The assassination of the king would give the crown, the next day, to the Duc d'Orleans; Louis XVI.

might be assassinated by the weapon of some drunken man--he was not.

This is the only justification of the Orleans' faction.

Some of these men were disaffected, like Marat and Hebert; others, like Barbaroux, Sillery, Laclos, and Carra, were impatient malcontents; and others, like Santerre, were but citizens, whose love of liberty became fanaticism.
The conspirators concerted together, and disciplined and organised the city.

Individual and distorted passions kindled the mighty and virtuous love of the people for the triumph of democracy.