not know that the emperor exercised
over his servitors, however far from him they might be, the miracle of
the real presence. I thought I saw him standing over me as I worked shut
up in my cabinet."--"Under him," writes Roederer, "there is no man of
any merit who, as a reward for long and difficult labor, does not feel
himself better compensated by a new task than by the most honorable
leisure." Never did positions less resemble sinecures. Never was
the happiness of successful candidates or the misery of unsuccessful
candidates better justified. Never the compliance, the difficulty,
the risks of a required task have been compensated more fairly by the
enjoyment of the allocated rewards nor moderated the bitterness of the
frustrated pretensions.[3333] Never were public functions assigned
or fulfilled in a way to better satisfy the legitimate craving for
advancement, the dominant desire of democracy and of the century, and in
a way to better disarm the bad passions of democracy and of the
century, consisting of an envious leveling, anti-social rancor and
the inconsolable regrets of the man who has failed. Never did human
competition encounter a similar judge, so constant, so expert and so
justified.--He is himself conscious of the unique part he plays. His
own ambition, the highest and most insatiate of all, enables him to
comprehend the ambition of others; to place everywhere the man who suits
the post in the post which suits the man--this is what he has done for
himself and what he does for others. He knows that in this lies his
power, his deep-seated popularity, his social utility.

"Nobody," says Napoleon,[3334] "is interested in overthrowing a
government in which all the deserving are employed."

Then, again, comes his significant exclamation at the end, his summary
of modern society, a solemn grandiose figure of speech found in the
legendary souvenirs of a glorious antiquity, a classic reminiscence of
the noble Olympian games,

"Henceforth, all careers are open to talent!"

IV. The Struggle for Office and Title.

Competition and prizes.--Multitude of offices.--How their
number is increased by the extension of central patronage
and of the French territory.--Situation of a Frenchman
abroad.--It gives him rank.--Rapidity of promotion.
--Constant elimination and multiplicity of vacancies in the
army.--Preliminary elimination in the civil service.
--Proscription of cultivate