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is of the opposite party; the juries likewise acquit him; so as not to
incur the risk of revenge; slow perhaps but always sure。〃 … 〃Public
spirit is unknown。〃 There is no social body; except any number of
small parties hostile to each other。 。 。 。 One is not a Corsican
without belonging to some family; and consequently attached to some
party; he who would serve none; would be detested by all。 。 。 。 All
the leaders have the same end in view; that of getting money no matter
by what means; and their first care is to surround themselves with
creatures entirely devoted to them and to whom they give all the
offices。 。 。 。 The elections are held under arms; and all with
violence。 。 。 。 The victorious party uses its authority to avenge
itself on their opponents; and multiplies vexations and outrages。 。 。
。 The leaders form aristocratic leagues with each other。 。 。 。 and
mutually tolerate abuses。 They impose no assessment or collection (of
taxes) to curry favor with electors through party spirit and
relationships。 。 。 。 Customs…duties serve simply to compensate friends
and relatives。 。 。 。 Salaries never reach those for whom they are
intended。 The rural districts are uninhabitable for lack of security。
The peasants carry guns even when at the plow。 One cannot take a step
without an escort; a detachment of five or six men is often sent to
carry a letter from one post…office to another。〃
Interpret this general statement by the thousands of facts of which it
is the summary; imagine these little daily occurrences narrated with
all their material accompaniments; and with sympathetic or angry
comments by interested neighbors; and we have the moral lessons taught
to young Bonaparte。'30' At table; the child has listened to the
conversation of his elders; and at a word uttered; for instance; by
his uncle; or at a physiognomic expression; a sign of approbation; a
shrug of the shoulders; he has divined that the ordinary march of
society is not that of peace but of war; he sees by what ruses one
maintains one's…self; by what acts of violence one makes ones way; by
what sort of help one mounts upward。 Left to himself the rest of the
day; to the nurse Ilaria; or to Saveria the housekeeper; or to the
common people amongst whom he strays at will; he listens to the
conversation of sailors or of shepherds assembled on the public
square; and their simple exclamations; their frank admiration of well…
planned ambuscades and lucky surprises; impress more profoundly on
him; often repeated with so much energy; the lessons which he has
already learned at home。 These are the lessons taught by things。 At
this tender age they sink deep; especially when the disposition is
favorable; and in this case the heart sanctions them beforehand;
because education finds its confederate in instinct。 Accordingly; at
the outbreak of the Revolution; on revisiting Corsica; he takes life
at once as he finds it there; a combat with any sort of weapon; and;
on this small arena; he acts unscrupulously; going farther than
anybody。'31' If he respects justice and law; it is only in words; and
even here ironically; in his eyes; law is a term of the code; justice
a book term; while might makes right。
A second blow of the coining…press gives another impression of the
same stamp on this character already so decided; while French anarchy
forces maxims into the mind of the young man; already traced in the
child's mind by Corsican anarchy; the lessons of things provided by a
society going to pieces are the same as those of a society which is
not yet formed。 … His sharp eyes; at a very early period; see through
the flourish of theory and the parade of phrases; they detect the real
foundation of the Revolution; namely; the sovereignty of unbridled
passions and the conquest of the majority by the minority; conquering
or conquered; a choice must be made between these two extreme
conditions; there is no middle course。 After the 9th of Thermidor;
the last veils are torn away; and the instincts of license and
domination; the ambitions of individuals; fully display themselves。
There is no concern for public interests or for the rights of the
people; it is clear that the rulers form a band; that France is their
prey; and that they intend to hold on to it for and against everybody;
by every possible means; including bayonets。 Under this civil régime;
a clean sweep of the broom at the center makes it necessary to be on
the side of numbers。 … In the armies; especially in the army of Italy;
republican faith and patriotic abnegation; since the territory became
free; have given way to natural appetites and military passions。'32'
Barefoot; in rags; with four ounces of bread a day; paid in assignats
which are not accepted in the markets; both officers and men desire
above all things to be relieved of their misery; 〃the poor fellows;
after three years of longing on the summits of the Alps; reach the
promised land; and want to enjoy it。〃'33' Another spur consists in the
pride which is stimulated by the imagination and by success; add to
this the necessity for finding an outlet for their energy; the steam
and high pressure of youth ; nearly all are very young men; who regard
life; in Gallic or French fashion; as a party of pleasure and as a
duel。 But to feel brave and to prove that one is so; to face bullets
for amusement and defiantly; to abandon a successful adventure for a
battle and a battle for a ball; to enjoy ones…self and take risks to
excess; without dissimulating; and with no other object than the
sensation of the moment;'34' to revel in excitement through emulation
and danger; is no longer self…devotion; but giving one's…self up to
one's fancies ; and; for all who are not harebrained; to give one's…
self up to one's fancies means to make one's way; obtain promotion;
pillage so as to become rich; like Massena; and conquer so as to
become powerful; like Bonaparte。 … All this is understood between the
general and his army from the very first;'35' and; after one year's
experience; the understanding is perfect。 One moral is derived from
their common acts; vague in the army; precise in the general; what the
army only half sees; he sees clearly; if he urges his comrades on; it
is because they follow their own inclination。 He simply has a start on
them; and is quicker to make up his mind that the world is a grand
banquet; free to the first…comer; but at which; to be well served; one
must have long arms; be the first to get helped; and let the rest take
what is left。
So natural does this seem to him; he says so openly and to men who are
not his intimates; to Miot; a diplomat; and to Melzi a foreigner:
〃Do you suppose; says he to them;'36' after the preliminaries of
Leoben; 〃that to make great men out of Directory lawyers; the Carnots'
and the Barras; I triumph in Italy? Do you suppose also that it is for
the establishment of a republic? What an idea! A republic of thirty
million m