ft of the Assembly's reason.[2223]

IV.--The Parties.

The "Right."--"Center."--The "Left."--Opinions and
sentiments of the Girondins.--Their Allies of the extreme
"left."

In an assembly thus composed and surrounded, it is easy to foresee on
which side the balance will turn.--Through the meshes of the electoral
net which the Jacobins have spread over the whole country, about one
hundred well-meaning individuals of the common run, tolerably sensible
and sufficiently resolute, Mathieu Dumas, Dumolard, Becquet, Gorguereau,
Vaublanc, Beugnot, Girardin, Ramond, Jaucourt, were able to pass and
form the party of the "Right."[2224] They resist to as great an extent
as possible, and seem to have obtained a majority.--For, of the four
hundred deputies who have their seats in the center, one hundred and
sixty-four are inscribed on the rolls with them at the Feuillants club,
while the rest, under the title of "Independents," pretend to be of
no party.[2225] Besides, the whole of these four hundred, through
monarchical traditions, respect the King; timid and sensible, violence
is repugnant to them. They distrust the Jacobins, dread what is
unknown, desire to be loyal to the Constitution and to live in peace.
Nevertheless, the pompous dogmas of the revolutionary catechism
still have their prestige with them; they cannot comprehend how the
Constitution which they like produces the anarchy which they detest;
they are "foolish enough to bemoan the effects while swearing to
maintain their causes; totally deficient in spirit, in union and in
boldness," they float backwards and forwards between contradictory
desires, while their predisposition to order merely awaits the steady
impulsion of a vigorous will to turn it in the opposite direction.--On
such docile material the "Left" can work effectively. It comprises,
indeed, but one hundred and thirty-six registered Jacobins and about
a hundred others who, in almost all cases, vote with the party;[2226]
rigidity of opinion, however, more than compensates for lack of numbers.
In the front row are Guadet, Brissot, Gensonne, Veygniaud, Ducos, and
Condorcet, the future chiefs of the Girondists, all of them lawyers or
writers captivated by deductive politics, absolute in their convictions
and proud of their faith. According to them principles are true and must
be applied without reservation;[2227] whoever would stop half-way is
wanting in courage or intelligence. As for the