按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sovereignty being illusory； but with the understanding that the
sovereignty of others is regarded likewise； so I prefer servitude and
privation for all； rather than liberties and advantages for a few；
and； provided the same level is passed over all heads； I submit to the
yoke for all heads； including my own。〃
Such is the internal composition of the instinct of' equality； and
such is the natural instinct of Frenchmen。 It is beneficial or
mischievous according as one or the other of its ingredients
predominates； at one time the noble sentiment of equity and at another
time the low envy of foolish vanity；＇4＇ healthy or unhealthy； however；
its power in France is enormous； and the new Régime gratifies it in
every possible way； good or bad。 No more legal disqualifications！ On
the one hand； the republican laws of proscription or of exception were
all repealed： we have seen an amnesty and the return of the émigrés；
the Concordat； the restoration of Catholic worship； the compulsory
reconciliation of the constitutionalists with the orthodox； the First
Consul admits no difference between them； his new clergy are recruited
from both groups and； in this respect； he forces the Pope to yield。＇5＇
He gives twelve of the sixty episcopal thrones to former schismatics；
he wants them to take their places boldly； he relieves them from
ecclesiastical penitence and from any humiliating recantation； he
takes care that； in the other forty…eight dioceses； the priests who
formerly took the civic oath shall be employed and well treated by
their superiors who； at the same epoch； refused to take the civic
oath。 On the other hand； all the exclusions； inequalities and
distinctions of the monarchy remain abolished。 Not only are the
Calvinist and even Israelite cults legally authorized； the same as the
Catholic cult； but； again； the Protestant consistories and Jewish
synagogues＇6＇ are constituted and organized on the same footing as the
Catholic churches。 Pastors and rabbis likewise become functionaries
under the same title as bishops and cure's； all are recognized or
sanctioned by the government and all equally benefit by its patronage：
it is an unique thing in Europe to find the small churches of the
minority obtaining the same measure of indifference and good will from
the State as the great church of the majority； and； henceforth； in
fact as in law； the ministers of the three cults； formerly ignored；
tolerated or proscribed； enjoy their rank； titles and honors in the
social as well as in the legal hierarchy； equally with the ministers
of that cult which was once the only one dominant or allowed
Similarly； in the civilian status； no inferiority or discredit must
legally attach to any condition whatever； either to plebeian；
villager； peasant or poor man as such； as formerly under the monarchy；
nor to noble； bourgeois； citizen； notable or rich man； as recently
under the Republic。 Each of these two classes is relieved of its
degradation； no class is burdened by taxation or by the conscription
beyond its due； all persons and all property find in the government；
in the administration； in the tribunals； in the gendarme； the same
reliable protection。 … So much for equity and the true spirit of
equality。 … Let us now turn around and consider envy and the bad
spirit of equality。 The plebiscite； undoubtedly； as well as the
election of deputies to the Corps Legislatif are simply comedies； but；
in these comedies； one r？le is as good as another and the duke of the
old or new pattern； a mere figurant among hundreds and thousands of
others； votes only once like the corner…grocer。 Undoubtedly； the
private individual of the commune or department； in institutions of
charity； worship or education； is deprived of any independence； of any
initiation； of any control； as the State has confiscated for itself
all collective action； but the classes deprived of this are especially
the upper classes； alone sufficiently enlightened and wealthy to take
the lead； form projects and provide for expenditure： in this
usurpation； the State has encroached upon and eaten deeper into the
large body of superior existences scattered about than into the
limited circle where humbler lives clamber and crawl along； nearly the
entire loss； all perceptible privation； is for the large landed
proprietor and not for his hired hands； for the large manufacturer or
city merchant and not for their workmen or clerks；＇7＇ while the clerk；
the workman； the journeyman； the handicraftsman； who grumble at being
the groundlings； find themselves less badly off since their masters or
patrons； fallen from a higher point； are where they are and they can
elbow them。
Now that men are born on the ground； all on the same level； and are
confined within universal and uniform limits； social life no longer
appears to them other than a competition； a rivalry instituted and
proclaimed by the State； and of which it is the umpire； for； through
its interference； all are comprised within its enclosure and shut up
and kept there； no other field is open to run on； on the contrary；
every career within these bounds； indicated and staked out beforehand；
offers an opportunity for all runners： the government has laid out and
leveled the ground； established compartments； divided off and prepared
rectilinear lists which converge to the goal； there； it presides； the
unique arbiter of the race； exposing to all competitors the
innumerable prizes which it proposes for them。 … These prizes consist
of offices； the various employments of the State； political； military；
ecclesiastical； judiciary； administrative and university； all the
honors and dignities which it dispenses； all the grades of its
hierarchy from the lowest to the highest； from that of corporal；
college…regent； alderman； office … supernumerary； assistant priest up
to that of senator； marshal of France； grand master of the university；
cardinal； and minister of State。 It confers on its possessor；
according to the greater or lesser importance of the place； a greater
or lesser portion of the advantages which all men crave and seek for
money； power； patronage； influence； consideration； importance and
social pre…eminence； thus； according to the rank one attains in the
hierarchy； one is something； or of some account； outside of the
hierarchy； one is nothing。
Consequently； the faculty for getting in and advancing one's self in
these lists is the most precious of all： in the new Régime it is
guaranteed by the law as a common right and is open to all Frenchmen。
As no other outlet for them is allowed by the State it owes them this
one； since it invites them and reduces everybody to competing under
its direction it is bound to be an impartial arbiter； since the
quality of citizen； in itself and through it alone； confers the right
to make one's way； all citizens indifferently must enjoy the right of
succeeding in any employment； the very highest； and without any
distinction as to birth； fortune； cult or party。 There must be no more
preliminary exclusions； no more gratuitous preferences； undeserved
favors； anticipated promotions； no more special favors。 … Such is the
rule of the modern State： constituted as it is； that is to say；
monopolizer and omnipresent； it cannot violate this rule for any
length of time with impunity。 In France； at least； the good and bad
spirits of equality agree in exacting adherence to it： on this point；
the French are unanimous； no article of their social code is more
cherished by them； this one flatters their amour…propre and tickles
their imagination； it exalts hope； nourishes illusion； intensifies the
energy and enjoyment of life。 … Thus far； the principle has remained
inert； powerless； held in suspension in the air； in the great void of
speculative declarations and of constitutional promises。 Napoleon
brings it down to the ground and renders it practical； that which the
assemblies had decreed in vain for ten years he brings about for the
first time and in his own interest。 To exclude a class or category of
men from offices and promotion would be equivalent to depriving one's
self gratuitously of all the talents it contains； and； moreover； to
incurring； besides the inevitable rancor of these frustrated talents；
the sullen and lasting discontent of the entire class or category。 The
First Consul would do himself a wrong were he to curb his right to
choose： he needs every available capacity； and he takes them where he
finds them； to the right； to the left； above or below； in order to
keep his regiments full and enroll in his service every legitimate
ambition and every justifiable pretension。
Under the monarchy； an obscure birth debarred even the best endowed
men from the principal offices。 Under the Consulate and the Empire the
two leading personages of the State are Lebrun； Maupeou's old
secretary； a productive translator；＇8＇ a lawyer； formerly councilor in
a provincial