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the establishment of a republic？ What an idea！ A republic of thirty
million men！ With our customs； our vices； how is that possible？ It is
a delusion which the French are infatuated with and which will vanish
along with so many others。 What they want is glory； the gratification
of vanity … they know nothing about liberty。 Look at the army！ Our
successes just obtained； our triumphs have already brought out the
true character of the French soldier。 I am all for him。 Let the
Directory deprive me of the command and it will see if it is master。
The nation needs a chief； one who is famous though his exploits； and
not theories of government； phrases and speeches by ideologists； which
Frenchmen do not comprehend。 。 。 。 As to your country； Monsieur de
Melzi； it has still fewer elements of republicanism than France； and
much less ceremony is essential with it than with any other。 。 。 In
other respects； I have no idea of coming to terms so promptly with
Austria。 It is not for my interest to make peace。 You see what I am；
what I can do in Italy。 If peace is brought about； if I am no longer
at the head of this army which has become attached to me； I must give
up this power； this high position I have reached； and go and pay court
to lawyers in the Luxembourg。 I should not like to quit Italy for
France except to play a part there similar to that which I play here；
and the time for that has not yet come … the pear is not ripe。〃
To wait until the pear is ripe； but not to allow anybody else to
gather it； is the true motive of his political fealty and of his
Jacobin proclamations： 〃A party in favor of the Bourbons is raising
its head； I have no desire to help it along。 One of these days I
shall weaken the republican party； but I shall do it for my own
advantage and not for that of the old dynasty。 Meanwhile； it is
necessary to march with the Republicans；〃 along with the worst； and'
the scoundrels about to purge the Five Hundred； the Ancients； and the
Directory itself； and then re…establish in France the Reign of Terror。
… In effect； he contributes to the 18th of Fructidor； and； the blow
struck； he explains very clearly why he took part in it：
〃Do not believe＇37＇ I did it in conformity with the ideas entertained
by those with whom I acted。 I did … not want a return of the
Bourbons； and especially if brought back by Moreau's army and by
Pichegru。 。 。 Finally； I will not take the part of Monk； I will not
play it； and I will not have others play it。 。 。 。 As for myself； my
dear Miot； I declare to you that I can no longer obey； I have tasted
command and I cannot give it up。 My mind is made up。 If I cannot be
master I will leave France。〃
There is no middle course for him between the two alter natives。 On
returning to Paris he thinks of 〃overthrowing the Directory；＇38＇
dissolving the councils and of making himself dictator〃； but； having
satisfied himself that there was but little chance of succeeding； 〃he
postpones his design〃 and falls back on the second course。 〃This is
the only motive of his expedition into Egypt。〃＇39＇ … That； in the
actual condition of France and of Europe； the expedition is opposed to
public interests； that France deprives itself of its best army and
offers its best fleet to almost certain destruction； is of little
consequence provided； in this vast and gratuitous adventure； Bonaparte
finds the employment he wants； a large field of action and famous
victories which； like the blasts of a trumpet； will swell beyond the
seas and renew his prestige： in his eyes； the fleet； the army； France；
and humanity exist only for him and are created only for his service。
… If； in confirmation of this persuasion； another lesson in things is
still necessary； it will be furnished by Egypt。 Here； absolute
sovereign； free of any restraint； contending with an inferior order of
humanity； he acts the sultan and accustoms himself to playing the
part。＇40＇ His last scruples towards the human species disappear； 〃I
became disgusted with Rousseau〃； he is to say； later on； 〃After seeing
the Orient： the savage man is a dog；〃＇41＇ and； in the civilized man；
the savage is just beneath the skin； if the intellect has become
somewhat polished； there is no change in his instincts。 A master is
as necessary to one as to the other … a magician who subjugates his
imagination； disciplines him； keeps him from biting without occasion；
ties him up； cares for him； and takes him out hunting。 He is born to
obey； does not deserve any better lot； and has no other right。
Become consul and afterward emperor； he applies the theory on a grand
scale； and； in his hands； experience daily furnishes fresh
verifications of the theory。 At his first nod the French prostrate
themselves obediently； and there remain； as in a natural position； the
lower class； the peasants and the soldiers； with animal fidelity； and
the upper class； the dignitaries and the functionaries； with Byzantine
servility。… The republicans； on their side； make no resistance； on the
contrary； among these he has found his best governing instruments …
senators； deputies； state councilors； judges； and administrators of
every grade。＇42＇ He has at once detected behind their sermonizing on
liberty and equality； their despotic instincts； their craving for
command； for leadership； even as subordinates； and； in addition to
this； with most of them； the appetite for money or for sensual
pleasures。 The difference between the delegate of the Committee of
Public Safety and the minister； prefect； or subprefect under the
Empire is small； it is the same person in two costumes： at first in
the carmagnole； and later in the embroidered coat。 If a rude； poor
puritan； like Cambon or Baudot； refuses to don the official uniform；
if two or three Jacobin generals； like Lecourbe and Delmas； grumble at
the coronation parade； Napoleon； who knows their mental grasp； regards
them as ignoramuses； limited to and rigid inside a fixed idea。 … As to
the cultivated and intelligent liberals of 1789； he consigns them with
a word to the place where they belong； they are 〃ideologists〃； in
other words； their pretended knowledge is mere drawing…room prejudice
and the imagination of the study。 〃Lafayette is a political ninny；〃
the eternal 〃dupe of men and of things。〃＇43＇ With Lafayette and some
others； one embarrassing detail remains namely：
* impartiality and generosity；
* constant care for the common good；
* respect for others；
* the authority of conscience；
* loyalty；
* and good faith。
In short； noble and pure motives。
Napoleon does not accept the denial thus given to his theory； when he
talks with people； he questions their moral nobleness。 〃General
Dumas；〃＇44＇ said he； abruptly； to Mathieu Dumas； 〃you were one of the
imbeciles who believed in liberty？〃 〃Yes； sire； and I was and am still
one of that class。〃 〃And you； like the rest； took part in the
Revolution through ambition？〃 〃No； sire； I should have cal