Reasonable, honest people gladly turn power over to those to whom it belongs, and certainly do not dream of resuming it.

All associations for temporary purposes are at once disbanded for lack of an object, and if others are formed, it is for the purpose of defending established institutions.

This is the object of the Federation, and, for six months, people embrace each other and exchange oaths of fidelity .-- After this, July 14, 1790, they retire into private life, and I have no doubt that, from this date, the political ambition of a large plurality of the French people is satisfied, for, although Rousseau's denunciation of the social hierarchy are still cited by them, they, at bottom, desire but little more than the suppression of administrative brutality and state favoritism.[1207] All this is obtained, and plenty of other things besides; the august title of sovereign, the respect of the public authorities, honors to all who wield a pen or make a speech, and, better still, actual sovereignty in the appointment to office of all local land national administrators; not only do the people elect their deputies, but every species of functionary of every degree, those of commune, district, and department, officers in the national guard, civil and criminal magistrates, bishops and priests.

Again, to ensure the responsibility of the elected to their electors, the term of office fixed by law is a short one,[1208] the electoral machine which summons the sovereign to exercise his sovereignty being set agoing about every four months .-- This was a good deal, and too much, as the sovereign himself soon discovers.

Voting so frequently becomes unendurable; so many prerogatives end in getting to be drudgery.