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expenses。〃 But read the text through to the end； and note the part
which the law； in this case； assigns to the municipal council。 It
plays the part of the chorus in the antique tragedy： it attends；
listens； approves； or disapproves； in the background and subordinate；
approved or rebuked； the principal actors remain in charge and do as
they please； they grant or dispute over its head； independently； just
as it suits them。 In effect； it is not to the municipal council that
the mayor renders his accounts； but 〃to the sub…prefect； who finally
passes them；〃 and gives him his discharge。 Whatever the council may
say； the approval is valid； for greater security； the prefect； if any
councilor proves refractory； 〃may suspend from his functions〃 a
stubborn fellow like him； and restore in the council the unanimity
which has been partially disturbed。 … In the department； the council…
general must likewise 〃listen〃 to the accounts for the year； the law；
owing to a significant omission； does not say that is may discuss
them。 Nevertheless； a circular of the year IX requests it to 〃make
every observation on the use of the additional centimes〃 which the
importance of the subject demands； to verify whether each sum debited
to expenses has been used for the purpose assigned to it； and even 〃to
reject expenses； stating the reasons for this decision； which have not
been sufficiently justified。〃 And better still； the minister； who is a
liberal； addresses a systematic series of questions to the general
councils； on all important matters；＇37＇ 〃agriculture； commerce； and
manufactures； asylums and public charities； public roads and other
works； public instruction； administration properly so called； state of
the number of population； public spirit and opinions；〃 collecting and
printing their observations and desires。 After the year IX； however；
this publication stops； it renders the general councils too important；
it might rally the entire population of the department to them and
even of all France that could read； it might hamper the prefect and
diminish his ascendancy。 From now on； it is the prefect alone who
replies to these questions； and of which the government gives an
analysis or tables of statistics；＇38＇ then； the publication of these
ceases； decidedly； printing always has its drawbacks … manuscript
reports are much better； local affairs are no longer transacted
outside the bureaus； and are managed with closed doors； any report
that might spread outside the prefect's cabinet or that of the
minister； is carefully toned down or purposely stifled； and； under the
prefect's thumb； the general council becomes an automaton。
In private； dealing directly with the Emperor's representative； it
appears as if one is dealing directly with the Emperor。 Consider these
few words … in the presence of the Emperor； they carry an immeasurable
weight in the scales of contemporaries。 For them； he has every
attribute of Divinity； not only omnipotence and omnipresence； but
again omniscience； and； if he speaks to them； what they feel far
surpasses what they imagine。 When he visits a town and confers with
the authorities of the place on the interests of the commune or
department； his interlocutors are bewildered； they find him as well
informed as themselves； and more clear…sighted； it is he who explains
their affairs to them。 On arriving the evening before； he calls for
the summaries of facts and figures； every positive and technical
detail of information； reduced and classified according to the method
taught by himself and prescribed to his administrators。＇39＇ During
the night he has read all this over and mastered it； in the morning；
at dawn； he has taken his ride on horseback； with extraordinary
promptness and accuracy； his topographical glance has discerned 〃the
best direction for the projected canal； the best site for the
construction of a factory； a harbor； or a dike。〃＇40＇ To the
difficulties which confuse the best brains in the country； to much
debated； seemingly insoluble； questions； he at once presents the sole
practical solution； there it is； ready at hand； and the members of the
local council had not seen it； he makes them touch it with their
fingers。 They stand confounded and agape before the universal
competence of this wonder genius。 〃He's more than a man〃 exclaimed the
administrators of Dusseldorf to Beugnot。＇41＇ 〃Yes；〃 replied Beugnot；
〃he's the devil！〃 In effect； he adds to mental ascendancy the
ascendancy of force； we always see beyond the great man in him the
terror…striking dominator； admiration begins or ends in fear； the soul
is completely subjugated； enthusiasm and servility； under his eye；
melt together into one sentiment of impassioned obedience and
unreserved submission。＇42＇ Voluntarily and involuntarily； through
conviction； trembling； and fascinated； men abdicate their freedom of
will to his advantage。 The magical impression remains in their minds
after he has departed。 Even absent； even with those who have never
seen him； he maintains his prestige and communicates it to all who
command in his name。 Before the prefect； the baron； the count； the
councilor of state； the senator in embroidered uniform； gilded and
garnished with decorations； every municipal or general council loses
his free will and becomes incapable of saying no； only too glad if not
obliged to say yes 〃inopportunely；〃 to enter upon odious and
disagreeable undertakings； to simulate at one's own expense； and that
of others； excessive zeal and voluntary self…sacrifice； to vote for
and hurrah at patriotic subscriptions of which it must contribute the
greatest portion and for supplementary conscriptions＇43＇ which seize
their sons that are except or bought out of service。＇44＇ It allows
itself to be managed； it is simply one of the many wheels of our
immense machine； one which receives its impulsion elsewhere； and from
above； through the interposition of the prefect。 … But； except in rare
cases； when the interference of the government applies it to violent
and oppressive schemes； it is serviceable； fixed in position； and
confining itself to turning regularly and noiselessly in its little
circle； it may； in general； still render the double service demanded
of it in the year IX； by a patriotic minister。 According to the
definition which Chaptal then gave the general councils； fixing their
powers and competence； they exist for two purposes and only two：＇45＇
they must first 〃insure to the governed impartiality in the assessment
of taxes along with the verification of the use of the latest levies
in the payment of local expenses；〃 and next； they must； with
discretion and modesty； 〃obtain for the government the information
which alone enables it to provide for the necessities of each
department and improve the entire working of the public
administration。〃
VIII。 Excellence of Local Government after Napoleon。
The institution remains intact under the Restoration。 … Motives of th