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In a great centralized state whoever possesses the head possesses the
body。 By virtue of being led； the French have contracted the habit of
letting themselves be led。＇48＇ People in the provinces involuntarily
turn their eyes to the capital； and； on a crisis occurring； run out to
stop the mailman to know what government happens to have fallen； the
majority accepts or submits to it。 Because； in the first place；
most of the isolated groups which would like to overthrow it dare not
engage in the struggle： it seems too strong； through inveterate
routine they imagine behind it that great； distant France which； under
its impulsion； will crush them with its mass。＇49＇ In the second place；
should a few isolated groups undertake to overthrow it； they are not
in a condition to keep up the struggle： it is too strong。 They are；
indeed； not yet organized while it is fully so； owing to the docile
set of officials inherited from the government overthrown。 Under
monarchy or republic the government clerk comes to his office
regularly every morning to dispatch the orders transmitted to him。＇50＇
Under monarchy or republic the policeman daily makes his round to
arrest those against who he has a warrant。 So long as instructions
come from above in the hierarchical order of things； they are obeyed。
From one end of the territory to the other； therefore； the machine；
with its hundred thousand arms； works efficiently in the hands of
those who have seized the lever at the central point。 Resolution；
audacity； rude energy； are all that are needed to make the lever act；
and none of these are wanting in the Jacobin。 ＇51＇
First； he has faith； and faith at all times 〃moves mountains。＇52＇
〃Take any ordinary party recruit； an attorney； a second…rate lawyer； a
shopkeeper； an artisan； and conceive； if you can； the extraordinary
effect of this doctrine on a mind so poorly prepared for it； so
narrow； so out of proportion with the gigantic conception which has
mastered it。 Formed for the routine and the limited views of one in
his position； he is suddenly carried away by a complete system of
philosophy； a theory of nature and of man； a theory of society and of
religion； a theory of universal history；＇53＇ conclusions about the
past； the present； and the future of humanity； axioms of absolute
right； a system of perfect and final truth； the whole concentrated in
a few rigid formulae as； for example：
〃Religion is superstition； monarchy is usurpation； priests are
impostors； aristocrats are vampires； and kings are so many tyrants and
monsters。〃
These ideas flood a mind of his stamp like a vast torrent
precipitating itself into a narrow gorge； they upset it； and； no
longer under self…direction； they sweep it away。 The man is beside
himself。 A plain bourgeois； a common laborer is not transformed with
impunity into an apostle or liberator of the human species。 … … For；
it is not his country that he would save； but the entire race。 Roland；
just before the 10th of August； exclaims 〃with tears in his eyes；
should liberty die in France； she is lost the rest of the world
forever！ The hopes of philosophers will perish！ The whole earth will
succumb to the cruelest tyranny！〃＇54＇ Grégoire； on the meeting of
the Convention； obtained a decree abolishing royalty； and seemed
overcome with the thought of the immense benefit he had conferred on
the human race。
〃I must confess；〃 said he； 〃that for days I could neither eat nor
sleep for excess of joy！〃
One day a Jacobin in the tribune declared： 〃We shall be a nation of
gods！〃 Fancies like these bring on lunacy； or； at all events； they
create disease。 〃Some men are in a fever all day long；〃 said a
companion of St。 Just； 〃I had it for twelve years 。 。 。〃＇55＇ Later
on； 〃when advanced in life and trying to analyze their experiences；
they cannot comprehend it。〃＇56＇ Another tells that； in his case； on
a 〃crisis occurring； there was only a hair's breadth between reason
and madness。〃 〃When St。 Just and myself；〃 says Baudot；
〃discharged the batteries at Wissenbourg； we were most liberally
thanked for it。 Well； there was no merit in that； we knew perfectly
well that the shot could not do us any harm。〃 … … Man； in this exalted
state； is unconscious of obstacles； and； according to circumstances；
rise above or falls below himself； freely spilling his own blood as
well as the blood of others； heroic as a soldier and atrocious as a
civilian； he is not to be resisted in either direction for his
strength increases a hundredfold through his fury； and； on his tearing
wildly through the streets； people get out of his way as on the
approach of a mad bull。
If they do not jump aside of their own accord； he will run at them；
for he is unscrupulous as well as furious。 In every political
struggle certain kinds of actions are prohibited； at all events； if
the majority is sensible and wishes to act fairly； it repudiates them
for itself。 It will not violate any particular law； for； if one law is
broken； this tends to the breaking of others。 It is opposed to
overthrowing an established government because every interregnum is a
return to barbarism。 It is opposed to the element of popular
insurrection because； in such a resort； public power is surrendered to
the irrationality of brutal passion。 It is opposed to a conversion of
the government into a machine for confiscation and murder because it
deems the natural function of government to be the protection of life
and property。 The majority； accordingly； in confronting the
Jacobin； who allows himself all this；＇57＇ is like a unarmed man facing
one who is fully armed。＇58＇ The Jacobin； on principle； holds the law
in contempt； for the only law； which he accepts is arbitrary mob rule。
He has no hesitation in proceeding against the government because； in
his eyes； the government is a clerk which the people always has the
right to remove。 He welcomes insurrection because； through it； the
people recover their sovereignty with no limitations。 Moreover； as
with casuists； 〃the end justifies the means。〃＇59＇ 〃Let the colonies
perish；〃 exclaims a Jacobin in the Constituent Assembly； 〃rather than
sacrifice a principle。〃 〃Should the day come；〃 says St。 Just； 〃when I
become convinced that it is impossible to endow the French with mild；
vigorous； and rational ways； inflexible against tyranny and injustice；
that day I will stab myself。〃 Meanwhile he guillotines the others。
〃We will make France a graveyard；〃 exclaimed Carrier； 〃rather than not
regenerating it our own way！〃＇60＇ They are ready to risk the ship in
order to seize the helm。 From the first； they organize street riots
and jacqueries in the rural districts； they let loose on society
prostitutes and ruffians； vile and savage beasts。 Throughout the
struggle they take advantage of the coarsest and most destructive
passions； of the blindness； credulity； and rage of an infatuated
crowd； of dearth； of fear of bandits； of rumors of conspiracy； and of
threats of invasion。 At last； having seized power through a general
upheaval； they hold on to it through terror and executions。
Straining will to the utmost； with no curb to check it； steadfastly
believing in its own right and with utter contempt for the rights of
others； with fanatical energy and the expedients of scoundrels； a
minority may； in employing such forces； easily master and subdue a
majority。 So true is that； with faction itself； that victory is
always on the side of the group with the strongest faith and the least
scruples。 Four times between 1789 and 1794； political gamblers take
their seats at a table where the stake is supreme power； and four
times in succession the 〃Impartiaux；〃 the 〃Feuillants；〃 the
〃Girondins；〃 and the 〃Dantonists；〃 form the majority and lose the
game。 Four times in succession the majority has no desire to break
customary rules； or； at the very least； to infringe on any rule
universally accepted； to wholly disre