Although the Revolution had failed in giving the French their
political freedom, it culminated under Bonaparte in giving them civil
rights. In view of the hatred felt by the dynastic powers for a
movement which shook their thrones, it may easily be argued that to
protect this immense gain political centralization like that of the
Consulate was essential. On whichever side of this question lies the
truth, one thing is certain--that the nation as a whole felt as if
moderate republicanism had triumphed; and much as they suffered in
trade, industry, and agriculture by the renewal of war, they
nevertheless were enthusiastic in upholding their leader and his
measures. His bitterest enemies have admitted, and still admit, the
national character of the support which he had in 1803. The government
was popular, so much so that it even ventured to bestow a pension of
thirty dollars a month on Mlle. Robespierre. Addresses which promised
willing assistance were numerous. The masses, not yet free from the
old sense of security created by the leadership of a powerful man or
of a family trained in the management of public interests, were
comforted by the presence and the work of their chief magistrate. In
the tribunate a higher degree of the same spirit found expression in
the significant phrase "consular majesty," with which an orator
addressed the First Consul. There was no manifestation of discontent
with the censorship of the press, which was regarded as a necessary
war measure. Books could not be published until after the censors had
possessed a copy for seven days and had given their permission; the
newspapers could reprint no news from foreign journals, and were
mercilessly controlled in the contents of their columns. When the
"Moniteur" and its kindred poured contempt on English perfidy and
wrote of Punic faith, when they portrayed Albion as rushing madly on
her fate, the readers liked it and applauded.
CHAPTER XXVII
WARNINGS TO ROYALISTS AND REPUBLICANS[28]
[Footnote 28: References: Pasquier: Mémoirs; Fauriel: Les
derniers jours du Consulat; Desmarest: Témoignages
Historiques; Méhée de la Touche: Alliance des Jacobins de
France avec le Ministère Anglais; Cadoudal: La conspiration
de Georges Cadoudal; Lecestre: Lettres inédites; Tratchefski:
Recueil de la Société d'Histoire de Russie; Pingaud: Les
dernières années de Moreau (Revue de Paris, 15 Dec., 1899);
Huot de Penanster: Une conspiration en l'an XI et XII;
Caudrillier: Le complot de l'an XII (Revue Historique,
1901-1902); Rose: Napoleon, I, 406 (quotes the original
papers in British archives); Paget Papers; Castlereagh:
Letters and Despatches; Pellew: Life of Lord Sidmouth, Earl
of St. Vincent; Welschinger: Le duc d'Enghien; Boulay de la
Meurthe: Les dernières années du duc d'Enghien; Sorel:
Lectures Historiques.]