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completely。 Should actual experience through the eye or ear plant some
unwelcome truth forcibly in his mind； it cannot subsist there； however
noisy and relentless it may be； the abstract principle drives it
out；＇16＇ if need be it will distort and strangle it； considering it a
slanderer since it refutes a principle which is true and undeniable in
itself。 Obviously； a mind of this kind is not sound； of the two
faculties which should pull together harmoniously； one is degenerated
and the other overgrown； facts cannot turn the scale against the
theory。 Charged on one side and empty on the other； the Jacobin mind
turns violently over on that side to which it leans； and such is its
incurable infirmity。
Consider； indeed； the authentic monuments of Jacobin thought； the
〃Journal des Amis de la Constitution；〃 the gazettes of Loustalot；
Desmoulins； Brissot； Condorcet； Fréron and Marat； Robespierre's； and
St。 Just's pamphlets and speeches； the debates in the Legislative
Assembly and in the Convention； the harangues； addresses and reports
of the Girondins and Montagnards； in brief； the forty volumes of
extracts compiled by Buchez and Roux。 Never has so much been said to
so little purpose； all the truth that is uttered is drowned in the
monotony and inflation of empty verbiage and vociferous bombast。 One
experience in this direction is sufficient。＇17＇ The historian who
resorts this mass of rubbish for accurate information finds none of
any account； in vain will he read kilometers of it： hardly will he
there meet one fact； one instructive detail； one document which brings
before his eyes a distinct personality； which shows him the real
sentiments of a villager or of a gentleman； which vividly portrays the
interior of a h？tel…de…ville； of a soldier's barracks； of a municipal
chamber； or the character of an insurrection。 To define fifteen or
twenty types and situations which sum up the history of the period； we
have been and shall be obliged to seek them elsewhere … in the
correspondence of local administrators； in affidavits on criminal
records； in confidential reports of the police；＇18＇ and in the
narratives of foreigners；＇19＇ who； prepared for it by a different
education； look behind words for things； and see France beyond the
〃Contrat Social。〃 This teeming France； this grand tragedy which
twenty…six millions of players are performing on a stage of 26 000
square leagues； is lost to the Jacobin。 His literature； as well as his
brain； contain only insubstantial generalizations like those above
cited； rolling out in a mere play of ideas； sometimes in concise terms
when the writer happens to be a professional reasoner like Condorcet；
but most frequently in a tangled； knotty style full of loose and
disconnected meshes when the spokesman happens to be an improvised
politician or a philosophic tyro like the ordinary deputies of the
Assembly and the speakers of the clubs。 It is a pedantic scholasticism
set forth with fanatical rant。 Its entire vocabulary consists of about
a hundred words； while all ideas are reduced to one； that of man in
himself： human units； all alike equal and independent； contracting
together for the first time。 This is their concept of society。 None
could be briefer； for； to arrive at it； man had to be reduced to a
minimum。 Never were political brains so willfully dried up。 For it is
the attempt to systematize and to simplify which causes their
impoverishment。 In that respect they go by the methods of their time
and in the track of Jean…Jacques Rousseau： their outlook on life is
the classic view； which； already narrow in the late philosophers； has
now become even more narrow and hardened。 The best representatives of
the type are Condorcet；＇20＇ among the Girondins； and Robespierre；
among the Montagnards； both mere dogmatists and pure logicians； the
latter the most remarkable and with a perfection of intellectual
sterility never surpassed。 Unquestionably； as far as the
formulation of durable laws is concerned； i。e。 adapting the social
machinery to personalities； conditions； and circumstances； their
mentality is certainly the most impotent and harmful。 It is
organically short…sighted； and by interposing their principles between
it and reality； they shut off the horizon。 Beyond their crowd and the
club it distinguishes nothing； while in the vagueness and confusion of
the distance it erects the hollow idols of its own Utopia。 But when
power is to be seized by assault； and a dictatorship arbitrarily
exercised； the mechanical inflexibility of such a mind is useful
rather than detrimental。 It is not embarrassed or slowed down； like
that of a statesman； by the obligation to make inquiries； to respect
precedents； of looking into statistics； of calculating and tracing
beforehand in different directions the near and remote consequences of
its work as this affects the interests； habits； and passions of
diverse classes。 All this is now obsolete and superfluous： the Jacobin
knows on the spot the correct form of government and the good laws。
For both construction as well as for destruction； his rectilinear
method is the quickest and most vigorous。 For； if calm reflection is
required to get at what suits twenty…six millions of living Frenchmen；
a mere glance suffices to understand the desires of the abstract men
of their theory。 Indeed； according to the theory； men are all shaped
to one pattern； nothing being left to them but an elementary will；
thus defined； the philosophic robot demands liberty； equality and
popular sovereignty； the maintenance of the rights of man and adhesion
to the 〃Contrat Social。〃 That is enough： from now on the will of the
people is known； and known beforehand； a consultation among citizens
previous to action is not essential； there is no obligation to await
their votes。 In any events； a ratification by the people is sure； and
should this not be forthcoming it is owing to their ignorance； disdain
or malice； in which case their response deserves to be considered as
null。 The best thing to do； consequently； through precaution and to
protect the people from what is bad for them； is to dictate to them
what is good for them。 Here； the Jacobin might be sincere； for the
men in whose behalf he claims rights are not flesh…and…blood
Frenchmen； as we see them in the streets and in the fields； but men in
general； as they ought to be on leaving the hands of Nature； or after
the teachings of Reason。 As to the former； there is no need of being
scrupulous because they are infatuated with prejudices and their
opinions are mere drivel； as for the latter； it is just the opposite：
full of respect for the vainglorious images of his own theory； of
ghosts produced by his own intellectual device； the Jacobin will
always bow down to responses that he himself has provided； for； the
beings that he has created are more real in his eyes than living ones
and it is their suffrage on which he counts。 Accordingly； viewing
things in the worst lights； he has nothing against him but the
momentary antipathy of a purblind generation。 To offset this； he
enjoys the approval of humanity； self…obtained； that of a posterity
which his acts have regenerated； that of men who； thanks to him； who
are again become what they should never have ceased to be。 Hence； far
from looking upon himself as an usurper or a tyrant； he considers
himself the natural mandatory of a veritable people； the authorized
executor of the common will。 Marching along in the procession formed
for him by this imaginary crowd； sustained by millions of metaphysical
wills created by himself in his own image； he has their unanimous
assent； and； like a chorus of triumphant shouts； he will fill the
outward world with the inward echo of his own voice。
IV。
What the theory promises。 … How it flatters wounded self…esteem。
The ruling passion of the Jacobin。 Apparent both in style and
conduct。 He alone is virtuous in his own estimation； while his
adversaries are vile。 They must accordingly be put out of the way。
Perfection of this character。 Common sense and moral sense both
perverted。
'When an ideology attracts people； it is less due to its
sophistication than to the promises it holds out。 It appeals more to
their desires than to their intelligence； for； if the heart sometimes
may be the dupe of the head； the latter is much more frequently the
dupe of the former。 We do not accept a system because we deem it a
true one； but because the truth we find in it suits us。 Political or
religious fanaticism； any theological or philosophical channel in
which truth flows； always has its source in some ardent longing； some
secret passion； some accumulation of intense； painful desire to which
a theory affords and outlet。 In the Jacobin； as well as in the
Puritan； there is a fountain…head of this description。 What feeds this
source with the Puritan is the anxieties of a disturbed conscience
which； forming fo