Abstract
The April 1791 elections brought about two meetings of royalist majority. The directors then took the initiative to rescue the Republic. They seeked for the support of an armed force. On the nights of 3 and 4 September 1797, the Army invaded. Elections were stopped. This apparent success sealed the defeat of the constitutional path. The legality is meaningless, strength is the mainspring of politics. The challenge 'We must be governed by the best' was specified. The best were the most educated. It embodies a view overlooking the Convention.
