But, in times of anarchy, and above all, in the den of the Commune, in Paris, such as the 10th of August and the 2nd of September made it, all this is of no account.
V .-- The Jacobins forming alone the Sovereign People.
Opinion in Paris .-- The majority of the population constitutional .-- The new regime unpopular .-- Scarcity and high cost of food .-- Catholic customs obstructed .-- Universal and increasing discontent .-- Aversion or indifference to the Girondins .-- Political resignation of the majority .-- Modern customs incompatible with pure democracy .-- Men of property and income, manufacturers and tradesmen, keep aloof.
-- Dissension, timidity, and feebleness of the Conservatives.
-- The Jacobins alone form the sovereign people.
And it is of no account because, first of all, in this great city of Paris the Girondists are isolated, and have no group of zealous partisans to depend upon.

For, if the large majority is opposed to their adversaries, that is not in their favor, it having secretly, at heart, remained "Constitutionalists."[3353] "I would make myself master of Paris," says a professional observer, "in ten days without striking a blow if I had but six thousand men, and one of Lafayette's stable-boys to command them." Lafayette, indeed, since the departure or concealment of the royalists, represents the old, fixed, and innermost opinion of the capital.

Paris submits to the Girondists as well as to the Montagnards as usurpers; the mass of the public regards them with ill-will, and not only the bourgeoisie, but likewise the majority of the people loathe the established government.
Work is scarce and food is dear; brandy has tripled in price; only four hundred oxen are brought in at the Poissy market instead of seven or eight thousand; the butchers declare that there will be no meat in Paris next week except for the sick.[3354] To obtain a small ration of bread it is necessary to wait five or six hours in a line at the baker's shops, and,[3355] as is customary, workmen and housekeepers impute all this to the government.

This government, which so poorly provides for its needs, offends them yet more in their deepest feelings, in the habits most dear to them, in their faith and worship.

The common people, even at Paris, is still at this time very religious, much more so than at the present day.