[26] Committees under whatever name, clubs, syndicates, &c., constitute perhaps the most redoubtable danger resulting from the power of crowds.They represent in reality the most impersonal and, in consequence, the most oppressive form of tyranny.The leaders who direct the committees being supposed to speak and act in the name of a collectivity, are freed from all responsibility, and are in a position to do just as they choose.The most savage tyrant has never ventured even to dream of such proscriptions as those ordained by the committees of the Revolution.Barras has declared that they decimated the convention, picking off its members at their pleasure.So long as he was able to speak in their name, Robespierre wielded absolute power.The moment this frightful dictator separated himself from them, for reasons of personal pride, he was lost.The reign of crowds is the reign of committees, that is, of the leaders of crowds.A severer despotism cannot be imagined.
To exert an influence over them is not difficult, provided the candidate be in himself acceptable and possess adequate financial resources.According to the admissions of the donors, three millions of francs sufficed to secure the repeated elections of General Boulanger.
Such is the psychology of electoral crowds.It is identical with that of other crowds: neither better nor worse.
In consequence I draw no conclusion against universal suffrage from what precedes.Had I to settle its fate, I should preserve it as it is for practical reasons, which are to be deduced in point of fact from our investigation of the psychology of crowds.
On this account I shall proceed to set them forth.
No doubt the weak side of universal suffrage is too obvious to be overlooked.It cannot be gainsaid that civilisation has been the work of a small minority of superior intelligences constituting the culminating point of a pyramid, whose stages, widening in proportion to the decrease of mental power, represent the masses of a nation.The greatness of a civilisation cannot assuredly depend upon the votes given by inferior elements boasting solely numerical strength.Doubtless, too, the votes recorded by crowds are often very dangerous.They have already cost us several invasions, and in view of the triumph of socialism, for which they are preparing the way, it is probable that the vagaries of popular sovereignty will cost us still more dearly.
