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the license of the imagination； the burlesque of popular notions。
One would think that they saw before them the world on the day after
the Creation。〃
They seem to think； indeed； that human society does not exist； and
that they are appointed to create it。 Just as well might
ambassadors 〃of hostile tribes； and of diverse interests； set
themselves to arrange their common lot as if nothing had previously
existed。〃 There is no hesitation。 They are satisfied that the
thing can be easily done； and that； with two or three axioms of
political philosophy； the first man that comes may make himself
master of it。 Immoderate conceit of this kind among men of
experience would seem ridiculous； in this assembly of novices it is
a strength。 A flock which has lost its way follows those who
appears to forge ahead； they are the most irrational but they are
the most confident； and in the Chamber as in the nation it is the
daredevils who become leaders。
III。 THE POWER OF SIMPLE； GENERAL IDEAS。
Ascendancy of the revolutionary party … Theory in its favor … The
constraint thus imposed on men's minds … Appeal to the passions …
Brute force on the side of the party … It profits by this …
Oppression of the minority。
Two advantages give this party the ascendancy； and these advantages
are of such importance that henceforth whoever possesses them is
sure of being master。 … In the first place the prevailing theory is
on the side of the revolutionaries； and they alone are； in the
second place； determined thoroughly to apply it。 This party；
therefore； is the only one which is consistent and popular in the
face of adversaries who are unpopular and inconsequent。 Nearly all
of the latter； indeed； defenders of the ancient régime； or partisans
of a limited monarchy； are likewise imbued with abstract principles
and philosophical speculation。 The most refractory nobles have
advocated the rights of man in their memorials。 Mounier； the
principal opponent of the demagogues； was the leader of the commons
when they proclaimed themselves to be the National …Assembly。＇33＇
This is enough： they have entered the narrow defile which leads to
the abyss。 They had no idea of it at the first start； but one step
leads to another； and； willing or unwilling； they march on； or are
pushed on。 When the abyss comes in sight it is too late； they have
been driven there by the logical results of their own concessions；
they can do nothing but wax eloquent and indignant； having abandoned
their vantage ground； they find no halting…place remaining。 … There
is an enormous power in general ideas； especially if they are
simple； and appeal to the passions。 None are simpler than these；
since they are reducible to the axiom which assumes the rights of
man； and subordinate to them every institution； old or new。 None
are better calculated to inflame the sentiments； since the doctrine
enlists human arrogance and pride in its service； and； in the name
of justice； consecrates all the demands of independence and
domination。 Consider three…fourths of the deputies； immature and
prejudiced； possessing no information but a few formulas of the
current philosophy； with no thread to guide them but pure logic；
abandoned to the declamation of lawyers； to the wild utterances of
the newspapers； to the promptings of self…esteem； to the hundred
thousand tongues which； on all sides； at the bar of the Assembly； at
the tribune； in the clubs； in the streets； in their own breasts；
repeat unanimously to them； and every day； the same flattery：
〃You are sovereign and omnipotent。 Right is vested in you alone。
The King exists only to execute your will。 Every order； every
corporation； every power； every civil or ecclesiastical association
is illegitimate and null the moment you declare it to be so。 You
may even transform religion。 You are the fathers of the country。
You have saved France； you will regenerate humanity。 The whole
world looks on you in admiration； finish your glorious work
forward； always forward。〃
Superior good sense and rooted convictions could alone stand firm
against this flood of seductions and solicitations； but vacillating
and ordinary men are carried away by it。 In the harmony of
applause which rises； they do not hear the crash of the ruins they
produce。 In any case； they stop their ears； and shun the cries of
the oppressed； they refuse to admit that their work could possibly
bring about evil results； they accept the sophisms and untruths
which justify it； they allow the assassinated to be calumniated in
order to excuse the assassins； they listen to Merlin de Douay； who；
after three or four jacqueries； when pillaging； arson； and murder
are going on in all the provinces； has just declared in the name of
the Committee on Feudalism＇34＇ that 〃a law must be presented to the
people； the justice of which may enforce silence on the feudatory
egoists who； for the past six months； so indecently protest against
plunder； the wisdom of which may restore to a sense of duty the
peasant who has been led astray for a moment by his resentment of a
long oppression。〃 And when Raynal； the surviving patriarch of the
philosophic party； one day； for a wonder； takes the plain truth with
him into their tribune； they resent his straightforwardness as an
outrage； and excuse it solely on the ground of his imbecility。 An
omnipotent legislator cannot depreciate himself； like a king he is
condemned to self…admiration in his public capacity。 〃There were
not thirty deputies amongst us；〃 says a witness； 〃who thought
differently from Raynal；〃 but 〃in each other's presence the credit
of the Revolution； the perspective of its blessings； was an article
of faith which had to be believed in；〃 and； against their own
reason； against their conscience； the moderates； caught in the net
of their own acts； join the revolutionaries to complete the
Revolution。
Had they refused； they would have been compelled； for； to obtain
the power； the Assembly has； from the very first； either tolerated
or solicited the violence of the streets。 But； in accepting
insurrectionists for its allies； it makes them masters； and
henceforth； in Paris as in the provinces； illegal and brutal force
becomes the principal power of the State。 〃The triumph was
accomplished through the people； it was impossible to be severe with
them；〃＇35＇ hence； when insurrections were to be put down； the
Assembly had neither the courage nor the force necessary。 〃They
blame for the sake of decency； they frame their deeds by
expediency。〃 and in turn justly undergo the pressure which they
themselves have sanctioned against others。 Only three or four
times do the majority； when the insurrection becomes too daring
after the murder of the baker Fran？ois； the insurrection of the
Swiss Guard at Nancy； and the outbreak of the Champ de Mars feel
that they themselves are menaced； vote for and apply