the crowd-第27章
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he interest of my policy that Paris should be destroyed without a single person leaving it or escaping；' Maret I am sure would have kept the secret； but he could not have abstained from compromising himself by seeing that his family got clear of the city。 On the other hand； I； for fear of letting the truth leak out； would have let my wife and children stay。〃
It is necessary to bear in mind the astounding power exerted by fascination of this order to understand that marvellous return from the Isle of Elba； that lightning…like conquest of France by an isolated man confronted by all the organised forces of a great country that might have been supposed weary of his tyranny。 He had merely to cast a look at the generals sent to lay hands on him； and who had sworn to accomplish their mission。 All of them submitted without discussion。
〃Napoleon；〃 writes the English General Wolseley； 〃lands in France almost alone； a fugitive from the small island of Elba which was his kingdom； and succeeded in a few weeks； without bloodshed； in upsetting all organised authority in France under its legitimate king； is it possible for the personal ascendency of a man to affirm itself in a more astonishing manner？ But from the beginning to the end of this campaign； which was his last； how remarkable too is the ascendency he exercised over the Allies； obliging them to follow his initiative； and how near he came to crushing them！〃
His prestige outlived him and continued to grow。 It is his prestige that made an emperor of his obscure nephew。 How powerful is his memory still is seen in the resurrection of his legend in progress at the present day。 Ill…treat men as you will； massacre them by millions； be the cause of invasion upon invasion； all is permitted you if you possess prestige in a sufficient degree and the talent necessary to uphold it。
I have invoked； no doubt； in this case a quite exceptional example of prestige； but one it was useful to cite to make clear the genesis of great religions； great doctrines； and great empires。 Were it not for the power exerted on the crowd by prestige； such growths would be incomprehensible。
Prestige； however； is not based solely on personal ascendency； military glory； and religious terror； it may have a more modest origin and still be considerable。 Our century furnishes several examples。 One of the most striking ones that posterity will recall from age to age will be supplied by the history of the illustrious man who modified the face of the globe and the commercial relations of the nations by separating two continents。 He succeeded in his enterprise owing to his immense strength of will； but also owing to the fascination he exercised on those surrounding him。 To overcome the unanimous opposition he met with； he had only to show himself。 He would speak briefly； and in face of the charm he exerted his opponents became his friends。 The English in particular strenuously opposed his scheme； he had only to put in an appearance in England to rally all suffrages。 In later years； when he passed Southampton； the bells were rung on his passage； and at the present day a movement is on foot in England to raise a statue in his honour。
〃Having vanquished whatever there is to vanquish； men and things； marshes； rocks； and sandy wastes；〃 he had ceased to believe in obstacles； and wished to begin Suez over again at Panama。 He began again with the same methods as of old； but he had aged； and； besides； the faith that moves mountains does not move them if they are too lofty。 The mountains resisted； and the catastrophe that ensued destroyed the glittering aureole of glory that enveloped the hero。 His life teaches how prestige can grow and how it can vanish。 After rivalling in greatness the most famous heroes of history； he was lowered by the magistrates of his country to the ranks of the vilest criminals。 When he died his coffin； unattended； traversed an indifferent crowd。 Foreign sovereigns are alone in rendering homage to his memory as to that of one of the greatest men that history has known。＇20＇
＇20＇ An Austrian paper； the Neue Freie Presse； of Vienna； has indulged on the subject of the destiny of de Lesseps in reflections marked by a most judicious psychological insight。 I therefore reproduce them here：
〃After the condemnation of Ferdinand de Lesseps one has no longer the right to be astonished at the sad end of Christopher Columbus。 If Ferdinand de Lesseps were a rogue every noble illusion is a crime。 Antiquity would have crowned the memory of de Lesseps with an aureole of glory； and would have made him drink from the bowl of nectar in the midst of Olympus； for he has altered the face of the earth and accomplished works which make the creation more perfect。 The President of the Court of Appeal has immortalised himself by condemning Ferdinand de Lesseps； for the nations will always demand the name of the man who was not afraid to debase his century by investing with the convict's cap an aged man； whose life redounded to the glory of his contemporaries。
〃Let there be no more talk in the future of inflexible justice； there where reigns a bureaucratic hatred of audacious feats。 The nations have need of audacious men who believe in themselves and overcome every obstacle without concern for their personal safety。 Genius cannot be prudent； by dint of prudence it could never enlarge the sphere of human activity。
〃。 。 。 Ferdinand de Lesseps has known the intoxication of triumph and the bitterness of disappointmentSuez and Panama。 At this point the heart revolts at the morality of success。 When de Lesseps had succeeded in joining two seas princes and nations rendered him their homage； to…day； when he meets with failure among the rocks of the Cordilleras； he is nothing but a vulgar rogue。 。 。 。 In this result we see a war between the classes of society； the discontent of bureaucrats and employes； who take their revenge with the aid of the criminal code on those who would raise themselves above their fellows。 。 。 。 Modern legislators are filled with embarrassment when confronted by the lofty ideas due to human genius； the public comprehends such ideas still less； and it is easy for an advocate…general to prove that Stanley is a murderer and de Lesseps a deceiver。〃
Still； the various examples that have just been cited represent extreme cases。 To fix in detail the psychology of prestige； it would be necessary to place them at the extremity of a series； which would range from the founders of religions and empires to the private individual who endeavours to dazzle his neighbours by a new coat or a decoration。
Between the extreme limits of this series would find a place all the forms of prestige resulting from the different elements composing a civilisationsciences； arts； literature； &c。and it would be seen that prestige constitutes the fundamental element of persuasion。 Consciously or not； the being； the idea； or the thing possessing prestige is immediately imitated in consequence of contagion； and forces an entire generation to adopt certain modes of feeling and of giving expression to its thought。 This imitation； moreover； is； as a rule； unconscious； which accounts for the fact that it is perfect。 The modern painters who copy the pale colouring and the stiff attitudes of some of the Primitives are scarcely alive to the source of their inspiration。 They believe in their own sincerity； whereas； if an eminent master had not revived this form of art； people would have continued blind to all but its naive and inferior sides。 Those artists who； after the manner of another illustrious master； inundate their canvasses with violet shades do not see in nature more violet than was detected there fifty years ago； but they are influenced； 〃suggestioned；〃 by the personal and special impressions of a painter who； in spite of this eccentricity； was successful in acquiring great prestige。 Similar examples might be brought forward in connection with all the elements of civilisation。
It is seen from what precedes that a number of factors may be concerned in the genesis of prestige； among them success was always one of the most important。 Every successful man； every idea that forces itself int
