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means of contagion spread through the country； but this is not a
constant rule。 We know that during the French Revolution La
Vendee； Brittany； and the Midi revolted spontaneously against
Paris。
2。 How the resistance of Governments may overcome Revolution。
In the greater number of the revolutions enumerated above； we
have seen governments perish by their weakness。 As soon as they
were touched they fell。
The Russian Revolution proved that a government which defends
itself energetically may finally triumph。
Never was revolution more menacing to the government。 After the
disasters suffered in the Orient； and the severities of a too
oppressive autocratic regime； all classes of society； including a
portion of the army and the fleet； had revolted。 The railways；
posts； and telegraph services had struck； so that communications
between the various portions of the vast empire were interrupted。
The rural class itself； forming the majority of the nation； began
to feel the influence of the revolutionary propaganda。 The lot
of the peasants was wretched。 They were obliged； by the system
of the mir； to cultivate soil which they could not acquire。 The
government resolved immediately to conciliate this large class of
peasants by turning them into proprietors。 Special laws forced
the landlords to sell the peasants a portion of their lands； and
banks intended to lend the buyers the necessary purchase…money
were created。 The sums lent were to be repaid by small annuities
deducted from the product of the sale of the crops。
Assured of the neutrality of the peasants； the government could
contend with the fanatics who were burning the towns； throwing
bombs among the crowds； and waging a merciless warfare。 All
those who could be taken were killed。 Such extermination is the
only method discovered since the beginning of the world by which
a society can be protected against the rebels who wish to destroy
it。
The victorious government understood moreover the necessity of
satisfying the legitimate claims of the enlightened portion of
the nation。 It created a parliament instructed to prepare laws
and control expenditure。
The history of the Russian Revolution shows us how a government；
all of whose natural supports have crumbled in succession； can；
with wisdom and firmness； triumph over the most formidable
obstacles。 It has been very justly said that governments are not
overthrown； but that they commit suicide。
3。 Revolutions effected by Governments。Examples：
China； Turkey； &c。
Governments almost invariably fight revolutions； they hardly ever
create them。 Representing the needs of the moment and general
opinion； they follow the reformers timidly； they do not precede
them。 Sometimes； however； certain governments have attempted
those sudden reforms which we know as revolutions。 The stability
or instability of the national mind decrees the success or
failure of such attempts。
They succeed when the people on whom the government seeks to
impose new institutions is composed of semi…barbarous tribes；
without fixed laws； without solid traditions； that is to say；
without a settled national mind。 Such was the condition of
Russia in the days of Peter the Great。 We know how he sought to
Europeanise the semi…Asiatic populations by means of force。
Japan is another example of a revolution effected by a
government； but it was her machinery； not her mind that was
reformed。
It needs a very powerful autocrat； seconded by a man of genius；
to succeed； even partially； in such a task。 More often than not
the reformer finds that the whole people rises up against him。
Then； to the contrary of what befalls in an ordinary revolution；
the autocrat is revolutionary and the people is conservative。
But an attentive study will soon show you that the peoples are
always extremely conservative。
Failure is the rule with these attempts。 Whether effected by the
upper classes or the lower； revolutions do not change the souls
of peoples that have been a long time established。 They only
change those things that are worn by time and ready to fall。
China is at the present time making a very interesting but
impossible experiment； in seeking； by means of the government；
suddenly to renew the institutions of the country。 The
revolution which overturned the dynasty of her ancient sovereigns
was the indirect consequence of the discontent provoked by
reforms which the government had sought to impose with a view to
ameliorating the condition of China。 The suppression of opium
and gaming； the reform of the army； and the creation of schools；
involved an increase of taxation which； as well as the reforms
themselves； greatly indisposed the general opinion。
A few cultured Chinese educated in the schools of Europe profited
by this discontent to raise the people and proclaim a republic；
an institution of which the Chinese could have had no conception。
It surely cannot long survive； for the impulse which has given
birth to it is not a movement of progress； but of reaction。 The
word republic； to the Chinaman intellectualised by his European
education； is simply synonymous with the rejection of the yoke of
laws； rules； and long…established restraints。 Cutting off his
pigtail； covering his head with a cap； and calling himself a
Republican； the young Chinaman thinks to give the rein to all his
instincts。 This is more or less the idea of a republic that a
large part of the French people entertained at the time of the
great Revolution。
China will soon discover the fate that awaits a society deprived
of the armour slowly wrought by the past。 After a few years of
bloody anarchy it will be necessary to establish a power whose
tyranny will inevitably be far severer than that which was
overthrown。 Science has not yet discovered the magic ring
capable of saving a society without discipline。 There is no need
to impose discipline when it has become hereditary； but when the
primitive instincts have been allowed to destroy the barriers
painfully erected by slow ancestral labours； they cannot be
reconstituted save by an energetic tyranny。
As a proof of these assertions we may instance an experiment
analogous to that undertaken by China； that recently attempted by
Turkey。 A few years ago young men instructed in European schools
and full of good intentions succeeded； with the aid of a
number of officers； in overthrowing a Sultan whose tyranny seemed
insupportable。 Having acquired our robust Latin faith in the
magic power of formulae； they thought they could establish the
representative system in a country half…civilised； profoundly
divided by religious hatred； and peopled by divers races。
The attempt has not prospered hitherto。 The authors of the
reformation had to learn that despite their liberalism they were
forced to govern by methods very like those employed by th