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。