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and orders and agents for preventing men from injuring each other when
collected together in large assemblies in the streets； in the markets；
at the theater； in any public place； whether coffee…houses or taverns；
* the firemen and machinery for conflagrations； the sanitary measures
against contagion； and precautions； long beforehand to insure hygiene
during epidemics；
* and； as extra burdens and abuses； the establishment； direction and
support of primary schools； colleges； public lectures； libraries；
theaters； hospitals； and other institutions which should be supported
and governed by different associations； at the very least； the
appropriations to these establishments and therefore a more or less
legitimate and more or less imperative intervention in their internal
management。
Such are the great undertakings which form a whole； which bear alike
on the present； past； and future budget of the commune； and which； as
so many distinct branches of every considerable enterprise； require；
for proper execution； to have their continuity and connection always
present in the thoughtful and directing mind which has them in
charge。＇29＇ Experience shows that； in the great industrial or
financial companies； in the Bank of France； in the Crédit Lyonnais；
and in the insurance； navigation； and railroad companies； the best way
to accomplish this end is a permanent manager or director； always
present； engaged or accepted by the administrative board on understood
conditions； a special； tried man who； sure of his place for a long
period； and with a reputation to maintain； gives his whole time；
faculties； and zeal to the work； and who； alone； possessing at every
moment a coherent and detailed conception of the entire undertaking；
can alone give it the proper stimulus； and bring to bear the most
economical and the most perfect practical improvements。 Such is also
the municipal administration in the Prussian towns on the Rhine。 Then；
in Bonn； for instance；＇30＇ the municipal council； elected by the
inhabitants 〃goes in quest〃 of some eminent specialist whose ability
is well known。 It must be noted that he is taken wherever he can be
found； outside the city； in some remote province； they bargain with
him； the same as with some famous musician； for the management of a
series of concerts。 Under the title of burgomaster； with a salary of
10；000 francs per annum； he becomes for twelve years the director of
all municipal services； leader of the civic orchestra； solely
entrusted with executive power； wielding the magisterial baton which
the various instruments obey； many of these being salaried
functionaries and others benevolent amateurs；＇31＇ all in harmony and
through him； because they know that he is watchful； competent； and top
quality； constantly occupied with am overall view； responsible； and in
his own interest； as a point of honor； wholly devoted to his work
which is likewise their work； that is to say； to the complete success
of the concert。
Nothing in a French town corresponds to this admirable type of a
municipal institution。 Here； also； and to a much greater extent in the
village； the effect of universal suffrage has been to discredit the
true notables and to incite the abdication or insure the exclusion of
men who； by their education； the large proportion of the taxes they
pay； and still greater influence or production on labor and on
business； are social authorities； and who should become legal
authorities。 In every country where conditions are unequal； the
preponderance of a numerical majority necessarily ends in the nearly
general abstention or almost certain defeat of the candidates most
deserving of election。 But here the case is different； the elected；
being towns…people （citadins） and not rural； are not of the species as
in the village。 They read a daily newspaper； and believe that they
understand not only local matters but all subjects of national and
general importance； that is to say； high level economy； philosophy and
law； somewhat resembling the schoolmaster who； being familiar with the
rules of arithmetic； thinks that he can teach the differential
calculus； and the theory of functions。 At any rate； they talk loud and
argue on every subject with confidence； according to Jacobin
traditions； being； indeed； so many budding Jacobins。 They are the
heirs and successors of the old sectarians； issuing from the same
stock and of the same stamp； a few in good faith； but mainly narrow…
minded； excited； and bewildered by the smoke of the glittering
generalities they utter。 Most of them are mere politicians；
charlatans； and intriguers； third…class lawyers and doctors； literary
failures； semi…educated stump…speakers； bar…room； club； or clique
orators； and vulgar climbers。 Left behind in private careers； in which
one is closely watched and accepted for what he is worth； they launch
out on a public career because； in this business； popular suffrage at
once ignorant； indifferent； is a badly informed； prejudiced and
passionate judge and prefers a moralist of easy conscience； instead of
demanding unsullied integrity and proven competency。 Nothing more is
demanded from candidates but witty speech…making； assertiveness and
showing off in public； gross flattery； a display of enthusiasm and
promises to place the power about to be conferred on them by the
people in the hands of those who will serve its antipathies and
prejudices。 Thus introduced into the municipal council； they
constitute its majority and appoint a mayor who is their figurehead or
creature； now the bold leader and again the docile instrument of their
spite； their favors； and their headlong action； of their blunders and
presumption； and of their meddlesome disposition and encroachments。 …
In the department； the council general； also elected by universal
suffrage； also bears the marks of its origin； its quality； without
falling so low； still descends in a certain degree； and through
changes which keep on increasing： politicians install themselves there
and make use of their place as a stepping…stone to mount higher； it
also； with larger powers and prolonged during its vacations by its
committee； is tempted to regard itself as the legitimate sovereign of
the extensive and scattered community which it represents。 … Thus
recruited and composed； enlarged and deteriorated； the local
authorities become difficult to manage； and from now on； to carry on
the administration； the prefect must come to some understanding with
them。
VII。 Local society in 1880。
Present state of local society。 … Considered as an organism； it is
stillborn。 … Considered as a mechanism； it gets out of order。 … Two
successive and false conceptions of local government。 … In theory； one
excludes the other。 … Practically； their union ends in the actual
system。 … Powers of the prefect。 … Restrictions on these through
subsequent changes。 … Give and take。 … Bargaining。 … Supported by the
governmen