stronger is the reason for referring to it the institutions now being
prepared for it. Hence the Convention, after the parade is over,
convokes the primary assemblies and submits to them for ratification
the Constitutional bill has been drawn up.



III.

Primary Assemblies. - Proportion of Absentees. -- Unanimity of the
voters. -- Their motives for accepting the Constitution. -- Pressure
brought to bear on voters. - Choice of Delegates.

The ratification will, undoubtedly, be approved. Everything has been
combined beforehand to secure it, also to secure it as wanted,
apparently spontaneously, and almost unanimously. -- The primary
assemblies, indeed, are by no means fully attended; only one-half, or
a quarter, or a third of the electors in the cities deposit their
votes, while in the rural districts there is only a quarter, and
less.[10] Repelled by their experience with previous convocations the
electors know too well the nature of these assemblies; how the Jacobin
faction rules them, how it manages the electoral comedy, with what
violence and threats it reduces all dissidents to voting either as
figurants or claqueurs. From four to five million of electors prefer
to hold aloof and stay at home as usual. Nevertheless the
organization of most of the assemblies takes place, amounting to some
six or seven thousand. This is accounted for by the fact that each
canton contains its small group of Jacobins. Next to these come the
simple-minded who still believe in official declarations; in their
eyes a constitution which guarantees private rights and institutes