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foundations of the new one are not yet laid； society has to be made
over again from top to bottom。 All willing men are asked to come and
help； and； as one plain principle suffices in drawing a plan； the
first comer may succeed。 Henceforth political fancies swarm in the
district meetings； in the clubs； in the newspapers； in pamphlets； and
in every head…long； venturesome brain。
〃There is not a merchant's clerk educated by reading the 'Nouvelle
Héloise；'＇11＇ not a school teacher that has translated ten pages of
Livy； not an artist that has leafed through Rollin； not an aesthete
converted into journalists by committing to memory the riddles of the
'Contrat Social；' who does not draft a constitution。 。 。 As nothing is
easier than to perfect a daydream； all perturbed minds gather； and
become excited； in this ideal realm。 They start out with curiosity and
end up with enthusiasm。 The man in the street rushes to the enterprise
in the same manner as a miser to a conjurer promising treasures； and；
thus childishly attracted； each hopes to find at once； what has never
been seen under even the most liberal governments： perpetual
perfection； universal brotherhood； the power of acquiring what one
lacks； and a life composed wholly of enjoyment。〃
One of these pleasures； and a keen one； is to daydream。 One soars
in space。 By means of eight or ten ready…made sentences； found in the
six…penny catechisms circulated by thousands in the country and in the
suburbs of the towns and cities；＇12＇ a village attorney； a customs
clerk； a theater attendant； a sergeant of a soldier's mess； becomes a
legislator and philosopher。 He criticizes Malouet； Mirabeau； the
Ministry； the King； the Assembly； the Church； foreign Cabinets；
France； and all Europe。 Consequently； on these important subjects；
which always seemed forever forbidden to him； he offers resolutions；
reads addresses； makes harangues； obtains applause； and congratulates
himself on having argued so well and with such big words。 To hold fort
on questions that are not understood is now an occupation； a matter of
pride and profit。
〃More is uttered in one day；〃 says an eye…witness；＇13＇ 〃in one section
of Paris than in one year in all the Swiss political assemblies put
together。 An Englishman would give six weeks of study to what we
dispose of in a quarter of an hour。〃
Everywhere； in the town halls； in popular meetings； in the sectional
assemblies； in the wine shops； on the public promenades； on street
corners vanity erects a tribune of verbosity。
〃Contemplate the incalculable activity of such a machine in a
loquacious nation where the passion for being something dominates all
other affections； where vanity has more phases than there are starts
in the firmament； where reputations already cost no more than the
trouble of insisting on their being deserved； where society is divided
between mediocrities and their trumpeters who laud them as divinities；
where so few people are content with their lot； where the corner
grocer is prouder of his epaulette than the Grand Condé of his
Marshal's baton； where agitation without object or resources is
perpetual； where； from the floor…scrubber to the dramatist； from the
academician to the simpleton who gets muddled over the evening
newspaper； from the witty courtier down to his philosophic lackey；
each one revises Montesquieu with the self…sufficiency of a child
which； because it is learning to read； deems itself wise； where self…
esteem； in disputation； caviling and sophistication； destroys all
sensible conversation； where no one utters a word； but to teach； never
imagining that to learn one must keep quiet； where the triumphs of a
few lunatics entice every crackbrain from his den； where； with two
nonsensical ideas put together out of a book that is not understood； a
man assumes to have principles； where swindlers talk about morality；
women of easy virtue about civism； and the most infamous of beings
about the dignity of the species； where the discharged valet of a
grand seignior calls himself Brutus！〃
… In reality； he is Brutus in his own eyes。 Let the time come and he
will be so in earnest； especially against his late master； all he has
to do is to give him a thrust with his pike。 Until he acts out the
part he spouts it； and grows excited over his own tirades； his common
sense gives way to the bombastic jargon of the revolution and to
declamation； which completes the Utopian performance and eases his
brain of its last modicum of ballast。
It is not merely ideas which the new regime has disturbed； but it has
also disordered sentiments。 〃Authority is transferred from the
Chateau of Versailles and the courtier's antechamber； with no
intermediary or counterpoise； to the proletariat and its
flatterers。〃＇14＇ The whole of the staff of the old government is
brusquely set aside； while a general election has brusquely installed
another in is place； offices not being given to capacity； seniority；
and experience； but to self…sufficiency； intrigue； and exaggeration。
Not only are legal rights reduced to a common level； but natural
grades are transposed； the social ladder； overthrown； is set up again
bottom upwards； the first effect of the promised regeneration is 〃to
substitute in the administration of public affairs pettifoggers for
magistrates； ordinary citizens for cabinet ministers； ex…commoners for
ex…nobles； rustics for soldiers； soldiers for captains； captains for
generals； curés for bishops； vicars for curés； monks for vicars；
brokers for financiers； empiricists for administrators； journalists
for political economists； stump…orators for legislators； and the poor
for the rich。〃 … Every species of covetousness is stimulated by this
spectacle。 The profusion of offices and the anticipation of vacancies
〃has excited the thirst for command； stimulated self…esteem； and
inflamed the hopes of the most inept。 A rude and grim presumption
renders the fool and the ignoramus unconscious of their
insignificance。 They have deemed themselves capable of anything；
because the law granted public functions merely to capacity。 There has
appeared in front of one and all an ambitious perspective； the soldier
thinks only of displacing his captain； the captain of becoming
general； the clerk of supplanting the chief of his department； the
new…fledged attorney of being admitted to the high court； the curé of
being ordained a bishop； the shallow scribbler of seating himself on
the legislative bench。 Offices and professions vacated by the
appointment of so many upstarts afford in their turn a vast field for
the ambition of the lower classes。〃 Thus； step by step； owing to
the reversal of social positions； is brought about a general
intellectual fever。
〃France is transformed into a gaming…table； where； alongside of the
discontented citizen offering his stakes； sits； bold； blustering； and
with fermenting brain； the pretentious subaltern rattling his dice…
box。 。 。 At the sight of a public official rising from nowhere； even
the soul of a bootblack will bound with emulation。〃 He has
merely to push himself ahead and elbow his way to secure a ticket 〃in
this immense lottery of popular luck； of preferment without merit； of
success without talent； of apotheoses without virtues； of an infinity
of places distributed by the people wholesale； and enjoyed by the
people in detail。〃 Political charlatans flock thither from every
quarters； those taking the lead who； being most in earnest； believe in
the virtue of their nostrum； and need power to impose its recipe on
the community； all being saviors； all places belong to them； and
especially the highest。 They lay siege to these conscientiously and
philanthropically ； if necessary； they will take them by assault； hold
them through force； and； forcibly or otherwise； administer their cure…
all to the human species。
III。
Psychology of the Jacobin。 His