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not to be enduring。 After him the deluge！ Little does he care who
utters this terrible phrase； and worse still； he earnestly wishes；
from the bottom of his heart that everybody should utter it。
〃My brother；〃 said Joseph； in 1803；＇126＇ 〃desires that the necessity
of his existence should be so strongly felt； and the benefit of this
considered so great； that nobody could look beyond it without
shuddering。 He knows； and be feels it； that he reigns through this
idea rather than through force or gratitude。 If to…morrow； or on any
day； it could be said； 'Here is a tranquil； established order of
things； here is a known successor； Bonaparte might die without fear of
change or disturbance；' my brother would no longer think himself
secure。 。 。 。 Such is the principle which governs him。〃
In vain do years glide by； never does he think of putting France in a
way to subsist without him； on the contrary； he jeopardizes lasting
acquisitions by exaggerated annexations； and it is evident from the
very first day that the Empire will end with the Emperor。 In 1805；
the five per cents being at eighty francs； his Minister of the
Finances； Gaudin； observes to him that this is a reasonable rate。＇127＇
〃No complaint can now be made； since these funds are an annuity on
Your Majesty's life。〃 … 〃What do you mean by that？〃 … 〃I mean that the
Empire has become so great as to be ungovernable without you。〃 … 〃If
my successor is a fool so much the worse for him！〃 … 〃Yes； but so much
the worse for France！〃 Two years later； M。 de Metternich； by way of a
political summing up； expresses his general opinion： 〃It is remarkable
that Napoleon； constantly disturbing and modifying the relations of
all Europe； has not yet taken a single step toward ensuring the
maintenance of his successors。〃＇128＇ In 1809； adds the same
diplomat：＇129＇ 〃His death will be the signal for a new and frightful
upheaval； so many divided elements all tend to combine。 Deposed
sovereigns will be recalled by former subjects； new princes will have
new crowns to defend。 A veritable civil war will rage for half a
century over the vast empire of the continent the day when the arms of
iron which held the reins are turned into dust。〃 In 1811； 〃everybody
is convinced＇130＇ that on the disappearance of Napoleon； the master in
whose hands all power is concentrated； the first inevitable
consequence will be a revolution。〃 At home； in France； at this same
date； his own servitors begin to comprehend that his empire is not
merely a life…interest and will not last after he is gone； but that
the Empire is ephemeral and will not last during his life； for he is
constantly raising his edifice higher and higher； while all that his
building gains in elevation it loses in stability。 〃The Emperor is
crazy；〃 said Decrees to Marmont；＇131＇〃completely crazy。 He will ruin
us all； numerous as we are； and all will end in some frightful
catastrophe。〃 In effect； he is pushing France on to the abyss；
forcibly and by deceiving her； through a breach of trust which
willfully； and by his fault； grows worse and worse just as his own
interests； as he comprehends these； diverge from those of the public
from year to year。
At the treaty of Luneville and before the rupture of the peace of
Amiens；＇132＇ this variance was already considerable。 It becomes
manifest at the treaty of Presbourg and still more evident at the
treaty of Tilsit。 It is glaring in 1808； after the deposition of the
Spanish Bourbons； it becomes scandalous and monstrous in 1812； when
the war with Russia took place。 Napoleon himself admits that this war
is against the interests of France and yet he undertakes it。＇133＇
Later； at St。 Helena； he falls into a melting mood over 〃the French
people whom he loved so dearly。〃＇134＇ The truth is； he loves it as a
rider loves his horse； as he makes it rear and prance and show off its
paces； when he flatters and caresses it； it is not for the advantage
of the animal but for his own purposes； on account of its usefulness
to him； to be spurred on until exhausted； to jump ditches growing
wider and wider； and leap fences growing higher and higher； one ditch
more； and still another fence； the last obstacle which seems to be the
last； succeeded by others； while； in any event； the horse remains
forcibly and for ever； what it already is； namely； a beast of burden
and broken down。 … For； on this Russian expedition； instead of
frightful disasters； let us imagine a brilliant success； a victory at
Smolensk equal to that of Friedland； a treaty of Moscow more
advantageous than that of Tilsit； and the Czar brought to heel。 As a
result the Czar is probably strangled or dethroned； a patriotic
insurrection will take place in Russia as in Spain； two lasting wars；
at the two extremities of the Continent； against religious fanaticism；
more irreconcilable than positive interests； and against a scattered
barbarism more indomitable than a concentrated civilization。 At best；
a European empire secretly mined by European resistance； an exterior
France forcibly superposed on the enslaved Continent；＇135＇ French
residents and commanders at St。 Petersburg and Riga as at Dantzic；
Hamburg； Amsterdam； Lisbon； Barcelona； and Trieste。 Every able…bodied
Frenchman that can be employed from Cadiz to Moscow in maintaining and
administering the conquest。 All the able…bodied youth annually seized
by the conscription； and； if they have escaped this； seized again by
decrees。＇136＇ The entire male population thus devoted to works of
constraint； nothing else in prospect for either the cultivated or the
uncultivated； no military or civil career other than a prolonged guard
duty； threatened and threatening； as soldier； customs…inspector； or
gendarme； as prefect； sub…prefect； or commissioner of police； that is
to say； as subaltern henchman and bully restraining subjects and
raising contributions； confiscating and burning merchandise； seizing
grumblers； and making the refractory toe the mark。＇137＇ In 1810； one
hundred and sixty thousand of the refractory were already condemned by
name； and； moreover； penalties were imposed on their families to the
amount of one hundred and seventy millions of francs In 1811 and 1812
the roving columns which tracked fugitives gathered sixty thousand of
them； and drove them along the coast from the Adour to the Niemen； on
reaching the frontier； they were en…rolled in the grand army； but they
desert the very first month； they and their chained companions； at the
rate of four or five thousand a day。＇138＇ Should England be conquered；
garrisons would have to be maintained there； and of soldiers equally
zealous。 Such is the dark future which this system opens to the
French； even with the best of good luck。 It turns out that the luck
is bad； and at the end of 1812 the grand army is freezing in the snow；
Napoleon's horse has let him tumble。 Fortunately； the animal has
simply foundered； 〃His Majesty's health was never better〃；＇139＇