g has to be effected that depends on intrigue or on
private interest,[3322] the motion is always put by one of the members
of the Revolutionary Committee of the section, or by one of those
fanatical patriots who join in with the Committee, and otherwise act
as its spies. Immediately the ignorant men, to whom Danton has allowed
forty sous for each meeting, and who, from now on crowd an assembly,
where they never came before, welcome the proposition with loud
applause, shouting and demanding a vote, and the act is passed
unanimously, notwithstanding the contrary opinions of all well-informed
and honest citizens. Should any one dare make an objection, he would run
the risk of imprisonment as a suspect,[3323] after being treated as an
aristocrat or federalist, or at least, refused a certificate of civism,
( a serious matter) if he had the misfortune to need one, did his
survival depend on this, either as employee or pensioner."--In the
Maison-Commune section, most of the auditory are masons, "excellent
patriots," says one of the clubbists of the quarter:[3324] they
always vote on our side; we make them do what we want." Numbers of
day-laborers, cab-drivers, cartmen and workmen of every class, thus earn
their forty sous, and have no idea that anything else might be demanded
from them. On entering the hall, when the meeting opens, they write down
their names, after which they go out "to take a drink," without thinking
themselves obliged to listen to the rigmarole of the orators; towards
the end, they come back, make all the noise that is required of them
with their lungs, feet and hands, and then go and "take back their card
and get their money."[3325]--With paid applauders of this stamp, they
soon get the better of any opponents, or, rather, all opposition is
suppressed beforehand. "The best citizens keep silent" in the section
assemblies, or "stay away;" these are simply "gambling-shops" where
"the most absurd, the most unjust, the most impolitic of resolutions are
passed at every moment.[3326] Moreover, citizens are ruined there by the
unlimited sectional expenditure, which exceeds the usual taxation and
the communal expenses, already very heavy. At one time, some carpenter
or locksmith, member of the Revolutionary Committee, wants to construct,
enlarge or decorate a hall, and it is necessary to agree with him.
Again, a poor speech is made, full of exaggeration and political
extravagance, of which three, four, five and six t