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duped and misled； the least able to comprehend the questions laid
before it and the consequences of its answer； the worst informed； the
most inattentive； the most blinded by preconceived sympathies or
antipathies； the most willingly absent； a mere flock of enlisted sheep
always robbed or cheated out of their vote； and whose verdict； forced
or simulated； depended on politicians beforehand； above and below；
through the clubs as well as through the revolutionary government； the
latter； consequently； maneuvering in such a way as to impose itself
along with their favorites on the choice of the French people。 Between
1792 and 1799； the republican official staff just described is thus
obtained。 … It is only in the army where the daily and keen sense of a
common physical and mortal danger ends in dictating the choice of the
best； and raises tried merit to the highest rank； and yet it must be
noted that Jacobin infatuation bore down as rigorously on the army as
elsewhere and on two occasions： at the outset through the election of
a superior officer conferred on subordinates； which handed rank over
to the noisy disputants and intemperate intriguers of the mess…room；
and again during the Reign of Terror； and even later；＇21＇ in the
persecution or dismissal of so many patriotic and deserving officers；
which led Gouvion…Saint…Cyr and his comrades； through disgust； to
avoid or decline accepting high rank； in the scandalous promotion of
club brawlers and docile nullities； in the military dictatorship of
the civil proconsuls； in the supremacy conferred on Léchelle and
Rossignol； in the subordination forced on Kléber and Marceau； in the
absurd plans of a demagogue with huge epaulettes like Cartaux；＇22＇ in
the grotesque orders of the day issued by a swaggering inebriate like
Henriot；＇23＇ in the disgrace of Bonaparte； and in the detention of
Hoche。 … In the civil order of things； it was worse。 Not only was the
rule of regulating promotion by merit not recognized but it was
applied in an inverse sense。 In the central government as in the local
government； and from top to bottom of the hierarchy； from the post of
minister of foreign affairs down to that of president of a petty
revolutionary committee； all offices were for the unworthy。 Their
unfitness kept on increasing inasmuch as incessant weeding out worked
against them； the functionary； degraded by his work； growing worse
along with his function。 … Thus the constitutional rights of merit and
capacity ended in the practical privilege of incapacity and demerit。
And in the allotment of grades and social advantages； distributive
justice had given way to distributive injustice； while practice；
contrary to theory； instituted permanently； on the one hand； the
exclusion or retirement of competent； instructed； expert； well…bred；
honorable and respected men and； on the other hand； brought forward
illiterate； inept and rude novices； coarse and vulgar brutes； common
blackguards； men used up or of tarnished reputations； rogues ready for
anything； fugitives from justice； in short the adventurers and
outcasts of every kind and degree。＇24＇ The latter； owing their success
to perversion or lack of conscientiousness； derived their principal
title from their vigorous fists and a fixed determination to hold on
to their places as they had obtained them； that is to say by main
force and by the murder or exile of their rivals。 … Evidently； the
staff of officials which the Declaration of Human Rights had promised
was not the staff on duty ten years later there was a lack of
experience。＇25＇ In 1789； careers were open to every ambition； down to
1799； the rivalry of ambitions had simply produced a wild uproar and a
brutal conquest。 The great modern difficulty remained： how to
discipline the competition and to find an impartial judge； an
undisputed arbitrator of the competition。
IV。 Napoleon； Judge…Arbitrator…Ruler。
Napoleon as judge of competition。 … Security of his seat。 …
Independence of his decisions。 … Suppression of former influences and
end of monarchical or democratic intrigues。 … Other influences against
which he is on guard。 … His favorite rule。 … Estimate of candidates
according to the kind and amount of their useful labor。 … His own
competency。 … His perspicacity。 … His vigilance。 … Zeal and labor of
his functionaries。 … Result of competition thus viewed and of
functions thus exercised。 … Talents utilized and jealousies disarmed。
Behold him； at last； this judge…arbitrator。 On the 8th November； 1799；
he appears and takes his seat； and that very evening he goes to work；
makes his selections among the competitors and gives them their
commissions。 He is a military chieftain and has installed himself；
consequently he is not dependent on a parliamentary majority； and any
insurrection or gathering of a mob is at once rendered abortive by his
troops before it is born。 Street sovereignty is at an end； Parisians
are long to remember the 13th of Vendémaire and the way General
Bonaparte shot them down on the steps of Saint…Roch。 All his
precautions against them are taken the first day and against all
agitators whatever； against all opponents disposed to dispute his
jurisdiction。 His arm…chair as first Consul and afterwards his throne
as Emperor are firmly fixed； nobody but himself can undermine them； he
is seated definitively and will stay there。 Profound silence reigns in
the public crowd around him； some among them dare whisper； but his
police has its eye on them。 Instead of conforming to opinion he rules
it； masters it and； if need be； he manufactures it。 Alone by himself
from his seat on high； in perfect independence and security； he
announces the verdicts of distributive justice。 Nevertheless he is on
his guard against the temptations and influences which have warped the
decisions of his predecessors； in his tribunal； the schemes and
intrigues which formerly obtained credit with the people； or with the
king； are no longer in vogue； from now on； the profession of courtier
or of demagogue is a poor one。 … On the one hand； there is no success；
as formerly under the monarchy； through the attentions of the ante…
chamber； through elegant manners； delicate flattery； fashionable
drawing…rooms； or valets and women on an intimate footing； mistresses
here enjoy no credit and there are neither favorites nor the favored；
a valet is regarded as a useful implement； great personages are not
considered as extra…ornamental and human furniture for the palace。 Not
one among them dare ask for a place for a protégé which he is
incapable of filling； an advancement which would derange the lists of
promotions； a pass over the heads of others； if they obtain any
favors； these are insignificant or political； the master grants them
as an after…thought； to rally somebody； or a party； to his side； they
personally； their ornamental culture； their high…bred tone； their wit；
their conversational powers； their smiles and bows … all this