se and the disarming of "suspects."
Jourdan exclaims in a toast, "Here's to the resurrection of pikes! May
they in the people's hands crush out all its enemies!" In the council
of the Five Hundred, the same Jourdan proposes in the tribune to declare
the "country in danger," while the gang of shouting politicians, the
bull-dogs of the streets and tribunes, gather around the hesitating
representatives and howl and threaten as in 1793.

Is it, then, the regime of 1793 which is about to be set up in
France?--Not even that one. Immediately after the victory, the victors
30 of Prairial separated and formed two camps of enemies, watching each
other with arms in hand, entrenched and making sorties on each other:

On one side are the simple bandits and the lowest of the populace, the
followers of Marat, incorrigible monomaniacs, headstrong, conceited
spirits proud of their crimes and disposed to repeat them rather than
admit their guilt, the dogmatic simpletons who go ahead with their eyes
shut and who have forgotten everything and learnt nothing. On the other
side, men still possessing common sense, and who have profited somewhat
by experience, who know what a government of clubs and pikes leads to,
who fear for themselves and are unwilling to begin again, step by step,
the mad course on which at each stage, they have come near perishing.

On one side two members of the Directory, the minority of the Ancients,
the majority of the Five Hundred, and the vilest of the Parisian rabble.
On the other, the majority of the Ancients, the minority of the Five
Hundred and three members of the Directory, the latter supported by
their executive staff.[51142]--

Which of the two troops will crush the other? Nobody knows; for most
of them are ready to pass from one to the other camp according as the
chances for success appear more or less great. And, from day to day,
any defection amongst the Five Hundred, amongst the Ancients or in the
Directory, foreseen or not, may change a minority into a majority. Where
will the majority be to-morrow? From which side is the next coup d'etat
to come--Who will make it? Will it be the ultra Jacobins, and, through
another 9th of Thermidor, will they declare the mitigated Jacobins
"outlaws?" Will it be the mitigated Jacobins, and, through another 18th
of Fructidor, will they put the ultras under lock and key? If one or the
other of these blows is struck, will it succeed? And if it succeeds will
a stable go