The things we do!

" The answer is still delayed: the deputies of
the two departments have to come to an agreement, for, otherwise,
the minister dares not displace sixty men to protect a convoy of
grain. It is plain enough that there is no longer any executive
power. There is no longer a central authority. There is no longer
a France, but merely so many disintegrated and independent communes,
like Orleans and Limoges, which, through their representatives,
carry on negotiations with each other, one to secure itself from a
deficiency of troops, and the other to secure itself from a want of
bread.
Let us consider this general dissolution on the spot, and take up a
case in detail. On the 18th of January 1790, the new municipal
authorities of Marseilles enter upon their duties. As is generally
the case, the majority of the electors have had nothing to do with
the balloting. The mayor, Martin, having been elected by only an
eighth of the active citizens.[27] If, however, the dominant
minority is a small one, it is resolute and not inclined to stop at
trifles.


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