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their conversational powers； their smiles and bows … all this is lost
on him； or charged to account。 He has no liking for their insinuating
and discreet ways；＇26＇ he regards them as merely good domestics for
parade； all he esteems in them is their ceremonial significance； that
innate suppleness which permits them to be at once servile and
dignified； the hereditary tact which teaches them how to present a
letter； not from hand to hand； but on the rim of a hat； or on a silver
plate； and these faculties he estimates at their true worth。 … On the
other hand； nobody succeeds； as lately under the Republic； through
tribunal or club verbosity； through appeals to principles； through
eloquent or declamatory tirades； 〃glittering generalities；〃 hollow
abstractions and phrases made to produce an impression have no effect；
and what is better； political ideology； with a solicitor or pleader；
is a bad note。 The positive； practical mind of the judge has taken in
at a glance and penetrated to the bottom of arguments； means and valid
pretensions； he submits impatiently to metaphysics and pettifoggery；
to the argumentative force and mendacity of words。 … This goes so far
that he distrusts oratorical or literary talent； in any event when he
entrusts active positions or a part in public business then he takes
no note of it。 According to him； 〃the men who write well and are
eloquent have no solidity of judgment； they are illogical and very
poor in discussion；〃＇27＇ they are mere artists like others； so many
word…musicians； a kind of special； narrow…minded instrument； some of
them good solo players； like Fontanes； and who the head of a State can
use； but only in official music for grand cantatas and the decoration
of his reign。 Wit in itself； not alone the wit which gives birth to
brilliant expressions and which was considered a prime accomplishment
under the old regime； but general intelligence； has for him only a
semi…value。＇28＇ 〃I am more brilliant＇29＇； you may say？ Eh； what do I
care for your intelligence？ What I care for is the essence of the
matter。 There is nobody so foolish that is not good for something …
there is no intelligence equal to everything。〃 In fact； on bestowing
an office it is the function which delegates； the proper execution of
the function is the prime motive in determining his choice； the
candidate appointed is always the one who will best do the work
assigned him。 No factitious； party popularity or unpopularity； no
superficial admiration or disparagement of a clique； of a salon； or of
a bureau； makes him swerve from his standard of preference。＇30＇ He
values men according to the quality and quantity of their work；
according to their net returns； and he estimates them directly；
personally； with superior perspicacity and universal competency。 He is
special in all branches of civil or military activity； and even in
technical detail； his memory for facts； actions； antecedence and
circumstances； is prodigious； his discernment； his critical analysis；
his calculating insight into the resources and shortcomings of a mind
or of a soul； his faculty for gauging men； is extraordinary； through
constant verifications and rectifications his internal repertory； his
biographical and moral dictionary； is kept daily posted； his attention
never flags； he works eighteen hours a day； his personal intervention
and his hand are visible even in the appointment of subordinates。
〃Every man called to take part in affairs was selected by him；〃＇31＇ it
is through him that they retain their place； he controls their
promotion and by sponsors whom he knows。 〃A minister could not have
dismissed a functionary without consulting the emperor； while the
ministers could all change without bringing about two secondary
changes throughout the empire。 A minister did not appoint even a
second…class clerk without presenting a list of several candidates to
the emperor and； opposite to it； the name of the person recommending
him。〃 All； even at a distance； felt that the master's eyes were on
them。 〃I worked；〃 says Beugnot；＇32＇ 〃from night to morning； with
singular ardor； I astonished the natives of the country who did not
know that the emperor exercised over his servitors； however far from
him they might be； the miracle of the real presence。 I thought I saw
him standing over me as I worked shut up in my cabinet。〃 … 〃Under
him；〃 writes Roederer； 〃there is no man of any merit who； as a reward
for long and difficult labor； does not feel himself better compensated
by a new task than by the most honorable leisure。〃 Never did positions
less resemble sinecures。 Never was the happiness of successful
candidates or the misery of unsuccessful candidates better justified。
Never the compliance； the difficulty； the risks of a required task
have been compensated more fairly by the enjoyment of the allocated
rewards nor moderated the bitterness of the frustrated
pretensions。＇33＇ Never were public functions assigned or fulfilled in
a way to better satisfy the legitimate craving for advancement； the
dominant desire of democracy and of the century； and in a way to
better disarm the bad passions of democracy and of the century；
consisting of an envious leveling； anti…social rancor and the
inconsolable regrets of the man who has failed。 Never did human
competition encounter a similar judge； so constant； so expert and so
justified。 … He is himself conscious of the unique part he plays。 His
own ambition； the highest and most insatiate of all； enables him to
comprehend the ambition of others； to place everywhere the man who
suits the post in the post which suits the man … this is what he has
done for himself and what he does for others。 He knows that in this
lies his power； his deep…seated popularity； his social utility。
〃Nobody；〃 says Napoleon；＇34＇ 〃is interested in overthrowing a
government in
which all the deserving are employed。〃
Then； again； comes his significant exclamation at the end； his summary
of modern society； a solemn grandiose figure of speech found in the
legendary souvenirs of a glorious antiquity； a classic reminiscence of
the noble Olympian games；
〃Henceforth； all careers are open to talent！〃
IV。 The Struggle for Office and Title。
Competition and prizes。 … Multitude of offices。 … How their number is
increased by the extension of central patronage and of the French
territory。 … Situation of a Frenchman abroad。 … It gives him rank。 …
Rapidity of promotion。 … Constant elimination and multiplicity of
vacancies in the army。 … Preliminary elimination in the civil service。
… Proscription of cultivated men and interruption of education during
the Revolution。 … General or special instruction rare in 1800。… Small
number of competent candidates。 … Easy promotion due to the lack of
competitors。 … Importance and attraction the prizes offered。 … The
Legion of Honor。 … The imperial nobility。 … Dotations and majorities。
… Emulation。
Let us now cons