics and resolute adventurers
imposes its rule over a sheep-like majority which, accustomed to the
regularity of an old civilization, dares neither disturb order for the
sake of putting and end to disorder, or get together a mob to put down
another mob. Everywhere the Jacobin principle is the same.

"Your system," says one of the department Directories to them,[2456]
"is to act imperturbably on all occasions, even after a constitution is
established, and the limitations to power are fixed, as if the empire
would always be in a state of insurrection, as if you were granted a
dictatorship essential for the city's salvation, as if you were given
such full power in the name of public safety."

Everywhere are Jacobin tactics the same. At the outset they assume to
have a monopoly of patriotism and, through the brutal destruction of
other associations, they are the only visible organ of public opinion.
Their voice, accordingly, seems to be the voice of the people; their
control is established on that of the legal authorities; they have taken
the lead through persistent and irresistible misdeeds; their crimes are
consecrated by exemption from punishment.

"Among officials and agents, good or bad, constituted or not
constituted, that alone governs which is inviolable. Now the club, for a
long time, has been too much accustomed to domineering, to annoying,
to persecuting, to wreaking vengeance, for any local administration to
regard it in any other light than as inviolable."[2457]

They accordingly govern and their indirect influence