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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＇
nothing has happened to the rider； he gets up on his legs； and what
concerns him at this moment is not the sufferings of his broken…down
steed； but his own mishap； his reputation as a horseman is
compromised； the effect on the public； the hooting of the audience； is
what troubles him； the comedy of a perilous leap； announced with such
a flourish of trumpets and ending in such a disgraceful fall。 On
reaching Warsaw＇140＇ he says to himself； ten times over：
〃There is only a step from the sublime to the ridiculous。〃
The following year； at Dresden； he exposes still more foolishly；
openly； and nakedly his master passion； the motives which determine
him； the immensity and ferocity of his pitiless pride。
〃What do they want of me？〃 said he to M。 de Metternich。＇141＇ 〃 Do
they want me to dishonor myself？ Never！ I can die； but never will I
yield an inch of territory！ Your sovereigns； born to the throne； may
be beaten twenty times over and yet return to their capitals： I cannot
do this； because I am a parvenu soldier。 My domination will not
survive the day when I shall have ceased to be strong； and；
consequently； feared。〃
In effect； his despotism in France is founded on his European
omnipotence； if he does not remain master of the Continent；〃 he must
settle with the corps législatif。＇142＇ Rather than descend to an
inferior position； rather than be a constitutional monarch； controlled
by parliamentary chambers； he plays double or quits； and will risk
losing everything。
〃I have seen your soldiers；〃 says Metternich to him； 〃they are
children。 When this army of boys is gone； what will you do then？〃
At these words； which touch his heart； he grows pale； his features
contract； and his rage overcomes him； like a wounded man who has made
a false step and exposes himself； he says violently to Metternich：
〃You are not a soldier You do not know the impulses of a soldier's
breast！ I have grown up on the battle…field； and a man like me does
not give a damn for the lives of a million men！ 〃＇143＇
His imperial pipe…dreams has devoured many more。 Between 1804 and
1815 he has had slaughtered 1；700；000 Frenchmen； born within the
boundaries of ancient France；＇144＇ to which must be added； probably；
2；000；000 men born outside of these limits； and slain for him； under
the title of allies； or slain by him under the title of enemies。 All
that the poor； enthusiastic； and credulous Gauls have gained by
entrusting their public welfare to him is two invasions； all that he
bequeaths to them as a reward for their devotion； after this
prodigious waste of their blood and the blood of others； is a France
shorn of fifteen departments acquired by the republic； deprived of
Savoy； of the left bank of the Rhine and of Belgium； despoiled of the
northeast angle by which it completed its boundaries； fortified its
most vulnerable point； and； using the words of Vauban； 〃made its field
square；〃 separated from 4；000；000 new Frenchmen which it had
assimilated after twenty years of life in common； and； worse still；
thrown back within the frontiers of 1789； alone； diminished in the
midst of its aggrandized neighbors； suspected by all Europe； and
lastingly surrounded by a threatening circle of distrust and rancor。
Such is the political work of Napoleon； the work of egoism served by
genius。 In his European structure as in his French structure this
sovereign egoism has introduced a vice of construction。 This
fundamental vice is manifest at the outset in the European edifice；
and； at the expiration of fifteen years； it brings about a sudden
downfall： in the French edifice it is equally serious but not so
apparent； only at the end of half a century； or even a whole century；
is it to be made clearly visible； but its gradual and slow effects
will be equally pernicious and they are no less sure。
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