TheMontagnardshadatfirstonlyaveryslightinfluence。Theirpowerwasoflatergrowth。WhentheywereinpowertherewasnolongerroomintheConventionformoderatemembers。
DespitetheirminoritytheMontagnardsfoundawaytoforcetheAssemblytobringLouistotrial。ThiswasatonceavictoryovertheGirondists，thecondemnationofallkings，andafinaldivorcebetweentheoldorderandthenew。
Tobringaboutthetrialtheymanoeuvredveryskilfully，bombardingtheConventionwithpetitionsfromtheprovinces，andsendingadeputationfromtheinsurrectionalCommuneofParis，whichdemandedatrial。
AccordingtoacharacteristiccommontotheAssembliesoftheRevolution，thatofyieldingtothreatsandalwaysdoingthecontraryofwhattheywished，themenoftheConventiondarednotresist。Thetrialwasdecidedupon。
TheGirondists，whoindividuallywouldnothavewishedforthedeathoftheking，votedforitoutoffearoncetheywereassembled。Hopingtosavehisownhead，theDucd’Orleans，Louis’cousin，votedwiththem。If，onmountingthescaffoldonJanuary21，1793，Louishadhadthatvisionofthefuturewhichweattributetothegods，hewouldhaveseenfollowinghim，onebyone，thegreaternumberoftheGirondistswhoseweaknesshadbeenunabletodefendhim。
Regardedonlyfromthepurelyutilitarianpointofview，theexecutionofthekingwasoneofthemistakesoftheRevolution。
ItengenderedcivilwarandarmedEuropeagainstFrance。IntheConventionitselfhisdeathgaverisetointestinestruggles，whichfinallyledtothetriumphoftheMontagnardsandtheexpulsionoftheGirondists。
ThemeasurespassedundertheinfluenceoftheMontagnardsfinallybecamesodespoticthatsixtydepartments，comprisingtheWestandtheSouth，revolted。Theinsurrection，whichwasheadedbymanyoftheexpelleddeputies，wouldperhapshavesucceededhadnotthecompromisingassistanceoftheroyalistscausedmentofearthereturnoftheancienregime。AtToulon，infact，theinsurgentsacclaimedLouisXVII。
ThecivilwarthusbegunlastedduringthegreaterpartofthelifeoftheRevolution。Itwasfoughtwiththeutmostsavagery。
Oldmen，women，children，allweremassacred，andvillagesandcropswereburned。IntheVendeealonethenumberofthekilledwasreckonedatsomethingbetweenhalfamillionandamillion。
Civilwarwassoonfollowedbyforeignwar。TheJacobinsthoughttoremedyalltheseillsbycreatinganewConstitution。Itwasalwaysatraditionwithalltherevolutionaryassembliestobelieveinthemagicvirtuesofformula。InFrancethisconvictionhasneverbeenaffectedbythefailureofexperiments。
``Arobustfaith，’’writesoneofthegreatadmirersoftheRevolution，M。Rambaud，``sustainedtheConventioninthislabour；itbelievedfirmlythatwhenithadformulatedinalawtheprinciplesoftheRevolutionitsenemieswouldbeconfounded，or，stillbetter，converted，andthattheadventofjusticewoulddisarmtheinsurgents。’’
DuringitslifetimetheConventiondraftedtwoConstitutions——
thatof1793，ortheyearI。，andthatof1795，ortheyearIII。
Thefirstwasneverapplied，anabsolutedictatorshipverysoonreplacingit；thesecondcreatedtheDirectory。
TheConventioncontainedalargenumberoflawyersandmenofaffairs，whopromptlycomprehendedtheimpossibilityofgovernmentbymeansofalargeAssembly。TheysoondividedtheConventionintosmallcommittees，eachofwhichhadanindependentexistence——businesscommittees，committeesoflegislation，finance，agriculture，arts，&c。ThesecommitteespreparedthelawswhichtheAssemblyusuallyvotedwithitseyesclosed。
Thankstothem，theworkoftheConventionwasnotpurelydestructive。Theydraftedmanyveryusefulmeasures，creatingimportantcolleges，establishingthemetricsystem，&c。ThemajorityofthemembersoftheAssembly，aswehavealreadyseen，tookrefugeinthesecommitteesinordertoevadethepoliticalconflictwhichwouldhaveendangeredtheirheads。
Abovethebusinesscommittees，whichhadnothingtodowithpolitics，wastheCommitteeofPublicSafety，institutedinApril，1793，andcomposedofninemembers。DirectedatfirstbyDanton，andintheJulyofthesameyearbyRobespierre，itgraduallyabsorbedallthepowersofgovernment，includingthatofgivingorderstoministersandgenerals。Carnotdirectedtheoperationsofthewar，Cambonthefinances，andSaint—JustandCollot—d’Herboisthegeneralpolicy。
Althoughthelawsvotedbythetechnicalcommitteeswereoftenverywise，andconstitutedthelastingworkoftheConvention，thosewhichtheAssemblyvotedinabodyunderthethreatsofthedelegationswhichinvadeditweremanifestlyridiculous。
Amongtheselaws，whichwerenotgreatlyintheinterestsofthepublicoroftheConventionitself，werethelawofthemaximum，votedinSeptember，1793，whichpretendedtofixthepriceofprovisions，andwhichmerelyestablishedacontinualdearth；thedestructionoftheroyaltombsatSaint—Denis；thetrialofthequeen，thesystematicdevastationoftheVendeebyfire，theestablishmentoftheRevolutionaryTribunal，&c。
TheTerrorwasthechiefmeansofgovernmentduringtheConvention。CommencinginSeptember，1793，itreignedforsixmonths——thatis，untilthedeathofRobespierre。VainlydidcertainJacobins——Danton，CamilleDesmoulins，HeraultdeSechelles，&c。——proposethatclemencyshouldbegivenatrial。
Theonlyresultofthispropositionwasthatitsauthorsweresenttothescaffold。Itwasmerelythelassitudeofthepublicthatfinallyputanendtothisshamefulperiod。
ThesuccessivestrugglesofthevariouspartiesintheConventionanditstendencytowardsextremeseliminatedonebyonethemenofimportancewhohadonceplayedtheirparttherein。FinallyitfellundertheexclusivedominationofRobespierre。WhiletheConventionwasdisorganisingandravagingFrance，thearmieswerewinningbrilliantvictories。TheyhadseizedtheleftbankoftheRhine，Belgium，andHolland。ThetreatyofBasleratifiedtheseconquests。
Wehavealreadymentioned，andweshallreturntothematteragain，thattheworkofthearmiesmustbeconsideredabsolutelyapartfromthatoftheConvention。Contemporariesunderstoodthisperfectly，butto—dayitisoftenforgotten。
WhentheConventionwasdissolved，in1795，afterlastingforthreeyears，itwasregardedwithuniversaldistrust。Theperpetualplaythingofpopularcaprice，ithadnotsucceededinpacifyingFrance，buthadplungedherintoanarchy。ThegeneralopinionrespectingtheConventioniswellsummedupinaletterwritteninJuly，1799，bytheSwedishcharged’affaires，BaronDrinkmann：``IventuretohopethatnopeoplewilleverbegovernedbythewillofmorecruelandimbecilescoundrelsthanthosethathaveruledFrancesincethebeginningofhernewliberty。’’
3。TheEndoftheConvention。TheBeginningsoftheDirectory。
Attheendofitsexistence，theConvention，alwaystrustingtothepowerofformulae，draftedanewConstitution，thatoftheyearIII。，intendedtoreplacethatof1793，whichhadneverbeenputintoexecution。Thelegislativepowerwastobesharedbyaso—calledCouncilofAncientscomposedof150members，andacouncilofdeputiesnumbering500。TheexecutivepowerwasconfidedtoaDirectoryoffivemembers，whowereappointedbytheAncientsuponnominationbytheFiveHundred，andrenewedeveryyearbytheelectionofoneoftheirnumber。Itwasspecifiedthattwo—thirdsofthemembersofthenewAssemblyshouldbechosenfromamongthedeputiesoftheConvention。Thisprudentmeasurewasnotveryefficacious，asonlytendepartmentsremainedfaithfultotheJacobins。
Toavoidtheelectionofroyalists，theConventionhaddecidedtobanishallemigresinperpetuity。
TheannouncementofthisConstitutiondidnotproducetheanticipatedeffectuponthepublic。Ithadnoeffectuponthepopularriots，whichcontinued。OneofthemostimportantwasthatwhichthreatenedtheConventiononthe5thofOctober，1795。
TheleadershurledaveritablearmyupontheAssembly。
Beforesuchprovocation，theConventionfinallydecidedtodefenditself，andsentfortroops，entrustingthecommandtoBarras。
Bonaparte，whowasthenbeginningtoemergefromobscurity，wasentrustedwiththetaskofrepression。Withsuchaleaderactionwasswiftandenergetic。VigorouslypoundedwithballnearthechurchatSt。Roch，theinsurgentsfled，leavingsomehundredsofdeadonthespot。
Thisaction，whichdisplayedafirmnesstowhichtheConventionwaslittlehabituated，wasonlyduetothecelerityofthemilitaryoperations，forwhilethesewerebeingcarriedouttheinsurgentshadsentdelegatestotheAssembly，which，asusual，showeditselfquitereadytoyieldtothem。
TherepressionofthisriotconstitutedthelastimportantactoftheConvention。Onthe26thofOctober，1795，itdeclareditsmissionterminated，andgavewaytotheDirectory。
WehavealreadylaidstressuponsomeofthepsychologicallessonsfurnishedbythegovernmentoftheConvention。Oneofthemoststrikingoftheseistheimpotenceofviolencetodominatemen’smindsinpermanence。
NeverdidanyGovernmentpossesssuchformidablemeansofaction，yetinspiteofthepermanentguillotine，despitethedelegatessentwiththeguillotineintotheprovinces，despiteitsDraconianlaws，theConventionhadtostruggleperpetuallyagainstriots，insurrections，andconspiracies。Thecities，thedepartments，andthefaubourgsofPariswerecontinuallyrisinginrevolt，althoughheadswerefallingbythethousand。
ThisAssembly，whichthoughtitselfsovereign，foughtagainsttheinvincibleforceswhichwerefixedinmen’sminds，andwhichmaterialconstraintwaspowerlesstoovercome。Ofthesehiddenmotiveforcesitneverunderstoodthepower，anditstruggledagainsttheminvain。Intheendtheinvisibleforcestriumphed。
CHAPTERV
INSTANCESOFREVOLUTIONARYVIOLENCE
1。PsychologicalCausesofRevolutionaryViolence。
Wehaveshowninthecourseoftheprecedingchaptersthattherevolutionarytheoriesconstitutedanewfaith。
Humanitarianandsentimental，theyexaltedlibertyandfraternity。But，asinmanyreligions，wecanobserveacompletecontradictionbetweendoctrineandaction。Inpracticenolibertywastolerated，andfraternitywasquicklyreplacedbyfrenziedmassacres。
Thisoppositionbetweenprinciplesandconductresultsfromtheintolerancewhichaccompaniesallbeliefs。Areligionmaybesteepedinhumanitarianismandforbearance，butitssectarieswillalwayswanttoimposeitonothersbyforce，sothatviolenceistheinevitableresult。
ThecrueltiesoftheRevolutionwerethustheinherentresultsofthepropagationofthenewdogmas。TheInquisition，thereligiouswarsofFrance，St。Bartholomew’sDay，therevocationoftheEdictofNantes，the``Dragonnades，’’thepersecutionoftheJansenists，&c。，belongedtothesamefamilyastheTerrorandderivedfromthesamepsychologicalsources。
LouisXIV。wasnotacruelking，yetundertheimpulseofhisfaithhedrovehundredsofthousandsofProtestantsoutofFrance，afterfirstshootingdownaconsiderablenumberandsendingotherstothegalleys。
Themethodsofpersuasionadoptedbyallbelieversarebynomeansaconsequenceoftheirfearofthedissentientopposition。
ProtestantsandJansenistswereanythingbutdangerousunderLouisXIV。Intolerancearisesaboveallfromtheindignationexperiencedbyamindwhichisconvincedthatitpossessesthemostdazzlingveritiesagainstthemenwhodenythosetruths，andwhoaresurelynotactingingoodfaith。Howcanonesupporterrorwhenonehasthenecessarystrengthtowipeitout？
Thushavereasonedthebelieversofallages。ThusreasonedLouisXIV。andthemenoftheTerror。Theselatteralsowereconvincedthattheywereinpossessionofabsolutetruths，whichtheybelievedtobeobvious，andwhosetriumphwascertaintoregeneratehumanity。CouldtheybemoretoleranttowardtheiradversariesthantheChurchandthekingsofFrancehadbeentowardheretics？
Weareforcedtobelievethatterrorisamethodwhichallbelieversregardasanecessity，sincefromthebeginningoftheagesreligiouscodeshavealwaysbeenbaseduponterror。Toforcementoobservetheirprescriptions，believershavesoughttoterrifythemwiththreatsofaneternalhelloftorments。
TheapostlesoftheJacobinbeliefbehavedastheirfathershaddone，andemployedthesamemethods。Ifsimilareventsoccurredagainweshouldseeidenticalactionsrepeated。Ifanewbelief——Socialism，forexample——weretotriumphto—morrow，itwouldbeledtoemploymethodsofpropagandalikethoseoftheInquisitionandtheTerror。
ButwerewetoregardtheJacobinTerrorsolelyastheresultofareligiousmovement，weshouldnotcompletelyapprehendit。
Aroundatriumphantreligiousbelief，aswesawinthecaseoftheReformation，gatherahostofindividualinterestswhicharedependentonthatbelief。TheTerrorwasdirectedbyafewfanaticalapostles，butbesidethissmallnumberofardentproselytes，whosenarrowmindsdreamedofregeneratingtheworld，weregreatnumbersofmenwholivedonlytoenrichthemselves。
Theyralliedreadilyaroundthefirstvictoriousleaderwhopromisedtoenablethemtoenjoytheresultsoftheirpillage。
``TheTerroristsoftheRevolution，’’writesAlbertSorel，``resortedtotheTerrorbecausetheywishedtoremaininpower，andwereincapableofdoingsobyothermeans。Theyemployeditfortheirownsalvation，andaftertheeventtheystatedthattheirmotivewasthesalvationoftheState。Beforeitbecameasystemitwasameansofgovernment，andthesystemwasonlyinventedtojustifythemeans。’’
WemaythusfullyagreewiththefollowingverdictontheTerror，writtenbyEmileOllivierinhisworkontheRevolution：``TheTerrorwasaboveallaJacquerie，aregularisedpillage，thevastestenterpriseoftheftthatanyassociationofcriminalshaseverorganised。’’
2。TheRevolutionaryTribunals。
TheRevolutionaryTribunalsconstitutedtheprincipalmeansofactionoftheTerror。BesidesthatofParis，createdattheinstigationofDanton，andwhichayearafterwardssentitsfoundertotheguillotine，Francewascoveredwithsuchtribunals。
``Onehundredandseventy—eighttribunals，’’saysTaine，``ofwhich40wereperambulant，pronounceddeathsentencesinallpartsofthecountry，whichwerecarriedoutinstantlyonthespot。Betweenthe16thofApril，1793，andthe9thofThermidorintheyearII。thatofParisguillotined2，625persons，andtheprovincialjudgesworkedashardasthoseofParis。InthelittletownofOrangealone331personswereguillotined。InthecityofArras299menand93womenwereguillotined……InthecityofLyonsalonetherevolutionarycommissioneradmittedto1，684executions……Thetotalnumberofthesemurdershasbeenputat17，000，amongwhomwere1，200women，ofwhomanumberwereoctogenarians。’’
AlthoughtheRevolutionaryTribunalofParisclaimedonly2，625
victims，itmustnotbeforgottenthatallthesuspectshadalreadybeensummarilymassacredduringthe``days’’ofSeptember。
TheRevolutionaryTribunalofParis，amereinstrumentoftheCommitteeofPublicSafety，limiteditselfinreality，asFouquier—Tinvillejustlyremarkedduringhistrial，toexecutingitsorders。Itsurroundeditselfatfirstwithafewlegalformswhichdidnotlongsurvive。Interrogatory，defence，witnesses——
allwerefinallysuppressed。Moralproof——thatis，meresuspicion——sufficedtoprocurecondemnation。Thepresidentusuallycontentedhimselfwithputtingavaguequestiontotheaccused。Toworkmorerapidlystill，Fouquier—TinvilleproposedtohavetheguillotineinstalledonthesamepremisesastheTribunal。
ThisTribunalsentindiscriminatelytothescaffoldalltheaccusedpersonsarrestedbyreasonofpartyhatred，andverysoon，inthehandsofRobespierre，itconstitutedaninstrumentofthebloodiesttyranny。WhenDanton，oneofitsfounders，becameitsvictim，hejustlyaskedpardonofGodandmen，beforemountingthescaffoldforhavingassistedtocreatesuchaTribunal。
Nothingfoundmercybeforeit：neitherthegeniusofLavoisier，northegentlenessofLucileDesmoulins，northemeritofMalesherbes。``Somuchtalent，’’saidBenjaminConstant，``massacredbythemostcowardlyandbrutishofmen！’’
TofindanyexcusefortheRevolutionaryTribunal，wemustreturntoourconceptionofthereligiousmentalityoftheJacobins，whofoundedanddirectedit。ItwasapieceofworkcomparableinitsspiritanditsaimtotheInquisition。Themenwhofurnisheditsvictims——Robespierre，Saint—Just，andCouthon——believedthemselvesthebenefactorsofthehumanraceinsuppressingallinfidels，theenemiesofthefaiththatwastoregeneratetheearth。
TheexecutionsduringtheTerrordidnotaffectthemembersofthearistocracyonly，since4，000peasantsand3，000working—menwereguillotined。
GiventheemotionproducedinParisinourdaysbyacapitalexecution，onemightsupposethattheexecutionofsomanypersonsatonetimewouldproduceaverygreatemotion。Buthabithadsodulledsensibilitythatpeoplepaidbutlittleattentiontothematteratlast。Motherswouldtaketheirchildrentoseepeopleguillotinedasto—daytheytakethemtothemarionettetheatre。
Thedailyspectacleofexecutionsmadethemenofthetimeveryindifferenttodeath。Allmountedthescaffoldwithperfecttranquillity，theGirondistssingingtheMarseillaiseastheyclimbedthesteps。
Thisresignationresultedfromthelawofhabitude，whichveryrapidlydullsemotion。Tojudgebythefactthatroyalistrisingsweretakingplacedaily，theprospectoftheguillotinenolongerterrifiedmen。ThingshappenedasthoughtheTerrorterrorisednoone。Terrorisanefficaciouspsychologicalprocesssolongasitdoesnotlast。Therealterrorresidesfarmoreinthreatsthanintheirrealisation。
3。TheTerrorintheProvinces。
TheexecutionsoftheRevolutionaryTribunalsintheprovincesrepresentedonlyaportionofthemassacreseffectedinthedepartmentsduringtheTerror。Therevolutionaryarmy，composedofvagabondsandbrigands，marchedthroughFrancekillingandpillaging。ItsmethodofprocedureiswellindicatedbythefollowingpassagefromTaine：——
``AtBedouin，atownof2，000inhabitants，whereunknownhandshadcutdownthetreeofliberty，433housesweredemolishedorfired，16personswereguillotined，and47shotdown；alltheotherinhabitantswereexpelledandreducedtolivingasvagabondsinthemountains，andtotakingshelterincavernswhichtheyhollowedoutoftheearth。’’
ThefateofthewretchessentbeforetheRevolutionaryTribunalswasnobetter。Thefirstmockeryoftrialwasquicklysuppressed。AtNantes，Carrierdrownedandshotdownaccordingtohisfancynearly5，000persons——men，women，andchildren。
ThedetailsofthesemassacresfiguredintheMoniteurafterthereactionofThermidor。Iciteafewlines：——
``Isaw，’’saysThomas，``afterthetakingofNoirmoutier，menandwomenandoldpeopleburnedalive……womenviolated，girlsoffourteenandfifteen，andmassacredafterward，andtenderbabesthrownfrombayonettobayonet；childrenwhoweretakenfrombesidetheirmothersstretchedoutontheground。’’
InthesamenumberwereadadepositionbyoneJulien，relatinghowCarrierforcedhisvictimstodigtheirgravesandtoallowthemselvestobeburiedalive。TheissueofOctober15，1794，containedareportbyMerlindeThionvilleprovingthatthecaptainofthevesselleDestinhadreceivedorderstoembarkforty—onevictimstobedrowned——``amongthemablindmanof78，twelvewomen，twelvegirls，andfourteenchildren，ofwhomtenwerefrom10to6andfiveatthebreast。’’
InthecourseofCarrier’strial（Moniteur，December30，1794）
itwasprovedthathe``hadgivenorderstodrownandshootwomenandchildren，andhadorderedGeneralHaxotoexterminatealltheinhabitantsofLaVendeeandtoburndowntheirdwellings。’’
Carrier，likeallwholesalemurderers，tookanintensejoyinseeinghisvictimssuffer。``InthedepartmentinwhichIhuntedthepriests，’’hesaid，``Ihaveneverlaughedsomuchorexperiencedsuchpleasureasinwatchingtheirdyinggrimaces’’
（Moniteur，December22，1794）。
CarrierwastriedtosatisfythereactionofThermidor。ButthemassacresofNanteswererepeatedinmanyothertowns。
Foucheslewmorethan2，000personsatLyons，andsomanywerekilledatToulonthatthepopulationfellfrom29，000to7，000inafewmonths。
WemustsayindefenceofCarrier，Freron，Foucheandallthesesinisterpersons，thattheywereincessantlystimulatedbytheCommitteeofPublicSafety。Carriergaveproofofthisduringhistrial。
``Iadmit，’’saidhe（Moniteur，December24，1794），``that150
or200prisonerswereshoteveryday，butitwasbyorderofthecommission。IinformedtheConventionthatthebrigandswerebeingshotdownbyhundreds，anditapplaudedthisletter，andordereditsinsertionintheBulletin。Whatwerethesedeputiesdoingthenwhoaresofuriousagainstmenow？Theywereapplauding。Whydidtheystillkeepme`onmission’？BecauseI
wasthenthesaviourofthecountry，andnowIamabloodthirstyman。’’
Unhappilyforhim，Carrierdidnotknow，asheremarkedinthesamespeech，thatonlysevenoreightpersonsledtheConvention。
ButtheterrorisedAssemblyapprovedofallthatthesesevenoreightordered，sothattheycouldsaynothinginreplytoCarrier’sargument。Hecertainlydeservedtobeguillotined，butthewholeConventiondeservedtobeguillotinedwithhim，sinceithadapprovedofthemassacres。
ThedefenceofCarrier，justifiedbythelettersoftheCommittee，bywhichtherepresentatives``onmission’’wereincessantlystimulated，showsthattheviolenceoftheTerrorresultedfromasystem，andnot，ashassometimesbeenclaimed，fromtheinitiativeofafewindividuals。
ThethirstfordestructionduringtheTerrorwasbynomeansassuagedbythedestructionofhumanbeingsonly；therewasanevengreaterdestructionofinanimatethings。Thetruebelieverisalwaysaniconoclast。Onceinpower，hedestroyswithequalzealtheenemiesofhisfaithandtheimages，temples，andsymbolswhichrecallthefaithattacked。
WeknowthatthefirstactionoftheEmperorTheodosiuswhenconvertedtotheChristianreligionwastobreakdownthemajorityofthetempleswhichforsixthousandyearshadbeenbuiltbesidetheNile。Wemustnot，therefore，besurprisedtoseetheleadersoftheRevolutionattackingthemonumentsandworksofartwhichforthemwerethevestigesofanabhorredpast。
Statues，manuscripts，stainedglasswindows，andplatewerefrenziedlybroken。WhenFouche，thefutureDukeofOtrantounderNapoleon，andministerunderLouisXVIII。，wassentascommissaryoftheConventiontotheNievre，heorderedthedemolitionofallthetowersofthechateauxandthebelfriesofthechurches``becausetheywoundedequality。’’
Revolutionaryvandalismexpendeditselfevenonthetomb。
FollowingareportreadbyBarreretotheConvention，themagnificentroyaltombsatSaint—Denis，amongwhichwastheadmirablemausoleumofHenriII。，byGermainPilon，weresmashedtopieces，thecoffinsemptied，andthebodyofTurennesenttotheMuseumasacuriosity，afteroneofthekeepershadextractedtheteethinordertosellthemascuriosities。ThemoustacheandbeardofHenriIV。werealsotornout。
ItisimpossibletowitnesssuchcomparativelyenlightenedmenconsentingtothedestructionoftheartisticpatriotismofFrancewithoutafeelingofsadness。Toexcusethem，wemustrememberthatintensebeliefsgiverisetotheworstexcesses，andalsothattheConvention，almostdailyinvadedbyrioters，alwaysyieldedtothepopularwill。
Thisglowingrecordofdevastationproves，notonlythepoweroffanaticism：itshowsuswhatbecomesofmenwhoareliberatedfromallsocialrestraints，andofthecountrywhichfallsintotheirhands。
CHAPTERVI
THEARMIESOFTHEREVOLUTION
1。TheRevolutionaryAssembliesandtheArmies。
IfnothingwereknownoftherevolutionaryAssemblies，andnotablyoftheConvention，beyondtheirinternaldissensions，theirweakness，andtheiractsofviolence，theirmemorywouldindeedbeagloomyone。
Butevenforitsenemiesthisbloodstainedepochmustalwaysretainanundeniableglory，thankstothesuccessofitsarmies。
WhentheConventiondissolvedFrancewasalreadythegreaterbyBelgiumandtheterritoriesontheleftbankoftheRhine。
RegardingtheConventionasawhole，itseemsequitabletocredititwiththevictoriesofthearmiesofFrance，butifweanalysethiswholeinordertostudyeachofitselementsseparatelytheirindependencewillatoncebeobvious。ItisatonceapparentthattheConventionhadaverysmallshareinthemilitaryeventsofthetime。ThearmiesonthefrontierandtherevolutionaryAssembliesinParisformedtwoseparateworlds，whichhadverylittleinfluenceoveroneanother，andwhichregardedmattersinaverydifferentlight。
WehaveseenthattheConventionwasaweakGovernment，whichchangeditsideasdaily，accordingtopopularimpulse；itwasreallyanexampleoftheprofoundestanarchy。Itdirectednothing，butwasitselfcontinuallydirected；how，then，couldithavecommandedarmies？
Completelyabsorbedinitsintestinequarrels，theAssemblyhadabandonedallmilitaryquestionstoaspecialcommittee，whichwasdirectedalmostsingle—handedbyCarnot，andwhoserealfunctionwastofurnishthetroopswithprovisionsandammunition。ThemeritofCarnotconsistedinthefactthatbesidesdirectingover752，000menatthedisposalofFrance，uponpointswhichwerestrategicallyvaluable，healsoadvisedthegeneralsofthearmiestotaketheoffensive，andtopreserveastrictdiscipline。
ThesoleshareoftheAssemblyinthedefenceofthecountrywasthedecreeofthegenerallevy。InthefaceofthenumerousenemiesthenthreateningFrance，noGovernmentcouldhaveavoidedsuchameasure。Forsomelittletime，too，theAssemblyhadsentrepresentativestothearmiesinstructedtodecapitatecertaingenerals，butthispolicywassoonabandoned。
AsamatteroffactthemilitaryactivitiesoftheAssemblywerealwaysextremelyslight。Thearmies，thankstotheirnumbers，theirenthusiasm，andthetacticsdevisedbytheiryouthfulgenerals，achievedtheirvictoriesunaided。TheyfoughtandconqueredindependentlyoftheConvention。
2。TheStruggleofEuropeagainsttheRevolution。
Beforeenumeratingthevariouspsychologicalfactorswhichcontributedtothesuccessesoftherevolutionaryarmies，itwillbeusefulbrieflytorecalltheoriginandthedevelopmentofthewaragainstEurope。
AtthecommencementoftheRevolutiontheforeignsovereignsregardedwithsatisfactionthedifficultiesoftheFrenchmonarchy，whichtheyhadlongregardedasarivalpower。TheKingofPrussia，believingFrancetobegreatlyenfeebled，thoughttoenrichhimselfatherexpense，soheproposedtotheEmperorofAustriatohelpLouisonconditionofreceivingFlandersandAlsaceasanindemnity。ThetwosovereignssignedanallianceagainstFranceinFebruary，1792。TheFrenchanticipatedattackbydeclaringwaruponAustria，undertheinfluenceoftheGirondists。TheFrencharmywasattheoutsetsubjectedtoseveralchecks。ThealliespenetratedintoChampagne，andcamewithin130milesofParis。Dumouriez’
victoryatValmyforcedthemtoretire。