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he does not recognize that he is being cheated。〃 ＇35＇ A rude species
of centralization with no control over it； with no publicity； without
uniformity； thus installs over the whole country an army of petty
pashas who； as judges； decide causes in which they are themselves
contestants； ruling by delegation； and； to sanction their theft or
their insolence； always having on their lips the name of the king； who
is obliged to let them do as they please。 … In short； the machine；
through its complexity； irregularity； and dimensions； escapes from his
grasp。 A Frederick II。 who rises at four o'clock in the morning； a
Napoleon who dictates half the night in his bath； and who works
eighteen hours a day； would scarcely suffice for its needs。 Such a
régime cannot operate without constant strain； without indefatigable
energy； without infallible discernment； without military rigidity；
without superior genius； on these conditions alone can one convert
twenty…five millions of men into automatons and substitute his own
will； lucid throughout； coherent throughout and everywhere present；
for the wills of those he abolishes。 Louis XV lets 〃the good machine〃
work by itself； while he settles down into apathy。 〃They would have it
so； they thought it all for the best；〃＇36＇ is his manner of speaking
when ministerial measures prove unsuccessful。 〃If I were a lieutenant
of the police；〃 he would say again； 〃I would prohibit cabs。〃 In vain
is he aware of the machine being dislocated； for he can do nothing and
he causes nothing to be done。 In the event of misfortune he has a
private reserve； his purse apart。 〃The king；〃 said Mme。 de Pompadour；
〃would sign away a million without thinking of it； but he would
scarcely bestow a hundred louis out of his own little treasury。〃 …
Louis XVI strives for some time to remove some of the wheels； to
introduce better ones and to reduce the friction of the rest； but the
pieces are too rusty； and too weighty。 He cannot adjust them； or
harmonize them and keep them in their places； his hand falls by his
side wearied and powerless。 He is content to practice economy himself；
he records in his journal the mending of his watch； and leaves the
State carriage in the hands of Calonne to be loaded with fresh abuses
that it may revert back to the old rut from which it is to issue only
by breaking down。
Undoubtedly the wrong they do； or which is done in their name；
dissatisfies the kings and upsets them； but； at the bottom； their
conscience is not disturbed。 They may feel compassion for the people；
but they do not feel guilty； they are its sovereigns and not its
representatives。 France； to them； is as a domain to its lord； and a
lord is not deprived of honor in being prodigal and neglectful。 He
merely gambles away his own property； and nobody has a right to call
him to account。 Founded on feudal society； royalty is like an estate；
an inheritance。 It would be infidelity； almost treachery in a prince；
in any event weak and base； should he allow any portion of the trust
received by him intact from his ancestors for transmission to his
children； to pass into the hands of his subjects。 Not only according
to medieval traditions is he proprietor…commandant of the French and
of France； but again； according to the theory of the jurists； he is；
like Caesar； the sole and perpetual representative of the nation； and；
according to the theological doctrine； like David； the sacred and
special delegate of God himself。 It would be astonishing； if； with all
these titles； he did not consider the public revenue as his personal
revenue； and if； in many cases； he did not act accordingly。 Our point
of view； in this matter； is so essentially opposed to his； we can
scarcely put ourselves in his place； but at that time his point of
view was everybody's point of view。 It seemed； then； as strange to
meddle with the king's business as to meddle with that of a private
person。 Only at the end of the year 1788＇37＇ the famous salon of the
Palais…Royal 〃with boldness and unimaginable folly； asserts that in a
true monarchy the revenues of the State should not be at the
sovereign's disposition； that he should be granted merely a sum
sufficient to defray the expenses of his establishment； of his
donations； and for favors to his servants as well as for his
pleasures； while the surplus should be deposited in the royal treasury
to be devoted only to purposes sanctioned by the National Assembly。 To
reduce the sovereign to a civil list； to seize nine…tenths of his
income； to forbid him cash on demand； what an outrage！ The surprise
would be no greater if at the present day it were proposed to divide
the income of each millionaire into two portions； the smallest to go
for the owner's support； and the largest to be placed in the hands of
a government to be expended in works of public utility。 An old farmer…
general； an intellectual and unprejudiced man； gravely attempts to
justify the purchase of Saint…Cloud by calling it 〃a ring for the
queen's finger。〃 The ring cost； indeed； 7；700；000 francs； but 〃the
king of France then had an income of 447；000；000。 What could be said
of any private individual who； with 477；000 livres income； should； for
once in his life； give his wife diamonds worth 7；000 or 8；000
livres？〃＇38＇ People would say that the gift is moderate； and that the
husband is reasonable。
To properly understand the history of our kings； let the
fundamental principle be always recognized that France is their land；
a farm transmitted from father to son； at first small； then slowly
enlarged； and； at last； prodigiously enlarged； because the proprietor；
always alert； has found means to make favorable additions to it at the
expense of his neighbors； at the end of eight hundred years it
comprises about 27；000 square leagues of territory。 His interests and
his vanity harmonize； certainly； in several areas with public welfare；
he is； all in all； not a poor administrator； and； since he has always
expanded his territory； he has done better than many others。 Moreover；
around him； a number of expert individuals； old family councilors；
withdrawn from business and devoted to the domain； with good heads an
gray beards； respectfully remonstrate with him when he spends too
freely； they often interest him in public improvements； in roads；
canals； homes for the invalids； military schools； scientific
institutions and charity workshops； in the control of trust…funds and
foundations； in the tolerance of heretics； in the postponement of
monastic vows to the age of twenty…one； in provincial assemblies； and
in other reforms by which a feudal domain becomes transformed into a
modern domain。 Nevertheless； the country； feudal or modern； remains
his property； which he can abuse as well as use； however； whoever uses
with full sway ends by abusing with full license。 If； in his ordinary
conduct； personal motives do not prevail over public motives； he might
be a saint l