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cannot exist。
From the outset of the Revolution numerous facts； which were
daily repeated； revealed to the most fervent believers the fact
that royalty no longer possessed any power； and that there were
other powers capable； not only of contending with royalty； but
possessed of superior force。
What； for instance； was thought of the royal power by the
multitudes who saw the king held in check by the Assembly； and
incapable； in the heart of Paris； of defending his strongest
fortress against the attacks of armed bands？
The royal weakness thus being obvious； the power of the Assembly
was increasing。 Now； in the eyes of the crowd weakness has no
prestige； it turns always to force。
In the Assemblies feeling was very fluid； but did not evolve very
rapidly； for which reason the monarchical faith survived the
taking of the Bastille the flight of the king； and his
understanding with foreign sovereigns。
The royalist faith was still so powerful that the Parisian riots
and the events which led to the execution of Louis XVI。 were not
enough finally to destroy； in the provinces； the species
of secular piety which enveloped the old monarchy。＇8＇
＇8＇ As an instance of the depth of this hereditary love of the
people for its kings； Michelet relates the following fact； which
occurred in the reign of Louis XV。： ‘‘When it was known in Paris
that Louis XV。； who had left for the army； was detained ill at
Metz； it was night。 People got up and ran tumultuously hither
and thither without knowing where they were going； the churches
were opened in the middle of the night 。 。 。 people assembled at
every cross…road； jostling and questioning one another without
knowing what they were after。 In several churches the priest who
was reciting the prayer for the king's health was stopped by his
tears； and the people replied by sobs and cries。 。 。 。 The
courier who brought the news of his convalescence was embraced
and almost stifled； people kissed his horse； and led him in
triumph。 。 。 。 Every street resounded with a cry of joy： ‘The
king is healed。' ''
It persisted in a great part of France during the whole of the
Revolution； and was the origin of the royalist conspiracies and
insurrections in various departments which the Convention had
such trouble to suppress。 The royalist faith had disappeared in
Paris； where the weakness of the king was too plainly visible；
but in the provinces the royal power； representing God on earth；
still retained its prestige。
The royalist sentiments of the people must have been deeply
rooted to survive the guillotine。 The royalist movements
persisted； indeed； during the whole of the Revolution； and were
accentuated under the Directory； when forty…nine departments sent
royalist deputies to Paris； which provoked the Directory to the
coup d'etat of Fructidor。
This monarchical…feeling； with difficulty repressed by the
Revolution； contributed to the success of Bonaparte when he came
to occupy the throne of the ancient kings； and in great measure
to re…establish the ancien regime。
CHAPTER III
MENTAL ANARCHY AT THE TIME OF THE REVOLUTION AND THE INFLUENCE
ATTRIBUTED TO THE PHILOSOPHERS
1。 Origin and Propagation of Revolutionary Ideas。
The outward life of men in every age is moulded upon an inward
life consisting of a framework of traditions； sentiments； and
moral influences which direct their conduct and maintain certain
fundamental notions which they accept without discussion。
Let the resistance of this social framework weaken； and ideas
which could have had no force before will germinate and develop。
Certain theories whose success was enormous at the time of the
Revolution would have encountered an impregnable wall two
centuries earlier。
The aim of these considerations is to recall to the reader the
fact that the outward events of revolutions are always a
consequence of invisible transformations which have slowly gone
forward in men's minds。 Any profound study of a revolution
necessitates a study of the mental soil upon which the ideas that
direct its course have to germinate。
Generally slow in the extreme； the evolution of ideas is often
invisible for a whole generation。 Its extent can only be grasped
by comparing the mental condition of the same social
classes at the two extremities of the curve which the mind has
followed。 To realise the different conceptions of royalty
entertained by educated men under Louis XIV。 and Louis XVI。； we
must compare the political theories of Bossuet and Turgot。
Bossuet expressed the general conceptions of his time concerning
the absolute monarchy when he based the authority of a Government
upon the will of God； ‘‘sole judge of the actions of kings；
always irresponsible before men。'' Religious faith was then as
strong as the monarchical faith from which it seemed inseparable；
and no philosopher could have shaken it。
The writings of the reforming ministers of Louis XVI。； those of
Turgot； for instance； are animated by quite another spirit。 Of
the Divine right of kings there is hardly a word； and the rights
of the peoples begin to be clearly defined。
Many events had contributed to prepare for such an evolution
unfortunate wars； famines； imposts； general poverty at the end of
the reign of Louis XV。； &c。 Slowly destroyed； respect for
monarchical authority was replaced by a mental revolt which was
ready to manifest itself as soon as occasion should arise。
When once the mental framework commences to crumble the end comes
rapidly。 This is why at the time of the Revolution ideas were so
quickly propagated which were by no means new； but which until
then had exerted no influence； as they had not fallen on fruitful
ground。
Yet the ideas which were then so attractive and effectual had
often been expressed。 For a long time they had inspired the
politics of England。 Two thousand years earlier the Greek and
Latin authors had written in defence of liberty； had
cursed tyrants； and proclaimed the rights of popular sovereignty。
The middle classes who effected the Revolution； although； like
their fathers； they had learned all these things in text…books；
were not in any degree moved by them； because the moment when
such ideas could move them had not arrived。 How should the
people have been impressed by them at a time when all men were
accustomed to regard all hierarchies as natural necessities？
The actual influence of the philosophers in the genesis of the
Revolution was not that which was attributed to them。 They
revealed nothing new； but they developed the critical spirit
which no dogma can resist once the way is prepared for its
downfall。
Under the influence of this developing critical spirit things
which were no longer very greatly respected came to be respected
less and less。 When tradition and prestige had disappeared the
social edifi