第12章

TheMontagnardshadatfirstonlyaveryslightinfluence。Theirpowerwasoflatergrowth。WhentheywereinpowertherewasnolongerroomintheConventionformoderatemembers。

DespitetheirminoritytheMontagnardsfoundawaytoforcetheAssemblytobringLouistotrial。ThiswasatonceavictoryovertheGirondists，thecondemnationofallkings，andafinaldivorcebetweentheoldorderandthenew。

Tobringaboutthetrialtheymanoeuvredveryskilfully，bombardingtheConventionwithpetitionsfromtheprovinces，andsendingadeputationfromtheinsurrectionalCommuneofParis，whichdemandedatrial。

AccordingtoacharacteristiccommontotheAssembliesoftheRevolution，thatofyieldingtothreatsandalwaysdoingthecontraryofwhattheywished，themenoftheConventiondarednotresist。Thetrialwasdecidedupon。

TheGirondists，whoindividuallywouldnothavewishedforthedeathoftheking，votedforitoutoffearoncetheywereassembled。Hopingtosavehisownhead，theDucd’Orleans，Louis’cousin，votedwiththem。If，onmountingthescaffoldonJanuary21，1793，Louishadhadthatvisionofthefuturewhichweattributetothegods，hewouldhaveseenfollowinghim，onebyone，thegreaternumberoftheGirondistswhoseweaknesshadbeenunabletodefendhim。

Regardedonlyfromthepurelyutilitarianpointofview，theexecutionofthekingwasoneofthemistakesoftheRevolution。

ItengenderedcivilwarandarmedEuropeagainstFrance。IntheConventionitselfhisdeathgaverisetointestinestruggles，whichfinallyledtothetriumphoftheMontagnardsandtheexpulsionoftheGirondists。

ThemeasurespassedundertheinfluenceoftheMontagnardsfinallybecamesodespoticthatsixtydepartments，comprisingtheWestandtheSouth，revolted。Theinsurrection，whichwasheadedbymanyoftheexpelleddeputies，wouldperhapshavesucceededhadnotthecompromisingassistanceoftheroyalistscausedmentofearthereturnoftheancienregime。AtToulon，infact，theinsurgentsacclaimedLouisXVII。

ThecivilwarthusbegunlastedduringthegreaterpartofthelifeoftheRevolution。Itwasfoughtwiththeutmostsavagery。

Oldmen，women，children，allweremassacred，andvillagesandcropswereburned。IntheVendeealonethenumberofthekilledwasreckonedatsomethingbetweenhalfamillionandamillion。

Civilwarwassoonfollowedbyforeignwar。TheJacobinsthoughttoremedyalltheseillsbycreatinganewConstitution。Itwasalwaysatraditionwithalltherevolutionaryassembliestobelieveinthemagicvirtuesofformula。InFrancethisconvictionhasneverbeenaffectedbythefailureofexperiments。

``Arobustfaith，’’writesoneofthegreatadmirersoftheRevolution，M。Rambaud，``sustainedtheConventioninthislabour；itbelievedfirmlythatwhenithadformulatedinalawtheprinciplesoftheRevolutionitsenemieswouldbeconfounded，or，stillbetter，converted，andthattheadventofjusticewoulddisarmtheinsurgents。’’

DuringitslifetimetheConventiondraftedtwoConstitutions——

thatof1793，ortheyearI。，andthatof1795，ortheyearIII。

Thefirstwasneverapplied，anabsolutedictatorshipverysoonreplacingit；thesecondcreatedtheDirectory。

TheConventioncontainedalargenumberoflawyersandmenofaffairs，whopromptlycomprehendedtheimpossibilityofgovernmentbymeansofalargeAssembly。TheysoondividedtheConventionintosmallcommittees，eachofwhichhadanindependentexistence——businesscommittees，committeesoflegislation，finance，agriculture，arts，&c。ThesecommitteespreparedthelawswhichtheAssemblyusuallyvotedwithitseyesclosed。

Thankstothem，theworkoftheConventionwasnotpurelydestructive。Theydraftedmanyveryusefulmeasures，creatingimportantcolleges，establishingthemetricsystem，&c。ThemajorityofthemembersoftheAssembly，aswehavealreadyseen，tookrefugeinthesecommitteesinordertoevadethepoliticalconflictwhichwouldhaveendangeredtheirheads。

Abovethebusinesscommittees，whichhadnothingtodowithpolitics，wastheCommitteeofPublicSafety，institutedinApril，1793，andcomposedofninemembers。DirectedatfirstbyDanton，andintheJulyofthesameyearbyRobespierre，itgraduallyabsorbedallthepowersofgovernment，includingthatofgivingorderstoministersandgenerals。Carnotdirectedtheoperationsofthewar，Cambonthefinances，andSaint—JustandCollot—d’Herboisthegeneralpolicy。

Althoughthelawsvotedbythetechnicalcommitteeswereoftenverywise，andconstitutedthelastingworkoftheConvention，thosewhichtheAssemblyvotedinabodyunderthethreatsofthedelegationswhichinvadeditweremanifestlyridiculous。

Amongtheselaws，whichwerenotgreatlyintheinterestsofthepublicoroftheConventionitself，werethelawofthemaximum，votedinSeptember，1793，whichpretendedtofixthepriceofprovisions，andwhichmerelyestablishedacontinualdearth；thedestructionoftheroyaltombsatSaint—Denis；thetrialofthequeen，thesystematicdevastationoftheVendeebyfire，theestablishmentoftheRevolutionaryTribunal，&c。

TheTerrorwasthechiefmeansofgovernmentduringtheConvention。CommencinginSeptember，1793，itreignedforsixmonths——thatis，untilthedeathofRobespierre。VainlydidcertainJacobins——Danton，CamilleDesmoulins，HeraultdeSechelles，&c。——proposethatclemencyshouldbegivenatrial。

Theonlyresultofthispropositionwasthatitsauthorsweresenttothescaffold。Itwasmerelythelassitudeofthepublicthatfinallyputanendtothisshamefulperiod。

ThesuccessivestrugglesofthevariouspartiesintheConventionanditstendencytowardsextremeseliminatedonebyonethemenofimportancewhohadonceplayedtheirparttherein。FinallyitfellundertheexclusivedominationofRobespierre。WhiletheConventionwasdisorganisingandravagingFrance，thearmieswerewinningbrilliantvictories。TheyhadseizedtheleftbankoftheRhine，Belgium，andHolland。ThetreatyofBasleratifiedtheseconquests。

Wehavealreadymentioned，andweshallreturntothematteragain，thattheworkofthearmiesmustbeconsideredabsolutelyapartfromthatoftheConvention。Contemporariesunderstoodthisperfectly，butto—dayitisoftenforgotten。

WhentheConventionwasdissolved，in1795，afterlastingforthreeyears，itwasregardedwithuniversaldistrust。Theperpetualplaythingofpopularcaprice，ithadnotsucceededinpacifyingFrance，buthadplungedherintoanarchy。ThegeneralopinionrespectingtheConventioniswellsummedupinaletterwritteninJuly，1799，bytheSwedishcharged’affaires，BaronDrinkmann：``IventuretohopethatnopeoplewilleverbegovernedbythewillofmorecruelandimbecilescoundrelsthanthosethathaveruledFrancesincethebeginningofhernewliberty。’’

3。TheEndoftheConvention。TheBeginningsoftheDirectory。

Attheendofitsexistence，theConvention，alwaystrustingtothepowerofformulae，draftedanewConstitution，thatoftheyearIII。，intendedtoreplacethatof1793，whichhadneverbeenputintoexecution。Thelegislativepowerwastobesharedbyaso—calledCouncilofAncientscomposedof150members，andacouncilofdeputiesnumbering500。TheexecutivepowerwasconfidedtoaDirectoryoffivemembers，whowereappointedbytheAncientsuponnominationbytheFiveHundred，andrenewedeveryyearbytheelectionofoneoftheirnumber。Itwasspecifiedthattwo—thirdsofthemembersofthenewAssemblyshouldbechosenfromamongthedeputiesoftheConvention。Thisprudentmeasurewasnotveryefficacious，asonlytendepartmentsremainedfaithfultotheJacobins。

Toavoidtheelectionofroyalists，theConventionhaddecidedtobanishallemigresinperpetuity。

TheannouncementofthisConstitutiondidnotproducetheanticipatedeffectuponthepublic。Ithadnoeffectuponthepopularriots，whichcontinued。OneofthemostimportantwasthatwhichthreatenedtheConventiononthe5thofOctober，1795。

TheleadershurledaveritablearmyupontheAssembly。

Beforesuchprovocation，theConventionfinallydecidedtodefenditself，andsentfortroops，entrustingthecommandtoBarras。

Bonaparte，whowasthenbeginningtoemergefromobscurity，wasentrustedwiththetaskofrepression。Withsuchaleaderactionwasswiftandenergetic。VigorouslypoundedwithballnearthechurchatSt。Roch，theinsurgentsfled，leavingsomehundredsofdeadonthespot。

Thisaction，whichdisplayedafirmnesstowhichtheConventionwaslittlehabituated，wasonlyduetothecelerityofthemilitaryoperations，forwhilethesewerebeingcarriedouttheinsurgentshadsentdelegatestotheAssembly，which，asusual，showeditselfquitereadytoyieldtothem。

TherepressionofthisriotconstitutedthelastimportantactoftheConvention。Onthe26thofOctober，1795，itdeclareditsmissionterminated，andgavewaytotheDirectory。

WehavealreadylaidstressuponsomeofthepsychologicallessonsfurnishedbythegovernmentoftheConvention。Oneofthemoststrikingoftheseistheimpotenceofviolencetodominatemen’smindsinpermanence。

NeverdidanyGovernmentpossesssuchformidablemeansofaction，yetinspiteofthepermanentguillotine，despitethedelegatessentwiththeguillotineintotheprovinces，despiteitsDraconianlaws，theConventionhadtostruggleperpetuallyagainstriots，insurrections，andconspiracies。Thecities，thedepartments，andthefaubourgsofPariswerecontinuallyrisinginrevolt，althoughheadswerefallingbythethousand。

ThisAssembly，whichthoughtitselfsovereign，foughtagainsttheinvincibleforceswhichwerefixedinmen’sminds，andwhichmaterialconstraintwaspowerlesstoovercome。Ofthesehiddenmotiveforcesitneverunderstoodthepower，anditstruggledagainsttheminvain。Intheendtheinvisibleforcestriumphed。

CHAPTERV

INSTANCESOFREVOLUTIONARYVIOLENCE

1。PsychologicalCausesofRevolutionaryViolence。

Wehaveshowninthecourseoftheprecedingchaptersthattherevolutionarytheoriesconstitutedanewfaith。

Humanitarianandsentimental，theyexaltedlibertyandfraternity。But，asinmanyreligions，wecanobserveacompletecontradictionbetweendoctrineandaction。Inpracticenolibertywastolerated，andfraternitywasquicklyreplacedbyfrenziedmassacres。

Thisoppositionbetweenprinciplesandconductresultsfromtheintolerancewhichaccompaniesallbeliefs。Areligionmaybesteepedinhumanitarianismandforbearance，butitssectarieswillalwayswanttoimposeitonothersbyforce，sothatviolenceistheinevitableresult。

ThecrueltiesoftheRevolutionwerethustheinherentresultsofthepropagationofthenewdogmas。TheInquisition，thereligiouswarsofFrance，St。Bartholomew’sDay，therevocationoftheEdictofNantes，the``Dragonnades，’’thepersecutionoftheJansenists，&c。，belongedtothesamefamilyastheTerrorandderivedfromthesamepsychologicalsources。

LouisXIV。wasnotacruelking，yetundertheimpulseofhisfaithhedrovehundredsofthousandsofProtestantsoutofFrance，afterfirstshootingdownaconsiderablenumberandsendingotherstothegalleys。

Themethodsofpersuasionadoptedbyallbelieversarebynomeansaconsequenceoftheirfearofthedissentientopposition。

ProtestantsandJansenistswereanythingbutdangerousunderLouisXIV。Intolerancearisesaboveallfromtheindignationexperiencedbyamindwhichisconvincedthatitpossessesthemostdazzlingveritiesagainstthemenwhodenythosetruths，andwhoaresurelynotactingingoodfaith。Howcanonesupporterrorwhenonehasthenecessarystrengthtowipeitout？

Thushavereasonedthebelieversofallages。ThusreasonedLouisXIV。andthemenoftheTerror。Theselatteralsowereconvincedthattheywereinpossessionofabsolutetruths，whichtheybelievedtobeobvious，andwhosetriumphwascertaintoregeneratehumanity。CouldtheybemoretoleranttowardtheiradversariesthantheChurchandthekingsofFrancehadbeentowardheretics？

Weareforcedtobelievethatterrorisamethodwhichallbelieversregardasanecessity，sincefromthebeginningoftheagesreligiouscodeshavealwaysbeenbaseduponterror。Toforcementoobservetheirprescriptions，believershavesoughttoterrifythemwiththreatsofaneternalhelloftorments。

TheapostlesoftheJacobinbeliefbehavedastheirfathershaddone，andemployedthesamemethods。Ifsimilareventsoccurredagainweshouldseeidenticalactionsrepeated。Ifanewbelief——Socialism，forexample——weretotriumphto—morrow，itwouldbeledtoemploymethodsofpropagandalikethoseoftheInquisitionandtheTerror。

ButwerewetoregardtheJacobinTerrorsolelyastheresultofareligiousmovement，weshouldnotcompletelyapprehendit。

Aroundatriumphantreligiousbelief，aswesawinthecaseoftheReformation，gatherahostofindividualinterestswhicharedependentonthatbelief。TheTerrorwasdirectedbyafewfanaticalapostles，butbesidethissmallnumberofardentproselytes，whosenarrowmindsdreamedofregeneratingtheworld，weregreatnumbersofmenwholivedonlytoenrichthemselves。

Theyralliedreadilyaroundthefirstvictoriousleaderwhopromisedtoenablethemtoenjoytheresultsoftheirpillage。

``TheTerroristsoftheRevolution，’’writesAlbertSorel，``resortedtotheTerrorbecausetheywishedtoremaininpower，andwereincapableofdoingsobyothermeans。Theyemployeditfortheirownsalvation，andaftertheeventtheystatedthattheirmotivewasthesalvationoftheState。Beforeitbecameasystemitwasameansofgovernment，andthesystemwasonlyinventedtojustifythemeans。’’

WemaythusfullyagreewiththefollowingverdictontheTerror，writtenbyEmileOllivierinhisworkontheRevolution：``TheTerrorwasaboveallaJacquerie，aregularisedpillage，thevastestenterpriseoftheftthatanyassociationofcriminalshaseverorganised。’’

2。TheRevolutionaryTribunals。

TheRevolutionaryTribunalsconstitutedtheprincipalmeansofactionoftheTerror。BesidesthatofParis，createdattheinstigationofDanton，andwhichayearafterwardssentitsfoundertotheguillotine，Francewascoveredwithsuchtribunals。

``Onehundredandseventy—eighttribunals，’’saysTaine，``ofwhich40wereperambulant，pronounceddeathsentencesinallpartsofthecountry，whichwerecarriedoutinstantlyonthespot。Betweenthe16thofApril，1793，andthe9thofThermidorintheyearII。thatofParisguillotined2，625persons，andtheprovincialjudgesworkedashardasthoseofParis。InthelittletownofOrangealone331personswereguillotined。InthecityofArras299menand93womenwereguillotined……InthecityofLyonsalonetherevolutionarycommissioneradmittedto1，684executions……Thetotalnumberofthesemurdershasbeenputat17，000，amongwhomwere1，200women，ofwhomanumberwereoctogenarians。’’

AlthoughtheRevolutionaryTribunalofParisclaimedonly2，625

victims，itmustnotbeforgottenthatallthesuspectshadalreadybeensummarilymassacredduringthe``days’’ofSeptember。

TheRevolutionaryTribunalofParis，amereinstrumentoftheCommitteeofPublicSafety，limiteditselfinreality，asFouquier—Tinvillejustlyremarkedduringhistrial，toexecutingitsorders。Itsurroundeditselfatfirstwithafewlegalformswhichdidnotlongsurvive。Interrogatory，defence，witnesses——

allwerefinallysuppressed。Moralproof——thatis，meresuspicion——sufficedtoprocurecondemnation。Thepresidentusuallycontentedhimselfwithputtingavaguequestiontotheaccused。Toworkmorerapidlystill，Fouquier—TinvilleproposedtohavetheguillotineinstalledonthesamepremisesastheTribunal。

ThisTribunalsentindiscriminatelytothescaffoldalltheaccusedpersonsarrestedbyreasonofpartyhatred，andverysoon，inthehandsofRobespierre，itconstitutedaninstrumentofthebloodiesttyranny。WhenDanton，oneofitsfounders，becameitsvictim，hejustlyaskedpardonofGodandmen，beforemountingthescaffoldforhavingassistedtocreatesuchaTribunal。

Nothingfoundmercybeforeit：neitherthegeniusofLavoisier，northegentlenessofLucileDesmoulins，northemeritofMalesherbes。``Somuchtalent，’’saidBenjaminConstant，``massacredbythemostcowardlyandbrutishofmen！’’

TofindanyexcusefortheRevolutionaryTribunal，wemustreturntoourconceptionofthereligiousmentalityoftheJacobins，whofoundedanddirectedit。ItwasapieceofworkcomparableinitsspiritanditsaimtotheInquisition。Themenwhofurnisheditsvictims——Robespierre，Saint—Just，andCouthon——believedthemselvesthebenefactorsofthehumanraceinsuppressingallinfidels，theenemiesofthefaiththatwastoregeneratetheearth。

TheexecutionsduringtheTerrordidnotaffectthemembersofthearistocracyonly，since4，000peasantsand3，000working—menwereguillotined。

GiventheemotionproducedinParisinourdaysbyacapitalexecution，onemightsupposethattheexecutionofsomanypersonsatonetimewouldproduceaverygreatemotion。Buthabithadsodulledsensibilitythatpeoplepaidbutlittleattentiontothematteratlast。Motherswouldtaketheirchildrentoseepeopleguillotinedasto—daytheytakethemtothemarionettetheatre。

Thedailyspectacleofexecutionsmadethemenofthetimeveryindifferenttodeath。Allmountedthescaffoldwithperfecttranquillity，theGirondistssingingtheMarseillaiseastheyclimbedthesteps。

Thisresignationresultedfromthelawofhabitude，whichveryrapidlydullsemotion。Tojudgebythefactthatroyalistrisingsweretakingplacedaily，theprospectoftheguillotinenolongerterrifiedmen。ThingshappenedasthoughtheTerrorterrorisednoone。Terrorisanefficaciouspsychologicalprocesssolongasitdoesnotlast。Therealterrorresidesfarmoreinthreatsthanintheirrealisation。

3。TheTerrorintheProvinces。

TheexecutionsoftheRevolutionaryTribunalsintheprovincesrepresentedonlyaportionofthemassacreseffectedinthedepartmentsduringtheTerror。Therevolutionaryarmy，composedofvagabondsandbrigands，marchedthroughFrancekillingandpillaging。ItsmethodofprocedureiswellindicatedbythefollowingpassagefromTaine：——

``AtBedouin，atownof2，000inhabitants，whereunknownhandshadcutdownthetreeofliberty，433housesweredemolishedorfired，16personswereguillotined，and47shotdown；alltheotherinhabitantswereexpelledandreducedtolivingasvagabondsinthemountains，andtotakingshelterincavernswhichtheyhollowedoutoftheearth。’’

ThefateofthewretchessentbeforetheRevolutionaryTribunalswasnobetter。Thefirstmockeryoftrialwasquicklysuppressed。AtNantes，Carrierdrownedandshotdownaccordingtohisfancynearly5，000persons——men，women，andchildren。

ThedetailsofthesemassacresfiguredintheMoniteurafterthereactionofThermidor。Iciteafewlines：——

``Isaw，’’saysThomas，``afterthetakingofNoirmoutier，menandwomenandoldpeopleburnedalive……womenviolated，girlsoffourteenandfifteen，andmassacredafterward，andtenderbabesthrownfrombayonettobayonet；childrenwhoweretakenfrombesidetheirmothersstretchedoutontheground。’’

InthesamenumberwereadadepositionbyoneJulien，relatinghowCarrierforcedhisvictimstodigtheirgravesandtoallowthemselvestobeburiedalive。TheissueofOctober15，1794，containedareportbyMerlindeThionvilleprovingthatthecaptainofthevesselleDestinhadreceivedorderstoembarkforty—onevictimstobedrowned——``amongthemablindmanof78，twelvewomen，twelvegirls，andfourteenchildren，ofwhomtenwerefrom10to6andfiveatthebreast。’’

InthecourseofCarrier’strial（Moniteur，December30，1794）

itwasprovedthathe``hadgivenorderstodrownandshootwomenandchildren，andhadorderedGeneralHaxotoexterminatealltheinhabitantsofLaVendeeandtoburndowntheirdwellings。’’

Carrier，likeallwholesalemurderers，tookanintensejoyinseeinghisvictimssuffer。``InthedepartmentinwhichIhuntedthepriests，’’hesaid，``Ihaveneverlaughedsomuchorexperiencedsuchpleasureasinwatchingtheirdyinggrimaces’’

（Moniteur，December22，1794）。

CarrierwastriedtosatisfythereactionofThermidor。ButthemassacresofNanteswererepeatedinmanyothertowns。

Foucheslewmorethan2，000personsatLyons，andsomanywerekilledatToulonthatthepopulationfellfrom29，000to7，000inafewmonths。

WemustsayindefenceofCarrier，Freron，Foucheandallthesesinisterpersons，thattheywereincessantlystimulatedbytheCommitteeofPublicSafety。Carriergaveproofofthisduringhistrial。

``Iadmit，’’saidhe（Moniteur，December24，1794），``that150

or200prisonerswereshoteveryday，butitwasbyorderofthecommission。IinformedtheConventionthatthebrigandswerebeingshotdownbyhundreds，anditapplaudedthisletter，andordereditsinsertionintheBulletin。Whatwerethesedeputiesdoingthenwhoaresofuriousagainstmenow？Theywereapplauding。Whydidtheystillkeepme`onmission’？BecauseI

wasthenthesaviourofthecountry，andnowIamabloodthirstyman。’’

Unhappilyforhim，Carrierdidnotknow，asheremarkedinthesamespeech，thatonlysevenoreightpersonsledtheConvention。

ButtheterrorisedAssemblyapprovedofallthatthesesevenoreightordered，sothattheycouldsaynothinginreplytoCarrier’sargument。Hecertainlydeservedtobeguillotined，butthewholeConventiondeservedtobeguillotinedwithhim，sinceithadapprovedofthemassacres。

ThedefenceofCarrier，justifiedbythelettersoftheCommittee，bywhichtherepresentatives``onmission’’wereincessantlystimulated，showsthattheviolenceoftheTerrorresultedfromasystem，andnot，ashassometimesbeenclaimed，fromtheinitiativeofafewindividuals。

ThethirstfordestructionduringtheTerrorwasbynomeansassuagedbythedestructionofhumanbeingsonly；therewasanevengreaterdestructionofinanimatethings。Thetruebelieverisalwaysaniconoclast。Onceinpower，hedestroyswithequalzealtheenemiesofhisfaithandtheimages，temples，andsymbolswhichrecallthefaithattacked。

WeknowthatthefirstactionoftheEmperorTheodosiuswhenconvertedtotheChristianreligionwastobreakdownthemajorityofthetempleswhichforsixthousandyearshadbeenbuiltbesidetheNile。Wemustnot，therefore，besurprisedtoseetheleadersoftheRevolutionattackingthemonumentsandworksofartwhichforthemwerethevestigesofanabhorredpast。

Statues，manuscripts，stainedglasswindows，andplatewerefrenziedlybroken。WhenFouche，thefutureDukeofOtrantounderNapoleon，andministerunderLouisXVIII。，wassentascommissaryoftheConventiontotheNievre，heorderedthedemolitionofallthetowersofthechateauxandthebelfriesofthechurches``becausetheywoundedequality。’’

Revolutionaryvandalismexpendeditselfevenonthetomb。

FollowingareportreadbyBarreretotheConvention，themagnificentroyaltombsatSaint—Denis，amongwhichwastheadmirablemausoleumofHenriII。，byGermainPilon，weresmashedtopieces，thecoffinsemptied，andthebodyofTurennesenttotheMuseumasacuriosity，afteroneofthekeepershadextractedtheteethinordertosellthemascuriosities。ThemoustacheandbeardofHenriIV。werealsotornout。

ItisimpossibletowitnesssuchcomparativelyenlightenedmenconsentingtothedestructionoftheartisticpatriotismofFrancewithoutafeelingofsadness。Toexcusethem，wemustrememberthatintensebeliefsgiverisetotheworstexcesses，andalsothattheConvention，almostdailyinvadedbyrioters，alwaysyieldedtothepopularwill。

Thisglowingrecordofdevastationproves，notonlythepoweroffanaticism：itshowsuswhatbecomesofmenwhoareliberatedfromallsocialrestraints，andofthecountrywhichfallsintotheirhands。

CHAPTERVI

THEARMIESOFTHEREVOLUTION

1。TheRevolutionaryAssembliesandtheArmies。

IfnothingwereknownoftherevolutionaryAssemblies，andnotablyoftheConvention，beyondtheirinternaldissensions，theirweakness，andtheiractsofviolence，theirmemorywouldindeedbeagloomyone。

Butevenforitsenemiesthisbloodstainedepochmustalwaysretainanundeniableglory，thankstothesuccessofitsarmies。

WhentheConventiondissolvedFrancewasalreadythegreaterbyBelgiumandtheterritoriesontheleftbankoftheRhine。

RegardingtheConventionasawhole，itseemsequitabletocredititwiththevictoriesofthearmiesofFrance，butifweanalysethiswholeinordertostudyeachofitselementsseparatelytheirindependencewillatoncebeobvious。ItisatonceapparentthattheConventionhadaverysmallshareinthemilitaryeventsofthetime。ThearmiesonthefrontierandtherevolutionaryAssembliesinParisformedtwoseparateworlds，whichhadverylittleinfluenceoveroneanother，andwhichregardedmattersinaverydifferentlight。

WehaveseenthattheConventionwasaweakGovernment，whichchangeditsideasdaily，accordingtopopularimpulse；itwasreallyanexampleoftheprofoundestanarchy。Itdirectednothing，butwasitselfcontinuallydirected；how，then，couldithavecommandedarmies？

Completelyabsorbedinitsintestinequarrels，theAssemblyhadabandonedallmilitaryquestionstoaspecialcommittee，whichwasdirectedalmostsingle—handedbyCarnot，andwhoserealfunctionwastofurnishthetroopswithprovisionsandammunition。ThemeritofCarnotconsistedinthefactthatbesidesdirectingover752，000menatthedisposalofFrance，uponpointswhichwerestrategicallyvaluable，healsoadvisedthegeneralsofthearmiestotaketheoffensive，andtopreserveastrictdiscipline。

ThesoleshareoftheAssemblyinthedefenceofthecountrywasthedecreeofthegenerallevy。InthefaceofthenumerousenemiesthenthreateningFrance，noGovernmentcouldhaveavoidedsuchameasure。Forsomelittletime，too，theAssemblyhadsentrepresentativestothearmiesinstructedtodecapitatecertaingenerals，butthispolicywassoonabandoned。

AsamatteroffactthemilitaryactivitiesoftheAssemblywerealwaysextremelyslight。Thearmies，thankstotheirnumbers，theirenthusiasm，andthetacticsdevisedbytheiryouthfulgenerals，achievedtheirvictoriesunaided。TheyfoughtandconqueredindependentlyoftheConvention。

2。TheStruggleofEuropeagainsttheRevolution。

Beforeenumeratingthevariouspsychologicalfactorswhichcontributedtothesuccessesoftherevolutionaryarmies，itwillbeusefulbrieflytorecalltheoriginandthedevelopmentofthewaragainstEurope。

AtthecommencementoftheRevolutiontheforeignsovereignsregardedwithsatisfactionthedifficultiesoftheFrenchmonarchy，whichtheyhadlongregardedasarivalpower。TheKingofPrussia，believingFrancetobegreatlyenfeebled，thoughttoenrichhimselfatherexpense，soheproposedtotheEmperorofAustriatohelpLouisonconditionofreceivingFlandersandAlsaceasanindemnity。ThetwosovereignssignedanallianceagainstFranceinFebruary，1792。TheFrenchanticipatedattackbydeclaringwaruponAustria，undertheinfluenceoftheGirondists。TheFrencharmywasattheoutsetsubjectedtoseveralchecks。ThealliespenetratedintoChampagne，andcamewithin130milesofParis。Dumouriez’

victoryatValmyforcedthemtoretire。