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invariably fall under the dominion of the stronger wills。
The influence of great manipulators of men was displayed
in a high degree during the Convention。 It was constantly led by
a violent minority of narrow minds； whose intense convictions
lent them great strength。
A brutal and audacious minority will always lead a fearful and
irresolute majority。 This explains the constant tendency toward
extremes to be observed in all revolutionary assemblies。 The
history of the Convention verifies once more the law of
acceleration studied in another chapter。
The men of the Convention were thus bound to pass from moderation
to greater and greater violence。 Finally they decimated
themselves。 Of the 180 Girondists who at the outset led the
Convention 140 were killed or fled； and finally the most
fanatical of the Terrorists； Robespierre； reigned alone over a
terrified crowd of servile representatives。
Yet it was among the five hundred members of the majority；
uncertain and floating as it was； that the intelligence and
experience were to be found。 The technical committees to whom
the useful work of the Convention was due were recruited from the
Plain。
More or less indifferent to politics； the members of the Plain
were chiefly anxious that no one should pay particular attention
to them。 Shut up in their committees； they showed themselves as
little as possible in the Assembly； which explains why the
sessions of the Convention contained barely a third of the
deputies。
Unhappily； as often happens； these intelligent and honest men
were completely devoid of character； and the fear which always
dominated them made them vote for the worst of the
measures introduced by their dreaded masters。
The men of the Plain voted for everything they were ordered to
vote forthe creation of the Revolutionary Tribunal； the Terror；
&c。 It was with their assistance that the Mountain crushed the
Gironde； and Robespierre destroyed the Hebertists and
Dantonists。 Like all weak people； they followed the strong。 The
gentle philanthropists who composed the Plain； and constituted
the majority of the Assembly； contributed； by their
pusillanimity； to bring about the frightful excesses of the
Convention。
The psychological note always prevailing in the Convention was a
horrible fear。 It was more especially through fear that men cut
off one another's heads； in the doubtful hope of keeping their
own on their shoulders。
Such a fear was； of course； very comprehensible。 The unhappy
deputies deliberated amid the hootings and vociferations of the
tribunes。 At every moment veritable savages； armed with pikes；
invaded the Assembly； and the majority of the members no longer
dared to attend the sessions。 When by chance they did go it was
only to vote in silence according to the orders of the Mountain；
which was only a third as numerous。
The fear which dominated the latter； although less visible； was
just as profound。 Men destroyed their enemies； not only because
they were shallow fanatics； but because they were convinced that
their own existence was threatened。 The judges of the
revolutionary Tribunals trembled no less。 They would have
willingly acquitted Danton； and the widow of Camille
Desmoulins； and many others。 They dared not。
But it was above all when Robespierre became the sole master that
the phantom of fear oppressed the Assembly。 It has truly been
said that a glance from the master made his colleagues shrink
with fear。 On their faces one read ‘‘the pallor of fear and the
abandon of despair。''
All feared Robespierre and Robespierre feared all。 It was
because he feared conspiracies against him that he cut off men's
heads； and it was also through fear that others allowed him to do
so。
The memoirs of members of the Convention show plainly what a
horrible memory they retained of this gloomy period。 Questioned
twenty years later； says Taine； on the true aim and the intimate
thoughts of the Committee of Public Safety； Barrere replied：
‘‘We had only one feeling； that of self…preservation； only one
desire； that of preserving our lives； which each of us believed
to be threatened。 You had your neighbour's head cut off so that
your neighbour should not have you yourself guillotined。''
The history of the Convention constitutes one of the most
striking examples that could be given of the influence of leaders
and of fear upon an assembly。
CHAPTER IV
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CONVENTION
1。 The activity of the Clubs and the Commune during the
Convention。
During the whole of its existence the Convention was governed by
the leaders of the clubs and of the Commune。
We have already seen what was their influence on the preceding
Assemblies。 It became overwhelming during the Convention。 The
history of this latter is in reality that of the clubs and the
Commune which dominated it。 They enslaved； not only the
Convention； but also all France。 Numerous little provincial
clubs； directed by that of the capital； supervised magistrates；
denounced suspects； and undertook the execution of all the
revolutionary orders。
When the clubs or the Commune had decided upon certain measures
they had them voted by the Assembly then and there。 If the
Assembly resisted； they sent their armed delegations thither
that is； armed bands recruited from the scum of the populace。
They conveyed injunctions which were always slavishly obeyed。
The Commune was so sure of its strength that it even demanded of
the Convention the immediate expulsion of deputies who displeased
it。
While the Convention was composed generally of educated
men； the members of the Commune and the clubs comprised a
majority of small shopkeepers； labourers； and artisans； incapable
of personal opinions； and always guided by their leadersDanton；
Camille Desmoulins； Robespierre； &c。
Of the two powers； clubs and insurrectionary Commune； the latter
exercised the greater influence in Paris； because it had made for
itself a revolutionary army。 It held under its orders forty…
eight committees of National Guards； who asked nothing more than
to kill； sack； and； above all； plunder。
The tyranny with which the Commune crushed Paris was frightful。
For example； it delegated to a certain cobbler； Chalandon by
name； the right of surveillance over a portion of the capitala
right implying the power to send to the Revolutionary Tribunal；
and therefore to the guillotine； all those whom he suspected。
Certain streets were thus almost depopulated by him。
The Convention struggled feebly against the Commune at the
outset； but did not prolong its resistance。 The culminating
point of the conflict occurred when the Convention wished to
arrest Hebert； the friend of the Commune； and the latter sent
armed bands who threatened the Assembly and demanded the
expulsion of the Girondists who had provoked the mea