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applied in an inverse sense。 In the central government as in the local
government； and from top to bottom of the hierarchy； from the post of
minister of foreign affairs down to that of president of a petty
revolutionary committee； all offices were for the unworthy。 Their
unfitness kept on increasing inasmuch as incessant weeding out worked
against them； the functionary； degraded by his work； growing worse
along with his function。 … Thus the constitutional rights of merit and
capacity ended in the practical privilege of incapacity and demerit。
And in the allotment of grades and social advantages； distributive
justice had given way to distributive injustice； while practice；
contrary to theory； instituted permanently； on the one hand； the
exclusion or retirement of competent； instructed； expert； well…bred；
honorable and respected men and； on the other hand； brought forward
illiterate； inept and rude novices； coarse and vulgar brutes； common
blackguards； men used up or of tarnished reputations； rogues ready for
anything； fugitives from justice； in short the adventurers and
outcasts of every kind and degree。＇24＇ The latter； owing their success
to perversion or lack of conscientiousness； derived their principal
title from their vigorous fists and a fixed determination to hold on
to their places as they had obtained them； that is to say by main
force and by the murder or exile of their rivals。 … Evidently； the
staff of officials which the Declaration of Human Rights had promised
was not the staff on duty ten years later there was a lack of
experience。＇25＇ In 1789； careers were open to every ambition； down to
1799； the rivalry of ambitions had simply produced a wild uproar and a
brutal conquest。 The great modern difficulty remained： how to
discipline the competition and to find an impartial judge； an
undisputed arbitrator of the competition。
IV。 Napoleon； Judge…Arbitrator…Ruler。
Napoleon as judge of competition。 … Security of his seat。 …
Independence of his decisions。 … Suppression of former influences and
end of monarchical or democratic intrigues。 … Other influences against
which he is on guard。 … His favorite rule。 … Estimate of candidates
according to the kind and amount of their useful labor。 … His own
competency。 … His perspicacity。 … His vigilance。 … Zeal and labor of
his functionaries。 … Result of competition thus viewed and of
functions thus exercised。 … Talents utilized and jealousies disarmed。
Behold him； at last； this judge…arbitrator。 On the 8th November； 1799；
he appears and takes his seat； and that very evening he goes to work；
makes his selections among the competitors and gives them their
commissions。 He is a military chieftain and has installed himself；
consequently he is not dependent on a parliamentary majority； and any
insurrection or gathering of a mob is at once rendered abortive by his
troops before it is born。 Street sovereignty is at an end； Parisians
are long to remember the 13th of Vendémaire and the way General
Bonaparte shot them down on the steps of Saint…Roch。 All his
precautions against them are taken the first day and against all
agitators whatever； against all opponents disposed to dispute his
jurisdiction。 His arm…chair as first Consul and afterwards his throne
as Emperor are firmly fixed； nobody but himself can undermine them； he
is seated definitively and will stay there。 Profound silence reigns in
the public crowd around him； some among them dare whisper； but his
police has its eye on them。 Instead of conforming to opinion he rules
it； masters it and； if need be； he manufactures it。 Alone by himself
from his seat on high； in perfect independence and security； he
announces the verdicts of distributive justice。 Nevertheless he is on
his guard against the temptations and influences which have warped the
decisions of his predecessors； in his tribunal； the schemes and
intrigues which formerly obtained credit with the people； or with the
king； are no longer in vogue； from now on； the profession of courtier
or of demagogue is a poor one。 … On the one hand； there is no success；
as formerly under the monarchy； through the attentions of the ante…
chamber； through elegant manners； delicate flattery； fashionable
drawing…rooms； or valets and women on an intimate footing； mistresses
here enjoy no credit and there are neither favorites nor the favored；
a valet is regarded as a useful implement； great personages are not
considered as extra…ornamental and human furniture for the palace。 Not
one among them dare ask for a place for a protégé which he is
incapable of filling； an advancement which would derange the lists of
promotions； a pass over the heads of others； if they obtain any
favors； these are insignificant or political； the master grants them
as an after…thought； to rally somebody； or a party； to his side； they
personally； their ornamental culture； their high…bred tone； their wit；
their conversational powers； their smiles and bows … all this is lost
on him； or charged to account。 He has no liking for their insinuating
and discreet ways；＇26＇ he regards them as merely good domestics for
parade； all he esteems in them is their ceremonial significance； that
innate suppleness which permits them to be at once servile and
dignified； the hereditary tact which teaches them how to present a
letter； not from hand to hand； but on the rim of a hat； or on a silver
plate； and these faculties he estimates at their true worth。 … On the
other hand； nobody succeeds； as lately under the Republic； through
tribunal or club verbosity； through appeals to principles； through
eloquent or declamatory tirades； 〃glittering generalities；〃 hollow
abstractions and phrases made to produce an impression have no effect；
and what is better； political ideology； with a solicitor or pleader；
is a bad note。 The positive； practical mind of the judge has taken in
at a glance and penetrated to the bottom of arguments； means and valid
pretensions； he submits impatiently to metaphysics and pettifoggery；
to the argumentative force and mendacity of words。 … This goes so far
that he distrusts oratorical or literary talent； in any event when he
entrusts active positions or a part in public business then he takes
no note of it。 According to him； 〃the men who write well and are
eloquent have no solidity of judgment； they are illogical and very
poor in discussion；〃＇27＇ they are mere artists like others； so many
word…musicians； a kind of special； narrow…minded instrument； some of
them good solo players； like Fontanes； and who the head of a State can
use； but only in official music for grand cantatas and the decoration
of his reign。 Wit in itself； not alone the wit which gives birth to
brilliant expressions and which was considered a prime accomplishment
under the old regime； but general intelligence； has for him only a
semi…value。＇28＇ 〃I am more brilliant＇29＇； you may say？ Eh； what do I
care for your intelligence？ What I care for is the essence of the
matter。 There is nobody so foolish that is not good for something …
there is no intelligence equal to everything。〃 In fact； on bestowing
an office it is the function which delegates； the proper execution of
the function is the prime motive in determining his choice； the
candidate appointed is always the one who will best do the work
assigned him。 No factitious； party popularity or unpopularity； no
superficial admiration or disparagement of a clique； of a salon； or of
a bureau； makes him swerve from his standard of preference。＇30＇ He
values men according to the quality and quantity of their work；
according to their net returns； and he estimates them directly；
personally； with superior perspicacity and universal competency。 He is
special in all branches of civil or military activity； and even in
technical detail； his memory for facts； actions； antecedence and
circumstances； is prodigious； his discernment； his critical analysis；
his calculating insight into the resources and shortcomings of a mind
or of a soul； his faculty for gauging men； is extraordinary； through
constant verifications and rectifications his internal repertory； his
biographical and moral dictionary； is kept daily posted； his attention
never flags； he works eighteen hours a day； his personal intervention
and his hand are visible even in the appointment of subordinates。
〃Every man called to take part in affairs was selected by him；〃＇31＇ it
is through him that they retain their place； he controls their
promotion and by sponsors whom he knows。 〃A minister could not have
dismissed a functionary without consulting the emperor； while the
ministers could all change without bringing about two secondary
changes throughout the empire。 A minister did not appoint even a
second…class clerk without presenting a list of several candidates to
the emperor and； opposite to it； the name of the person recommending
him。〃 All； even at a distance； felt that the master's eyes