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them； they aspired to religious peace； and they finally
persecuted and massacred the priests with greater rigour than
during the Terror。
The psychology of the little assembly formed by the five
Directors was very different from that of the Chamber of
Deputies。 Encountering fresh difficulties daily； the directors
were forced to resolve them； while the large Assemblies； without
contact with realities； had only their aspirations。
The prevailing thought of the Directors was very simple。 Highly
indifferent to principles； they wished above all to remain the
masters of France。 To attain that result they did not shrink
from resorting to the most illegitimate measures； even annulling
the elections of a great number of the departments when these
embarrassed them。
Feeling themselves incapable of reorganising France； they left
her to herself。 By their despotism they contrived to dominate
her； but they never governed her。 Now； what France needed more
than anything at this juncture was to be governed。
The convention has left behind it the reputation of a strong
Government； and the Directory that of a weak Government。 The
contrary is true： it was the Directory that was the strong
Government。
Psychologically we may readily explain the difference between the
Government of the Directory and that of the preceding Assemblies
by recalling the fact that a gathering of six hundred to seven
hundred persons may well suffer from waves of contagious
enthusiasm； as on the night of the 4th of August； or even
impulses of energetic will…power； such as that which launched
defiance against the kings of Europe。 But such impulses are too
ephemeral to possess any great force。 A committee of five
members； easily dominated by the will of one； is far more
susceptible of continuous resolutionthat is； of perseverance in
a settled line of conduct。
The Government of the Directory proved to be always incapable of
governing； but it never lacked a strong will。 Nothing
restraining it； neither respect for law nor consideration for the
citizens； nor love of the public welfare； it was able to impose
upon France a despotism more crushing than that of any Government
since the beginning of the Revolution； not excepting the Terror。
Although it utilised methods analogous to those of the
Convention； and ruled France in the most tyrannical manner； the
Directory； no more than the Convention； was never the master of
France。
This fact； which I have already noted； proves once more the
impotence of material constraint to dominate moral forces。 It
cannot be too often repeated that the true guide of mankind is
the moral scaffolding erected by his ancestors。
Accustomed to live in an organised society； supported by codes
and respected traditions； we can with difficulty represent to
ourselves the condition of a nation deprived of such a basis。 As
a general thing we only see the irksome side of our environment；
too readily forgetting that society can exist only on condition
of imposing certain restraints； and that laws； manners； and
custom constitute a check upon the natural instincts of barbarism
which never entirely perishes。
The history of the Convention and the Directory which followed it
shows plainly to what degree disorder may overcome a nation
deprived of its ancient structure； and having for guide only the
artificial combinations of an insufficient reason。
2。 Despotic Government of the Directory。 Recrudescence of the
Terror。
With the object of diverting attention； occupying the army； and
obtaining resources by the pillage of neighbouring countries； the
Directors decided to resume the wars of conquest which had
succeeded under the Convention。
These continued during the life time of the Directory。 The
armies won a rich booty； especially in Italy。
Some of the invaded populations were so simple as to suppose that
these invasions were undertaken in their interest。 They were not
long in discovering that all military operations were
accompanied by crushing taxes and the pillage of churches； public
treasuries； &c。
The final consequence of this policy of conquest was the
formation of a new coalition against France； which lasted until
1801。
Indifferent to the state of the country and incapable of
reorganising it； the Directors were principally concerned in
struggling against an incessant series of conspiracies in order
to keep in power。
This task was enough to occupy their leisure； for the political
parties had not disarmed。 Anarchy had reached such a point that
all were calling for a hand powerful enough to restore order。
Everyone felt； the Directors included； that the republican system
could not last much longer。
Some dreamed of re…establishing royalty； others the Terrorist
system； while others waited for a general。 Only the purchasers
of the national property feared a change of Government。
The unpopularity of the Directory increased daily； and when in
May； 1797； the third part of the Assembly had to be renewed； the
majority of those elected were hostile to the system。
The Directors were not embarrassed by a little thing like that。
They annulled the elections in 49 departments； 154 of the new
deputies were invalidated and expelled； 53 condemned to
deportation。 Among these latter figured the most illustrious
names of the Revolution： Portalis； Carnot； Tronson du Coudray；
&c。
To intimidate the electors； military commissions condemned to
death； rather at random； 160 persons； and sent to Guiana 330； of
whom half speedily died。 The emigres and priests who
had returned to France were violently expelled。 This was known
as the coup d'etat of Fructidor。
This coup； which struck more especially at the moderates； was
not the only one of its kind； another quickly followed。 The
Directors； finding the Jacobin deputies too numerous； annulled
the elections of sixty of them。
The preceding facts displayed the tyrannical temper of the
Directors； but this appeared even more plainly in the details of
their measures。 The new masters of France also proved to be as
bloodthirsty as the most ferocious deputies of the Terror。
The guillotine was not re…established as a permanency； but
replaced by deportation under conditions which left the victims
little chance of survival。 Sent to Rochefort in cages of iron
bars； exposed to all the severities of the weather； they were
then packed into boats。
‘‘Between the decks of the Decade and the Bayonnaise；''
says Taine； ‘‘the miserable prisoners； suffocated by the lack of
air and the torrid heat； bullied and fleeced； died of hunger or
asphyxia； and Guiana completed the work of the voyage： of 193
taken thither by the Decade 39 were left alive at the end of
twenty…two months； of 120 taken by the Bayonnaise 1 remained。
Observing everywhere a Catholic renascence； and imagining that
the clergy were conspiring against them； the Directors deported
or sent to the galleys in one year 1；448 priests； to say nothing
of a large number who were summarily executed。 The Terror was in
reality completely re…established。
The autocratic despotism of the Directory was exercised in all
the branches of the administration； notably the finances。 Thus；
having need of six hundred million francs； it forced the
deputies； always docile； to vote a progressive impost； which
yielded； however； only twelve millions。 Being presently in the
same condition； it decreed a forced loan of a hundred millions；
which resulted in the closing of workshops； the stoppage of
business； and the dismissal of domestics。 It was only at the
price of absolute ruin that forty millions could be obtained。
To assure itself of domination in the provinces the Directory
caused a so…called law of hostages to be passed； according to
which a list of hostages； responsible for all offences； was drawn
up in each commune。
It is easy to understand what hatred such a system provoked。 At
the end of 1799 fourteen departments were in revolt and forty…six
were ready to rise。 If the Directory had lasted the dissolution
of society would have been complete。
For that matter； this dissolution was far advanced。 Finances；
administration； everything was crumbling。 The receipts of the
Treasury； consisting of depreciated assignats fallen to a
hundredth part of their original value； were negligible。 Holders
of Government stock and officers could no longer obtain payment。
France at this time gave travellers the impression of a country
ravaged by war and abandoned by its inhabitants。 The broken
bridges and dykes and ruined buildings made all traffic
impossible。 The roads； long deserted； were infested by brigands。
Certain departments could only be crossed at the price of buying
a safe…conduct from the leaders of these bands。 Industry
and commerce were annihilat