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。