Municipal officer, national agent or mayor, the real peasant of that day belongs to no party, neither royalist nor republican;[3361] his ideas are rare, too transient and too sluggish, to enable him to form a political opinion.

All he comprehends of the Revolution is that which nettles him, or that which he sees every day around him, with his own eyes; to him '93 and '94 are and will remain "the time of bad paper (money) and great fright," and nothing more.[3362] Patient in his habits., he submits to the new as he did to the ancient regime, bearing the load put on his shoulders, and stooping down for fear of a heavier one.

He is often mayor or national agent in spite of himself; he has been obliged to take the place and would gladly throw the burden off.

For, as times go, it is onerous; if he executes decrees and orders, he is certain to make enemies; if he does not execute them, he is sure to be imprisoned; he had better remain, or go back home "Gros-Jean," as he was before.

But he has no choice; the appointment being once made and confirmed, he cannot decline, nor resign, under penalty of being a "suspect;" he must be the hammer in order not to become the anvil.