ABSTRACT
The struggles of the Convention against France in insurrection and Europe in arms produced such an impression that the heroes of this formidable struggle seemed to belong to a race of supermen or Titans. The epithet "giant" seemed justified so long as the events of the period were confused and massed together. Having no part whatever in their victories, the men of the Convention contented themselves with legislating at hazard according to the injunctions of the leaders who directed them, and who claimed to be regenerating France by means of the guillotine. If after considering the men of the Convention individually we consider them in a body, we may say that they did not shine either by intelligence or by virtue or by courage. Studying in detail the psychology of the "Giants" of the Convention, we find their magnitude shrink very rapidly.
