58 Julia Crewitt Stoddard 



On the morning of the 5th, the alarm bell was sounded accord- 

 ing to a plan announced the day before, to call the people to- 

 gether to go to Versailles after the king. The uprising was 

 general. Beginning at six in the morning, the bells were rung 

 for several hours and the "whole city was put in motion." 1 



To sum up : The causes of the October insurrection were many 

 and complicated. First, the economic conditions, brought about 

 by corrupt administration and stupid legislation, caused untold 

 suffering and prepared the way for revolt. Second, the political 

 situation, the reaction against the revolution, the king helpless, 

 the queen intriguing against the nation, the ministers inefficient, 

 the aristocrats ready to plunge the country into civil war to bring 

 back the ancient regime, the moderates suspected of treason 

 against the popular cause, and the patriots determined to main- 

 tain advantages already won, — all these warring elements made 

 an explosion inevitable. Third, the military complications, the 

 jealousy and discontent of the French guards, the alarm caused 

 by the arrival of the regiment of Flanders, and rumors of other 

 forces gathering about Versailles, culminating in furious indig- 

 nation over the orgy of the body-guard, precipitated the revolt, 

 which, last of all, was helped along by the schemes of ambitious 

 men and the influence of a virulent press. All these things con- 

 tributed in a greater or less degree to produce the insurrection. 

 "The night of the 4th of August had been the logical result of 

 the revolution of July ; the 5th and 6th days of October were 

 the inevitable consequence of the night of the 4th of August." 2 



1 Denx amis de la liberty, Histoire de la revolution de France, III, 159 t 

 2 Revue historique, LXIX, 58. 



324' 



