ItwastheCommunethatdemandedtheimprisonmentofLouisXVI。
inthetoweroftheTemple，whentheAssemblywishedtoimprisonhiminthepalaceoftheLuxembourg。ItwastheCommuneagainthatfilledtheprisonswithsuspects，andthenorderedthemtobekilled。
Weknowwithwhatrefinementsofcrueltyahandfulofsome150
bandits，paidattherateof24livresaday，anddirectedbyafewmembersoftheCommune，exterminatedsome1，200personsinfourdays。ThiscrimewasknownasthemassacreofSeptember。
ThemayorofParis，Petion，receivedthebandofassassinswithrespect，andgavethemdrink。AfewGirondistsprotestedsomewhat，buttheJacobinsweresilent。
TheterrorisedAssemblyaffectedatfirsttoignorethemassacres，whichwereencouragedbyseveralofitsmoreinfluentialdeputies，notablyCouthonandBillaud—Varenne。Whenatlastitdecidedtocondemnthemitwaswithoutattemptingtopreventtheircontinuation。
Consciousofitsimpotence，theLegislativeAssemblydissolveditselfafortnightlaterinordertogivewaytotheConvention。
Itsworkwasobviouslydisastrous，notinintentionbutinfact。
Royalist，itabandonedthemonarchy；humanitarian，itallowedthemassacresofSeptember；pacific，itpushedFranceintoaformidablewar，thusshowingthataweakGovernmentalwaysendsbybringingruinuponitscountry。
ThehistoryofthetwopreviousrevolutionaryAssembliesprovesoncemoretowhatpointeventscarrywithinthemtheirinevitableconsequences。Theyconstituteatrainofnecessitiesofwhichwecansometimeschoosethefirst，butwhichthenevolvewithoutconsultingus。Wearefreetomakeadecision，butpowerlesstoavertitsconsequences。
ThefirstmeasuresoftheConstituentAssemblywererationalandvoluntary，buttheresultswhichfollowedwerebeyondallwillorreasonorforesight。
Whichofthemenof1789wouldhaveventuredtodesireorpredictthedeathofLouisXVI。，thewarsofLaVendee，theTerror，thepermanentguillotineandthefinalanarchy，ortheensuingreturntotraditionandorder，guidedbytheironhandofasoldier？
InthedevelopmentofeventswhichensuedfromtheearlyactionsoftherevolutionaryAssembliesthemoststriking，perhaps，wastheriseanddevelopmentofthegovernmentofthecrowd——ofmobrule。
Behindthefactswhichwehavebeenconsidering——thetakingoftheBastille，theinvasionofVersailles，themassacresofSeptember，theattackontheTuileries，themurderoftheSwissGuards，andthedownfallandimprisonmentoftheking——wecanreadilyperceivethelawsaffectingthepsychologyofcrowdsandtheirleaders。
Weshallnowseethatthepowerofthemultitudewillprogressivelyincrease，overcomeallotherpowers，andfinallyreplacethem。
CHAPTERIII
THEPSYCHOLOGYOFTHECONVENTION
1。TheLegendoftheConvention。
ThehistoryoftheConventionisnotmerelyfertileinpsychologicaldocuments。Italsoshowshowpowerlessthewitnessesofanyperiodandeventheirimmediatesuccessorsaretoformanexactideaoftheeventswhichtheyhavewitnessed，andthemenwhohavesurroundedthem。
MorethanacenturyhaselapsedsincetheRevolution，andmenareonlyjustbeginningtoformjudgmentsconcerningthisperiodwhich，ifstilloftendoubtfulenough，areslightlymoreaccuratethanofold。
Thishappens，notonlybecausenewdocumentsarebeingdrawnfromthearchives，butbecausethelegendswhichenvelopedthatsanguinaryperiodinamagicalcloudaregraduallyvanishingwiththepassageoftime。
Perhapsthemosttenaciouslegendofallwasthatwhichuntilformerlyusedtosurroundthepersonagestowhomourfathersappliedthegloriousepithet，``theGiantsoftheConvention。’’
ThestrugglesoftheConventionagainstFranceininsurrectionandEuropeinarmsproducedsuchanimpressionthattheheroesofthisformidablestruggleseemedtobelongtoaraceofsupermenorTitans。
Theepithet``giant’’seemedjustifiedsolongastheeventsoftheperiodwereconfusedandmassedtogether。Regardedasconnectedwhenitwassimplysimultaneous，theworkofthearmieswasconfoundedwiththatoftheConvention。Thegloryofthefirstrecoileduponthesecond，andservedasanexcuseforthehecatombsoftheTerror，theferocityofthecivilwar，andthedevastationofFrance。
Underthepenetratingscrutinyofmoderncriticism，theheterogeneousmassofeventshasbeenslowlydisentangled。ThearmiesoftheRepublichaveretainedtheiroldprestige，butwehavebeenforcedtorecognisethatthemenoftheConvention，absorbedentirelybytheirintestineconflicts，hadverylittletodowiththeirvictories。AtthemosttwoorthreemembersofthecommitteesoftheAssemblywereconcernedwiththearmies，andthefactthattheywerevictoriouswasdue，apartfromtheirnumbersandthetalentsoftheiryounggenerals，totheenthusiasmwithwhichanewfaithhadinspiredthem。
Inalaterchapter，devotedtotherevolutionaryarmies，weshallseehowtheyconqueredEuropeinarms。Theysetoutinspiredbytheideasoflibertyandequalitywhichconstitutedthenewgospel，andonceonthefrontiers，whichweretokeepthemsolong，theyretainedaspecialmentality，verydifferentfromthatoftheGovernment，whichtheyfirstknewnothingofandafterwardsdespised。
Havingnopartwhateverintheirvictories，themenoftheConventioncontentedthemselveswithlegislatingathazardaccordingtotheinjunctionsoftheleaderswhodirectedthem，andwhoclaimedtoberegeneratingFrancebymeansoftheguillotine。
ButitwasthankstothesevaliantarmiesthatthehistoryoftheConventionwastransformedintoanapotheosiswhichaffectedseveralgenerationswithareligiousrespectwhichevento—dayishardlyextinct。
Studyingindetailthepsychologyofthe``Giants’’oftheConvention，wefindtheirmagnitudeshrinkveryrapidly。Theywereingeneralextremelymediocre。Theirmostferventdefenders，suchasM。Aulard，areobligedtoadmitasmuch。
ThisishowM。AulardputsitinhisHistoryoftheFrenchRevolution：——
``Ithasbeensaidthatthegenerationwhichfrom1789to1799
didsuchgreatandterriblethingswasagenerationofgiants，or，toputitmoreplainly，thatitwasagenerationmoredistinguishedthanthatwhichprecededitorthatwhichfollowed。
Thisisaretrospectiveillusion。ThecitizenswhoformedthemunicipalandJacobinornationalistgroupsbywhichtheRevolutionwaseffecteddonotseemtohavebeensuperior，eitherinenlightenmentorintalents，totheFrenchmenofthetimeofLouisXV。orofLouisPhilippe。WerethoseexceptionallygiftedwhosenameshistoryhasretainedbecausetheyappearedonthestageofParis，orbecausetheywerethemostbrilliantoratorsofthevariousrevolutionaryAssemblies？Mirabeau，uptoacertainpoint，deservedthetitleofgenius；butastotherest——
Robespierre，Danton，Vergniaud——hadtheytrulymoretalent，forexample，thanourmodernorators？In1793，inthetimeofthesupposed`giants，’Mme。Rolandwroteinhermemoirs：`Francewasasthoughdrainedofmen；theirdearthduringthisrevolutionistrulysurprising；therehavescarcelybeenanybutpigmies。’’’
IfafterconsideringthemenoftheConventionindividuallyweconsidertheminabody，wemaysaythattheydidnotshineeitherbyintelligenceorbyvirtueorbycourage。Neverdidabodyofmenmanifestsuchpusillanimity。Theyhadnocouragesaveintheirspeechesorinrespectofremotedangers。ThisAssembly，soproudandthreateninginitsspeechwhenaddressingroyalty，wasperhapsthemosttimidanddocilepoliticalcollectivitythattheworldhaseverknown。WeseeitslavishlyobedienttotheordersoftheclubsandtheCommune，tremblingbeforethepopulardelegationswhichinvadeditdaily，andobeyingtheinjunctionsoftherioterstothepointofhandingovertothemitsmostbrilliantmembers。TheConventionaffordstheworldamelancholyspectacle，voting，atthepopularbehest，lawssoabsurdthatitisobligedtoannulthemassoonastheriotershavequittedthehall。
FewAssemblieshavegivenproofofsuchweakness。WhenwewishtoshowhowlowapopularGovernmentcanfallwehaveonlytopointtotheConvention。
2。ResultsoftheTriumphoftheJacobinReligionAmongthecausesthatgavetheConventionitsspecialphysiognomy，oneofthemostimportantwasthedefiniteestablishmentofarevolutionaryreligion。Adogmawhichwasatfirstinprocessofformationwasatlastfinallyerected。
Thisdogmawascomposedofanaggregateofsomewhatinconsistentelements。Nature，therightsofman，liberty，equality，thesocialcontract，hatredoftyrants，andpopularsovereigntyformedthearticlesofagospelwhich，toitsdisciples，wasabovediscussion。Thenewtruthshadfoundapostleswhowerecertainoftheirpower，andwhofinally，likebelieversalltheworldover，soughttoimposethembyforce。Noheedshouldbetakenoftheopinionofunbelievers；theyalldeservedtobeexterminated。
Thehatredofhereticshavingbeenalways，aswehaveseen，inrespectoftheReformation，anirreduciblecharacteristicofgreatbeliefs，wecanreadilycomprehendtheintoleranceoftheJacobinreligion。
ThehistoryoftheReformationprovesalsothattheconflictbetweentwoalliedbeliefsisverybitter。Wemustnot，therefore，beastonishedthatintheConventiontheJacobinsfoughtfuriouslyagainsttheotherrepublicans，whosefaithhardlydifferedfromtheirown。
Thepropagandaofthenewapostleswasveryenergetic。Toconverttheprovincestheysentthitherzealousdisciplesescortedbyguillotines。Theinquisitorsofthenewfaithwouldhavenopalteringwitherror。AsRobespierresaid，``Therepublicisthedestructionofeverythingthatisopposedtoit。’’Whatmatterthatthecountryrefusedtoberegenerated？
Itshouldberegenerateddespiteitself。``WewillmakeacemeteryofFrance，’’saidCarrier，``ratherthanfailtoregenerateitinourownway。’’
TheJacobinpolicyderivedfromthenewfaithwasverysimple。
ItconsistedinasortofequalitarianSocialism，directedbyadictatorshipwhichwouldbrooknoopposition。
Ofpracticalideasconsistentwiththeeconomicnecessitiesandthetruenatureofman，thetheoristswhoruledFrancewouldhavenothingtosay。Speechandtheguillotinesufficedthem。Theirspeecheswerechildish。``Neverafact，’’saysTaine，``nothingbutabstractions，stringsofsentencesaboutNature，reason，thepeople，tyrants，liberty：likesomanypuffed—outballoonsuselesslyjostlinginspace。Ifwedidnotknowthatitallendedinpracticalanddreadfulresults，weshouldthinktheyweregamesoflogic，schoolexercises，academicaldemonstrations，ideologicalcombinations。’’
ThetheoriesoftheJacobinsamountedpracticallytoanabsolutetyranny。TothemitseemedevidentthatasovereignStatemustbeobeyedwithoutdiscussionbycitizensrenderedequalastoconditionsandfortune。
Thepowerwithwhichtheyinvestedthemselveswasfargreaterthanthatofthemonarchswhohadprecededthem。Theyfixedthepricesofmerchandiseandarrogatedtherighttodisposeofthelifeandpropertyofcitizens。
Theirconfidenceintheregenerativevirtuesoftherevolutionaryfaithwassuchthatafterhavingdeclaredwaruponkingstheydeclaredwaruponthegods。Acalendarwasestablishedfromwhichthesaintswerebanished。Theycreatedanewdivinity，Reason，whoseworshipwascelebratedinNotre—Dame，withceremonieswhichwereinmanywaysidenticalwiththoseoftheCatholicfaith，uponthealtarofthe``lateHolyVirgin。’’ThiscultlasteduntilRobespierresubstitutedapersonalreligionofwhichheconstitutedhimselfthehighpriest。
ThesolemastersofFrance，theJacobinsandtheirdiscipleswereabletoplunderthecountrywithimpunity，althoughtheywereneverinthemajorityanywhere。
Theirnumbersarenoteasytodetermineexactly。Weknowonlythattheywereverysmall。Tainevaluedthemat5，000inParis，among700，000inhabitants；inBesancon300among300，000；andinallFranceabout300，000。
``Asmallfeudalityofbrigands，setoveraconqueredFrance，’’
accordingtothewordsofthesameauthor，theywereable，inspiteoftheirsmallnumbers，todominatethecountry，andthisforseveralreasons。Inthefirstplace，theirfaithgavethemaconsiderablestrength。Then，becausetheyrepresentedtheGovernment，andforcenturiestheFrenchhadobeyedthosewhowereincommand。Finally，becauseitwasbelievedthattooverthrowthemwouldbetobringbacktheancienregime，whichwasgreatlydreadedbythenumerouspurchasersofthenationaldomains。Theirtyrannymusthavegrownfrightfulindeedtoforcesomanydepartmentstoriseagainstthem。
Thefirstfactoroftheirpowerwasveryimportant。Intheconflictbetweenpowerfulfaithsandweakfaithsvictoryneverfallstothelatter。Apowerfulfaithcreatesstrongwills，whichwillalwaysoverpowerweakwills。ThattheJacobinsthemselvesdidfinallyperishwasbecausetheiraccumulatedviolencehadboundtogetherthousandsofweakwillswhoseunitedweightoverbalancedtheirownstrongwills。
ItistruethattheGirondists，whomtheJacobinspersecutedwithsomuchhatred，hadalsowell—establishedbeliefs，butinthestrugglewhichensuedtheireducationtoldagainstthem，togetherwiththeirrespectforcertaintraditionsandtherightsofothers，scrupleswhichdidnotintheleasttroubletheiradversaries。
``ThemajorityofthesentimentsoftheGirondists，’’writesEmileOllivier，``weredelicateandgenerous；thoseoftheJacobinmobwerelow，gross，andbrutal。ThenameofVergniaud，comparedwiththatofthe`divine’Marat，measuresagulfwhichnothingcouldspan。’’
DominatingtheConventionattheoutsetbythesuperiorityoftheirtalentsandtheireloquence，theGirondistssoonfellunderthedominationoftheMontagnards——worthlessenergumens，whocarriedlittleweight，butwerealwaysactive，andwhoknewhowtoexcitethepassionsofthepopulace。ItwasviolenceandnottalentthatimpressedtheAssemblies。
3。MentalCharacteristicsoftheConvention。
Besidethecharacteristicscommontoallassembliestherearesomecreatedbyinfluencesofenvironmentandcircumstances，whichgiveanyparticularassemblyofmenaspecialphysiognomy。
MostofthecharacteristicsobservableintheConstituentandLegislativeAssembliesreappeared，inanexaggeratedform，intheConvention。
ThisAssemblycomprisedaboutsevenhundredandfiftydeputies，ofwhomrathermorethanathirdhadsatintheConstituentortheLegislativeAssembly。ByterrorisingthepopulationtheJacobinscontrivedtotriumphattheelections。Themajorityoftheelectors，sixmillionsoutofseven，preferredtoabstainfromvoting。
Astotheprofessions，theAssemblycontainedalargenumberoflawyers，advocates，notaries，bailiffs，ex—magistrates，andafewliterarymen。
ThementalityoftheConventionwasnothomogeneous。Now，anassemblycomposedofindividualsofwidelydifferentcharacterssoonsplitsupintoanumberofgroups。TheConventionveryearlycontainedthree——theGironde，theMountain，andthePlain。
Theconstitutionalmonarchistshadalmostdisappeared。
TheGirondeandtheMountain，extremeparties，consistedofaboutahundredmembersapiece，whosuccessivelybecameleaders。IntheMountainwerethemostadvancedmembers：Couthon，HeraultdeSechelles，Danton，CamilleDesmoulins，Marat，Collotd’Herbois，Billaud—Varennes，Barras，Saint—Just，Fouche，Tallien，Carrier，Robespierre，&c。IntheGirondewereBrissot，Petion，Condorcet，Vergniaud，&c。
ThefivehundredothermembersoftheAssembly——thatis，thegreatmajority——constitutedwhatwasknownasthePlain。
Thislatterformedafloatingmass，silent，undecided，andtimid；
readytofolloweveryimpulseandtobecarriedawaybytheexcitementofthemoment。Itgaveearindifferentlytothestrongerofthetwoprecedinggroups。AfterobeyingtheGirondeforsometimeitalloweditselftobeledawaybytheMountain，whenthelattertriumphedoveritsenemy。Thiswasanaturalconsequenceofthelawalreadystated，bywhichtheweakinvariablyfallunderthedominionofthestrongerwills。
TheinfluenceofgreatmanipulatorsofmenwasdisplayedinahighdegreeduringtheConvention。Itwasconstantlyledbyaviolentminorityofnarrowminds，whoseintenseconvictionslentthemgreatstrength。
Abrutalandaudaciousminoritywillalwaysleadafearfulandirresolutemajority。Thisexplainstheconstanttendencytowardextremestobeobservedinallrevolutionaryassemblies。ThehistoryoftheConventionverifiesoncemorethelawofaccelerationstudiedinanotherchapter。
ThemenoftheConventionwerethusboundtopassfrommoderationtogreaterandgreaterviolence。Finallytheydecimatedthemselves。Ofthe180GirondistswhoattheoutsetledtheConvention140werekilledorfled，andfinallythemostfanaticaloftheTerrorists，Robespierre，reignedaloneoveraterrifiedcrowdofservilerepresentatives。
Yetitwasamongthefivehundredmembersofthemajority，uncertainandfloatingasitwas，thattheintelligenceandexperienceweretobefound。ThetechnicalcommitteestowhomtheusefulworkoftheConventionwasduewererecruitedfromthePlain。
Moreorlessindifferenttopolitics，themembersofthePlainwerechieflyanxiousthatnooneshouldpayparticularattentiontothem。Shutupintheircommittees，theyshowedthemselvesaslittleaspossibleintheAssembly，whichexplainswhythesessionsoftheConventioncontainedbarelyathirdofthedeputies。
Unhappily，asoftenhappens，theseintelligentandhonestmenwerecompletelydevoidofcharacter，andthefearwhichalwaysdominatedthemmadethemvotefortheworstofthemeasuresintroducedbytheirdreadedmasters。
ThemenofthePlainvotedforeverythingtheywereorderedtovotefor——thecreationoftheRevolutionaryTribunal，theTerror，&c。ItwaswiththeirassistancethattheMountaincrushedtheGironde，andRobespierredestroyedtheHebertistsandDantonists。Likeallweakpeople，theyfollowedthestrong。ThegentlephilanthropistswhocomposedthePlain，andconstitutedthemajorityoftheAssembly，contributed，bytheirpusillanimity，tobringaboutthefrightfulexcessesoftheConvention。
ThepsychologicalnotealwaysprevailingintheConventionwasahorriblefear。Itwasmoreespeciallythroughfearthatmencutoffoneanother’sheads，inthedoubtfulhopeofkeepingtheirownontheirshoulders。
Suchafearwas，ofcourse，verycomprehensible。Theunhappydeputiesdeliberatedamidthehootingsandvociferationsofthetribunes。Ateverymomentveritablesavages，armedwithpikes，invadedtheAssembly，andthemajorityofthemembersnolongerdaredtoattendthesessions。WhenbychancetheydidgoitwasonlytovoteinsilenceaccordingtotheordersoftheMountain，whichwasonlyathirdasnumerous。
Thefearwhichdominatedthelatter，althoughlessvisible，wasjustasprofound。Mendestroyedtheirenemies，notonlybecausetheywereshallowfanatics，butbecausetheywereconvincedthattheirownexistencewasthreatened。ThejudgesoftherevolutionaryTribunalstremblednoless。TheywouldhavewillinglyacquittedDanton，andthewidowofCamilleDesmoulins，andmanyothers。Theydarednot。
ButitwasaboveallwhenRobespierrebecamethesolemasterthatthephantomoffearoppressedtheAssembly。Ithastrulybeensaidthataglancefromthemastermadehiscolleaguesshrinkwithfear。Ontheirfacesoneread``thepalloroffearandtheabandonofdespair。’’
AllfearedRobespierreandRobespierrefearedall。Itwasbecausehefearedconspiraciesagainsthimthathecutoffmen’sheads，anditwasalsothroughfearthatothersallowedhimtodoso。
ThememoirsofmembersoftheConventionshowplainlywhatahorriblememorytheyretainedofthisgloomyperiod。Questionedtwentyyearslater，saysTaine，onthetrueaimandtheintimatethoughtsoftheCommitteeofPublicSafety，Barrerereplied：——
``Wehadonlyonefeeling，thatofself—preservation；onlyonedesire，thatofpreservingourlives，whicheachofusbelievedtobethreatened。Youhadyourneighbour’sheadcutoffsothatyourneighbourshouldnothaveyouyourselfguillotined。’’
ThehistoryoftheConventionconstitutesoneofthemoststrikingexamplesthatcouldbegivenoftheinfluenceofleadersandoffearuponanassembly。
CHAPTERIV
THEGOVERNMENTOFTHECONVENTION
1。TheactivityoftheClubsandtheCommuneduringtheConvention。
DuringthewholeofitsexistencetheConventionwasgovernedbytheleadersoftheclubsandoftheCommune。
WehavealreadyseenwhatwastheirinfluenceontheprecedingAssemblies。ItbecameoverwhelmingduringtheConvention。ThehistoryofthislatterisinrealitythatoftheclubsandtheCommunewhichdominatedit。Theyenslaved，notonlytheConvention，butalsoallFrance。Numerouslittleprovincialclubs，directedbythatofthecapital，supervisedmagistrates，denouncedsuspects，andundertooktheexecutionofalltherevolutionaryorders。
WhentheclubsortheCommunehaddecideduponcertainmeasurestheyhadthemvotedbytheAssemblythenandthere。IftheAssemblyresisted，theysenttheirarmeddelegationsthither——
thatis，armedbandsrecruitedfromthescumofthepopulace。
Theyconveyedinjunctionswhichwerealwaysslavishlyobeyed。
TheCommunewassosureofitsstrengththatitevendemandedoftheConventiontheimmediateexpulsionofdeputieswhodispleasedit。
WhiletheConventionwascomposedgenerallyofeducatedmen，themembersoftheCommuneandtheclubscomprisedamajorityofsmallshopkeepers，labourers，andartisans，incapableofpersonalopinions，andalwaysguidedbytheirleaders——Danton，CamilleDesmoulins，Robespierre，&c。
Ofthetwopowers，clubsandinsurrectionaryCommune，thelatterexercisedthegreaterinfluenceinParis，becauseithadmadeforitselfarevolutionaryarmy。Itheldunderitsordersforty—
eightcommitteesofNationalGuards，whoaskednothingmorethantokill，sack，and，aboveall，plunder。
ThetyrannywithwhichtheCommunecrushedPariswasfrightful。
Forexample，itdelegatedtoacertaincobbler，Chalandonbyname，therightofsurveillanceoveraportionofthecapital——arightimplyingthepowertosendtotheRevolutionaryTribunal，andthereforetotheguillotine，allthosewhomhesuspected。
Certainstreetswerethusalmostdepopulatedbyhim。
TheConventionstruggledfeeblyagainsttheCommuneattheoutset，butdidnotprolongitsresistance。TheculminatingpointoftheconflictoccurredwhentheConventionwishedtoarrestHebert，thefriendoftheCommune，andthelattersentarmedbandswhothreatenedtheAssemblyanddemandedtheexpulsionoftheGirondistswhohadprovokedthemeasure。UpontheConventionrefusingtheCommunebesiegeditonJune2，1798，bymeansofitsrevolutionaryarmy，whichwasundertheordersofHanriot。Terrified，theAssemblygaveuptwenty—sevenofitsmembers。TheCommuneimmediatelysentadelegationironicallytofelicitateituponitsobedience。
AfterthefalloftheGirondiststheConventionsubmitteditselfcompletelytotheinjunctionsoftheomnipotentCommune。Thelatterdecreedthelevyofarevolutionaryarmy，tobeaccompaniedbyatribunalandaguillotine，whichwastotraversethewholeofFranceinordertoexecutesuspects。
Onlytowardstheendofitsexistence，afterthefallofRobespierre，didtheConventioncontrivetoescapefromtheyokeoftheJacobinsandtheCommune。ItclosedtheJacobinclubandguillotineditsleadingmembers。
DespitesuchsanctionstheleadersstillcontinuedtoexcitethepopulaceandhurlitagainsttheConvention。InGerminalandPrairialitunderwentregularsieges。ArmeddelegationsevensucceededinforcingtheConventiontovotethere—establishmentoftheCommuneandtheconvocationofanewAssembly，ameasurewhichtheConventionhastenedtoannulthemomenttheinsurgentshadwithdrawn。Ashamedofitsfear，itsentforregimentswhichdisarmedthefaubourgsandmadenearlytenthousandarrests。
Twenty—sixleadersofthemovementwereputtodeath，andsixdeputieswhowereconcernedintheriotwereguillotined。
ButtheConventiondidnotresisttoanypurpose。WhenitwasnolongerledbytheclubsandtheCommuneitobeyedtheCommitteeofPublicSafetyandvoteditsdecreeswithoutdiscussion。
``TheConvention，’’writesH。Williams，``whichspokeofnothinglessthanhavingalltheprincesandkingsofEuropebroughttoitsfeetloadedwithchains，wasmadeprisonerinitsownsanctuarybyahandfulofmercenaries。’’
2。TheGovernmentofFranceduringtheConvention——TheTerror。
Assoonasitassembledin1792theConventionbeganbydecreeingtheabolitionofroyalty，andinspiteofthehesitationofagreatnumberofitsmembers，whoknewthattheprovinceswereroyalist，itproclaimedtheRepublic。
Intimatelypersuadedthatsuchaproclamationwouldtransformthecivilisedworld，itinstitutedaneweraandanewcalendar。TheyearI。ofthiseramarkedthedawnofaworldinwhichreasonalonewastoreign。ItwasinauguratedbythetrialofLouisXVI。，ameasurewhichwasorderedbytheCommune，butwhichthemajorityoftheConventiondidnotdesire。
Atitsoutset，infact，theConventionwasgovernedbyitsrelativelymoderateelements，theGirondists。Thepresidentandthesecretarieshadbeenchosenamongthebestknownofthisparty。Robespierre，whowaslatertobecometheabsolutemasteroftheConvention，possessedsolittleinfluenceatthistimethatheobtainedonlysixvotesforthepresidency，whilePetionreceivedtwohundredandthirty—five。