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every community。 … How kept down in all well…founded societies。 …
Their development in the new order of things。 …Effect of milieu on
imagination and ambitions。 … The stimulants of Utopianism； abuses of
speech； and derangement of ideas。 … Changes in office； interests
playing upon and perverted feeling。
That a speculator in his closet should have concocted such a theory is
comprehensible； paper will take all that is put upon it； while
abstract beings； the hollow simulacra and philosophic puppets he
concocts； are adapted to every sort of combination。 … That a lunatic
in his cell should adopt and preach this theory is also
comprehensible； he is beset with phantoms and lives outside the actual
world； and； moreover in this ever…agitated democracy he is the eternal
informer and instigator of every riot and murder that takes place； he
it is who under the name of 〃the people's friend〃 becomes the arbiter
of lives and the veritable sovereign。 That a people borne down with
taxes； wretched and starving； indoctrinated by public speakers and
sophists； should have welcomed this theory and acted under it is again
comprehensible； necessity knows no law； and where the is oppression；
that doctrine is true which serves to throw oppression off。
But that public men； legislators and statesmen； with； at last；
ministers and heads of the government； should have made this theory
their own；
* that they should have more fondly clung to it as it became more
destructive；
* that； daily for three years they should have seen social order
crumbling away piecemeal under its blows and not have recognized it as
the instrument of such vast ruin；
* that； in the light of the most disastrous experience； instead of
regarding it as a curse they should have glorified it as a boon；
* that many of them … an entire party； almost all of the Assembly …
should have venerated it as a religious dogma and carried it to
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 policem