at least the apparent general
will, that alone on which the government can decide, itself
ultra-revolutionary?"[3243] In other words, should not the five or six
rascals in a State who vociferate, be listened to, rather than a hundred
honest folks who keep their mouths shut? With this sophism, gross as
it is, but of pure Jacobin manufacture, Carnot ends by hoodwinking his
honor and his conscience; otherwise intact, and far more so than
his colleagues, he likewise undergoes moral and mental mutilation;
constrained by the duties of his post and the illusions of his creed,
he succeeded in an inward decapitation of the two noblest of human
faculties, common-sense, the most useful, and the moral sense, the most
exalted of all.

IV. The Statesmen.

Billaud-Varennes, Collot d'Herbois, Robespierre, Couthon and
Saint-Just.--Conditions of this rule.--Dangers to which they
are subject.--Their dissensions.--Pressure of Fear and
Theory.

If such are the ravages which are made in an upright, firm and healthy
personality, what must be the havoc in corrupt or weak natures, in which
bad instincts already predominate!--And note that they are without the
protection provided by a pursuit of some specific and useful objective.
They are "government men," also "revolutionaries" or "the people in
total control;"[3244] they are in actual fact men with an overall
concept of things, also direct these. The creation, organization and
application of Terror belongs wholly to them; they are the constructors,
regulators and engineers of the machine,[3245] the recognized heads of
the party, of the sect and of the government, especially Billaud and
Robespierre, who never serve on missions,[3246] nor relax their hold for
a moment on the central motor. The former, an active politician,
with Collot for his second, is charged with urging on the constituted
authorities, the districts, the municipalities, the national agents,
the revolutionary committees, and the representatives on mission in the
interior.[3247] The latter, a theologian, moralist, titular doctor and
preacher, is charged with ruling the Convention and indoctrinating
the Jacobins with sound principles; behind him stands Couthon, his
lieutenant, with Saint-Just, his disciple and executor of works of
great importance; in their midst, Barere, the Committee's mouthpiece, is
merely a tool, but indispensable, conveniently at hand and always ready
to start whatever drum-be