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We are now aware that by the mere fact that men form part of a crowd engaged in action； their collective psychology differs essentially from their individual psychology； and their intelligence is affected by this differentiation。 We have seen that intelligence is without influence in collectivities； they being solely under the sway of unconscious sentiments。
A fundamental factor； that of race； allows of a tolerably thorough differentiation of the various heterogeneous crowds。
We have often referred already to the part played by race； and have shown it to be the most powerful of the factors capable of determining men's actions。 Its action is also to be traced in the character of crowds。 A crowd composed of individuals assembled at haphazard； but all of them Englishmen or Chinamen； will differ widely from another crowd also composed of individuals of any and every description； but of other racesRussians； Frenchmen； or Spaniards； for example。
The wide divergencies which their inherited mental constitution creates in men's modes of feeling and thinking at once come into prominence when； which rarely happens； circumstances gather together in the same crowd and in fairly equal proportions individuals of different nationality； and this occurs； however identical in appearance be the interests which provoked the gathering。 The efforts made by the socialists to assemble in great congresses the representatives of the working…class populations of different countries； have always ended in the most pronounced discord。 A Latin crowd； however revolutionary or however conservative it be supposed； will invariably appeal to the intervention of the State to realise its demands。 It is always distinguished by a marked tendency towards centralisation and by a leaning； more or less pronounced； in favour of a dictatorship。 An English or an American crowd； on the contrary； sets no store on the State； and only appeals to private initiative。 A French crowd lays particular weight on equality and an English crowd on liberty。 These differences of race explain how it is that there are almost as many different forms of socialism and democracy as there are nations。
The genius of the race； then； exerts a paramount influence upon the dispositions of a crowd。 It is the powerful underlying force that limits its changes of humour。 It should be considered as an essential law that THE INFERIOR CHARACTERISTICS OF CROWDS ARE THE LESS ACCENTUATED IN PROPORTION AS THE SPIRIT OF THE RACE IS STRONG。 The crowd state and the domination of crowds is equivalent to the barbarian state； or to a return to it。 It is by the acquisition of a solidly constituted collective spirit that the race frees itself to a greater and greater extent from the unreflecting power of crowds； and emerges from the barbarian state。 The only important classification to be made of heterogeneous crowds； apart from that based on racial considerations； is to separate them into anonymous crowds； such as street crowds； and crowds not anonymousdeliberative assemblies and juries； for example。 The sentiment of responsibility absent from crowds of the first description and developed in those of the second often gives a very different tendency to their respective acts。
2。 HOMOGENEOUS CROWDS
Homogeneous crowds include： 1。 Sects； 2。 Castes； 3。 Classes。
The SECT represents the first step in the process of organisation of homogeneous crowds。 A sect includes individuals differing greatly as to their education； their professions； and the class of society to which they belong； and with their common beliefs as the connecting link。 Examples in point are religious and political sects。
The CASTE represents the highest degree of organisation of which the crowd is susceptible。 While the sect includes individuals of very different professions； degrees of education and social surrounding； who are only linked together by the beliefs they hold in common； the caste is composed of individuals of the same profession； and in consequence similarly educated and of much the same social status。 Examples in point are the military and priestly castes。
The CLASS is formed of individuals of diverse origin； linked together not by a community of beliefs； as are the members of a sect； or by common professional occupations； as are the members of a caste； but by certain interests and certain habits of life and education almost identical。 The middle class and the agricultural class are examples。
Being only concerned in this work with heterogeneous crowds； and reserving the study of homogeneous crowds （sects； castes； and classes） for another volume； I shall not insist here on the characteristics of crowds of this latter kind。 I shall conclude this study of heterogeneous crowds by the examination of a few typical and distinct categories of crowds。
CHAPTER II
CROWDS TERMED CRIMINAL CROWDS
Crowds termed criminal crowdsA crowd may be legally yet not psychologically criminalThe absolute unconsciousness of the acts of crowdsVarious examplesPsychology of the authors of the September massacresTheir reasoning； their sensibility； their ferocity； and their morality。
Owing to the fact that crowds； after a period of excitement； enter upon a purely automatic and unconscious state； in which they are guided by suggestion； it seems difficult to qualify them in any case as criminal。 I only retain this erroneous qualification because it has been definitely brought into vogue by recent psychological investigations。 Certain acts of crowds are assuredly criminal； if considered merely in themselves； but criminal in that case in the same way as the act of a tiger devouring a Hindoo； after allowing its young to maul him for their amusement。
The usual motive of the crimes of crowds is a powerful suggestion； and the individuals who take part in such crimes are afterwards convinced that they have acted in obedience to duty； which is far from being the case with the ordinary criminal。
The history of the crimes committed by crowds illustrates what precedes。
The murder of M。 de Launay； the governor of the Bastille； may be cited as a typical example。 After the taking of the fortress the governor； surrounded by a very excited crowd； was dealt blows from every direction。 It was proposed to hang him； to cut off his head； to tie him to a horse's tail。 While struggling； he accidently kicked one of those present。 Some one proposed； and his suggestion was at once received with acclamation by the crowd； that the individual who had been kicked should cut the governor's throat。
〃The individual in question； a cook out of work； whose chief reason for being at the Bastille was idle curiosity as to what was going on； esteems； that since such is the general opinion； the action is patriotic and even believes he deserves a medal for having destroyed a monster。 With a sword that is lent him he strikes the bared neck； but the weapon being somewhat blunt and not cutting； he takes from his pocket a small black…handled knife and （in his capacity of cook he would be experienced in cutting up meat） successfully effects the operation。〃
The working of the process indicated above is clearly seen in this example。 We have obedience to a suggestion； which is all the stronger because of its collective origin； and the murderer's conviction that he has committed a very meritorious act； a conviction the more natural seeing that he enjoys the unanimous approval of his fellow…citizens。 An act of this kind may be considered crime legally but not psychologically。
The general characteristics of criminal crowds are precisely the same as those we have met with in all crowds： openness to suggestion； credulity； mobility； the exaggeration of the sentiments good or bad； the manifestation of certain forms of morality； &c。
We shall find all these characteristics present in a crowd which has left behind it in French history the most sinister memoriesthe crowd which perpetrated the September massacres。 In point of fact it offers much similarity with the crowd that committed the Saint Bartholomew massacres。 I borrow the details from the narration of M。 Taine； who took them from contemporary sources。
It is not known exactly who gave the order or made the suggestion to empty the prisons by massacring the prisoners。 Whether it was Danton； as is probable； or another does not matter； the one interesting fact for us is the powerful suggestion received by the crowd charged with the massacre。
The crowd of murderers numbered some three hundred persons； and was a perfectly typical heterogeneous crowd。 With the exception of a very small number of professional scoundrels； it was composed in the main of shopkeepers and artisans of every trade： bootmakers； locksmiths； hairdressers； masons； clerks； messengers； &c。 Under the influence of the suggestion received they are perfectly convinced； as was the cook referred to above； that they are accomplishing a patriotic duty。 They fill a double office； being at once judge and executioner； but they do not for a moment regard themselves as criminals。
Deeply conscious of the importance of their duty； they begin by forming a sort of tribunal； and in connection with this act the ingenuousness of cro