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extremes with enthusiasm and rigor of faith；
* that； driven by it into a narrow strait； ever getting narrower and
narrower； they should have continued to crush each other at every
step；
* that； finally； on reaching the visionary temple of their so…called
liberty； they should have found themselves in a slaughter…house； and；
within its precincts； should have become in turn butcher and brute；
* that； through their maxims of a universal and perfect liberty they
should have inaugurated a despotism worthy of Dahomey； a tribunal like
that of the Inquisition； and raised human hecatombs like those of
ancient Mexico；
* that amidst their prisons and scaffolds they should persist in
believing in the righteousness of their cause； in their own humanity；
in their virtue； and； on their fall； have regarded themselves as
martyrs …
is certainly strange。 Such intellectual aberration； such excessive
conceit are rarely encountered； and a concurrence of circumstances；
the like of which has never been seen in the world but once； was
necessary to produce it。＇8＇
Extravagant conceit and dogmatism； however； are not rare in the human
species。 These two roots of the Jacobin intellect exist in all
countries； underground and indestructible。 Everywhere they are kept
from sprouting by the established order of things； everywhere are they
striving to overturn old historic foundations； which press them down。
Now； as in the past； students live in garrets； bohemians in lodgings；
physicians without patients and lawyers without clients in lonely
offices； so many Brissots； Dantons； Marats； Robespierres； and St。
Justs in embryo； only； for lack of air and sunshine； they never come
to maturity。 At twenty； on entering society； a young man's judgment
and pride are extremely sensitive。 … … Firstly； let his society be
what it will； it is for him a scandal to pure reason： for it was not
organized by a legislative philosopher in accordance with a sound
principle； but is the work of one generation after another； according
to manifold and changing necessities。 It is not a product of logic；
but of history； and the new…fledged thinker shrugs his shoulders as he
looks up and sees what the ancient tenement is； the foundations of
which are arbitrary； its architecture confused； and its many repairs
plainly visible。 In the second place； whatever degree of perfection
preceding institutions； laws； and customs have reached； these have not
received his approval； others； his predecessors； have chosen for him；
he is being subjected beforehand to moral； political； and social forms
which pleased them。 Whether they please him or not is of no
consequence。 Like a horse trotting along between the poles of a wagon
in the harness that happens to have been put on his back； he has to
make best of it。 Besides； whatever its organization； as it is
essentially a hierarchy； he is nearly always subaltern in it； and must
ever remain so； either soldier； corporal or sergeant。 Even under the
most liberal system； that in which the highest grades are accessible
to all； for every five or six men who take the lead or command others；
one hundred thousand must follow or be commanded。 This makes it vain
to tell every conscript that he carriers a marshal's baton in his
sack； when； nine hundred and ninety…nine times out of a thousand； he
discovers too late； on rummaging his sack； that the baton is not
there。 … … It is not surprising that he is tempted to kick against
social barriers within which； willing or not； he is enrolled； and
which predestine him to subordination。 It is not surprising that on
emerging from traditional influences he should accept a theory； which
subjects these arrangements to his judgment and gives him authority
over his superiors。 And all the more because there is no doctrine more
simple and better adapted to his inexperience； it is the only one he
can comprehend and manage off…hand。 Hence it is that young men on
leaving college； especially those who have their way to make in the
world； are more or less Jacobin； … it is a disorder of growing up。＇9＇
In well organized communities this ailment is beneficial； and soon
cured。 The public establishment being substantial and carefully
guarded； malcontents soon discover that they have not enough strength
to pull it down； and that on contending with its guardians they gain
nothing but blows。 After some grumbling； they too enter at one or the
other of its doors； find a place for themselves； and enjoy its
advantages or become reconciled to their lot。 Finally； either through
imitation； or habit； or calculation； they willingly form part of that
garrison which； in protecting public interests； protects their own
private interests as well。 Generally； after ten years have gone by；
the young man has obtained his rank in the file； where he advances
step by step in his own compartment； which he no longer thinks of
tearing to pieces； and under the eye of a policeman who he no longer
thinks of condemning。 He even sometimes thinks that policeman and
compartment are useful to him。 Should he consider the millions of
individuals who are trying to mount the social ladder； each striving
to get ahead of the other； it may dawn upon him that the worst of
calamities would be a lack of barriers and of guardians。
Here the worm…eaten barriers have cracked all at once； their easy…
going； timid； incapable guardians having allowed things to take their
course。 Society； accordingly； disintegrated and a pell…mell； is turned
into a turbulent； shouting crowd； each pushing and being pushed； all
alike over…excited and congratulating each other on having finally
obtained elbow…room； and all demanding the new barriers shall be as
fragile and the new guardians as feeble； as defenseless； and as inert
as possible。 This is what has been done。 As a natural consequence；
those who were foremost in the rank have been relegated to the last；
many have been struck down in the fray； while in this permanent state
of disorder； which goes under the name of lasting order； elegant
footwear continue to be stamped upon by hobnailed boots and wooden
shoes。 … The fanatic and the intemperate egoists can now let
themselves go。 They are no longer subject to any ancient
institutions； nor any armed might which can restrain them。 On the
contrary； the new constitution； through its theoretical declarations
and the practical application of these； invites them to let themselves
go。 For； on the one hand； legally； it declares to be based upon
pure reason； beginning with a long string of abstract dogmas from
which its positive prescriptions are assumed to be rigorously deduced。
As a consequence all laws are submitted to the shallow comments of
reasoners and quibblers who will both interpret and break them
according to the principles。＇10＇ On the other hand； as a matter of
fact； it hands over all government powers to the elections and confers
on the clubs the control of the authorities： which is to offer a
premium to the presumption of the ambitious who put themselves forward
because they think themselves capable； and who defame their rulers
purposely to displace them。 … Every government department；
organization or administrative system is like a hothouse which serves
to favor some species of the human plant and wither others。 This one
is the best one for the propagation and rapid increase of the coffee…
house politician； club haranguer； the stump…speaker； the street…
rioter； the committee dictator in short； the revolutionary and the
tyrant。 In this political hothouse wild dreams and conceit will assume
monstrous proportions； and； in a few months； brains that are now only
ardent become hotheads。
Let us trace the effect of this excessive； unhealthy temperature
on imaginations and ambitions。 The old tenement is down； the
foundations of the new one are not yet laid； society has to be made
over again from top to bottom。 All willing me