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We have proved that crowds； unable to reason； obey simply their
impulses； which are always changing； but we have also seen that
they are readily capable of heroism； that their altruism is often
highly developed； and that it is easy to find thousands of
men ready to give their lives for a belief。
Psychological characteristics so diverse must naturally；
according to the circumstances； lead to dissimilar and even
absolutely contradictory actions。 The history of the Convention
and its armies proves as much。 It shows us crowds composed of
similar elements acting so differently in Paris and on the
frontiers that one can hardly believe the same people can be in
question。
In Paris the crowds were disorderly； violent； murderous； and so
changeable in their demands as to make all government impossible。
In the armies the picture was entirely different。 The same
multitudes of unaccustomed men； restrained by the orderly
elements of a laborious peasant population； standardised by
military discipline； and inspired by contagious enthusiasm；
heroically supported privations； disdained perils； and
contributed to form that fabulous strain which triumphed over the
most redoubtable troops in Europe。
These facts are among those which should always be invoked to
show the force of discipline。 It transforms men。 Liberated from
its influence； peoples and armies become barbarian hordes。
This truth is daily and increasingly forgotten。 Ignoring the
fundamental laws of collective logic； we give way more and more
to shifting popular impulses； instead of learning to direct them。
The multitude must be shown the road to follow； it is not for
them to choose it。
CHAPTER VII
PSYCHOLOGY OF THE LEADERS OF THE REVOLUTION
1。 Mentality of the Men of the Revolution。 The respective
Influence of Violent and Feeble Characters。
Men judge with their intelligence； and are guided by their
characters。 To understand a man fully one must separate these
two elements。
During the great periods of activityand the revolutionary
movements naturally belong to such periodscharacter always
takes the first rank。
Having in several chapters described the various mentalities
which predominate in times of disturbance； we need not return to
the subject now。 They constitute general types which are
naturally modified by each man's inherited and acquired
personality。
We have seen what an important part was played by the mystic
element in the Jacobin mentality； and the ferocious fanaticism to
which it led the sectaries of the new faith。
We have also seen that all the members of the Assemblies were not
fanatics。 These latter were even in the minority； since in the
most sanguinary of the revolutionary assemblies the great
majority was composed of timid and moderate men of neutral
character。 Before Thermidor the members of this group
voted from fear with the violent and after Thermidor with the
moderate deputies。
In time of revolution； as at other times； these neutral
characters； obeying the most contrary impulses； are always the
most numerous。 They are also as dangerous in reality as the
violent characters。 The force of the latter is supported by the
weakness of the former。
In all revolutions； and in particularly in the French Revolution；
we observe a small minority of narrow but decided minds which
imperiously dominate an immense majority of men who are often
very intelligent but are lacking in character
Besides the fanatical apostles and the feeble characters； a
revolution always produces individuals who merely think how to
profit thereby。 These were numerous during the French
Revolution。 Their aim was simply to utilise circumstances so as
to enrich themselves。 Such were Barras； Tallien； Fouche；
Barrere； and many more。 Their politics consisted simply in
serving the strong against the weak。
From the outset of the Revolution these ‘‘arrivists；'' as one
would call them to…day； were numerous。 Camille Desmoulins wrote
in 1792： ‘‘Our Revolution has its roots only in the egotism and
self…love of each individual； of the combination of which the
general interest is composed。''
If we add to these indications the observations contained in
another chapter concerning the various forms of mentality to be
observed in times of political upheaval； we shall obtain a
general idea of the character of the men of the Revolution。 We
shall now apply the principles already expounded to the
most remarkable personages of the revolutionary period。
2。 Psychology of the Commissaries or Representatives ‘‘on
Mission。''
In Paris the conduct of the members of the Convention was always
directed； restrained； or excited by the action of their
colleagues； and that of their environment。
To judge them properly we should observe them when left to
themselves and uncontrolled； when they possessed full liberty。
Such were the representatives who were sent ‘‘on mission'' into
the departments by the Convention。
The power of these delegates was absolute。 No censure
embarrassed them。 Functionaries and magistrates had perforce to
obey them。
A representative ‘‘on mission'' ‘‘requisitions；'' sequestrates；
or confiscates as seems good to him； taxes； imprisons； deports；
or decapitates as he thinks fit； and in his own district he is a
''pasha。''
Regarding themselves as ‘‘pashas；'' they displayed themselves
‘‘drawn in carriages with six horses； surrounded by guards；
sitting at sumptuous tables with thirty covers； eating to the
sound of music； with a following of players； courtezans； and
mercenaries。 。 。 。'' At Lyons ‘‘the solemn appearance of Collot
d'Herbois is like that of the Grand Turk。 No one can come into
his presence without three repeated requests； a string of
apartments precedes his reception…room； and no one approaches
nearer than fifteen paces。''
One can picture the immense vanity of these dictators as
they solemnly entered the towns； surrounded by guards； men whose
gesture was enough to cause heads to fall。
Petty lawyers without clients； doctors without patients；
unfrocked clergymen； obscure attorneys； who had formerly known
the most colourless of lives； were suddenly made the equals of
the most powerful tyrants of history。 Guillotining； drowning；
shooting without mercy； at the hazard of their fancy； they were
raised from their former humble condition to the level of the
most celebrated potentates。
Never did Nero or Heliogabalus surpass in tyranny the
representatives of the Convention。 Laws and customs always
restrained the former to a certain extent。 Nothing restrained
the commissaries。
‘‘Fouche；'' writes Taine； ‘‘lorgnette in hand； watched the
butchery of 210 inhabitants of Lyons from his window。 Collot；
Laporte； and Fouche feasted on days of execution （fusillades）；
and at the sound of each discharge sprang up with cries of joy；
waving their hats。''
Among the representatives ‘‘on mission'' who exhibit this
murderous mentality we may cite as a type the ex…cure Lebon；
who； having become possessed of supreme power； ravaged Arras and
Cambrai。 His example； with that of Carrier； contributes to show
what man can become when he escapes from the yoke of law and
tradition。 The cruelty of the ferocious commissary was
complicated by Sadism； the scaffold was raised under his windows；
so that he； his wife； and his helpers could rejoice in the
carnage。 At the foot of the guillotine a drinking…booth was
established where the sans…culottes could come to drink。
To amuse them the executioner would group on the pavement； in
ridiculous attitudes； the naked bodies of the decapitated。
‘‘The reading of the two volumes of his trial； printed at Amiens
in 1795； may be counted as a nightmare。 During twenty sessions
the survivors of the hecatombs of Arras and Cambrai passed
through the ancient hall of the bailiwick at Amiens； where the
ex…member of the Convention was tried。 What these phantoms in
mourning related is unheard of。 Entire streets dispeopled；
nonagenarians and girls of sixteen decapitated after a mockery of
a trial； death buffeted； insulted； adorned； rejoiced in；
executions to music； battalions of children recruited to guard
the scaffold； the debauchery； the cynicism； the refinements of an
insane satrap； a romance by Sade turned epic； it seems； as we
watch the unpacking of these horrors； that a whole country； long
terrorised； is at last disgorging its terror and revenging itself
for its cowardice by overwhelming the wretch there； the scapegoat
of an abhorred and vanished system。''
The only defence of the ex…clergyman was that he had obeyed
orders。 The facts with which he was reproached had long been
known； and the Convention had in no wise blamed him for them。
I have already spoken of the vanity of the deputies ‘‘on