The transaction relating to San Domingo furnished me with the occasion to develop some points of our public right, of which no one was thinking.
Coming to high considerations and announcing the transformation of the world, I replied to opponents who had said to me, "What! we might be Republicans some day? Senseless chatter! Who dreams of a republic nowadays?" etc. etc.:
"Attached by reason to the monarchical order of things," I rejoined, "I regard constitutional monarchy as the best possible government at this epoch of society.
"But, if they want to reduce everything to personal interests, if they suppose that, for myself, I think I might have everything to fear in a Republican State, they are mistaken.
"Would it treat me worse than the Monarchy has treated me? Twice or three times have I been stripped bare for or by the Monarchy: did the Empire, which would have done everything for me had I been willing, disown me more rudely? I abhor servitude; liberty pleases my natural independence; I prefer that liberty in the monarchical order, but I can conceive it in the popular order of things. Who has less to fear from the future than I? I have that which no revolution can take from me: without place, honours, or fortune, any government which would not be stupid enough to disdain public opinion would be obliged to reckon me for something. Popular governments, above all, are composed of individual existences and make for themselves a general value out of the particular value of every citizen. I shall always be certain of the esteem of the public, because I shall never do anything to lose it, and I should perhaps find more justice among my enemies than among my pretended friends.
"Therefore, on computation, I should have no fear of republics, as I should have no antipathy to liberty; I am not a king; I await no crown; it is not my own cause that I plead.
"I have said under another ministry, and speaking of that ministry, that one morning we should go to the window to see the Monarchy pass.
"I say to the actual ministers:
"'If you continue to do as you are doing, the whole revolution might, within a given time, reduce itself to a new edition of the Charter in which they would content themselves with changing only two or three words.[289]"
I have underlined these last phrases to attract the reader's eyes to that striking prediction. Even to-day, when opinions are in full flight, when every man utters at random all that passes through his brain, those Republican ideas expressed by a Royalist during the Restoration still sound daring. In point of the future, the pretended progressive minds have no initiative in anything.
My last articles stirred up even M. de La Fayette, who, by way of compliment, had a bay-leaf handed to me. The effect of my opinions, to the great surprise of those who had not believed in them, made itself felt from the book-sellers, who came to me in a deputation, to the parliament-men at first least allied to me in politics. The letter given below in proof of what I am putting forward will cause a certain surprise because of its signature. Attention should be given only to the significance of the letter, to the change which had occurred in the ideas and position of the writer and the recipient: as to its composition, I am "Bossuet" and "Montesquieu," that goes without saying; that is the daily bread of us authors, just as ministers are always Sully and Colbert.
Letter from General Sébastiani.
"Monsieur le vicomte,
"Permit me to participate in the universal admiration: I have too long entertained this sentiment to resist the need of expressing it to you.
"You unite the loftiness of Bossuet with the profundity of Montesquieu: you have revived their pen and their genius. Your articles are a great education to any statesman.
"In the new method of warfare which you have created, you recall the mighty hand of him who, in other fights, also filled the world with his glory. May your successes prove more enduring: they interest the country and humanity.
"All who, like myself, profess the principles of constitutional monarchy, are proud to find in you their noblest interpreter.
"Accept, monsieur le vicomte, a renewed assurance of my high regard.
"Horace Sébastiani.
"Sunday, 30 October."
Thus fell at my feet friends, enemies, adversaries, in the moment of victory. All the pusillanimous and ambitious spirits who had believed me lost began to see me come forth beaming from the whirlwinds of dust in the lists: it was my second Spanish War; I was triumphing over all parties at home as I had triumphed over France's enemies abroad. I had had to discharge my duty in person, in the same way as, with my dispatches, I had paralyzed and rendered useless the dispatches of M. de Metternich and Mr. Canning.
General Foy[290] and the deputy Manuel[291] died and deprived the Opposition of the Left of its best speakers. M. de Serre[292] and Camille Jordan[293] also sank into the tomb. Even in my arm-chair at the Academy, I was obliged to defend the liberty of the press against the tearful supplications of M. de Lally-Tolendal[294]. The law on the police of the press, which was called the "Law of Justice and Love[295]," owed its fall chiefly to my attacks. My Opinion on this bill is a work of historical curiosity; I received compliments on it; among them occur two names which it is strange to recall:
"Monsieur le vicomte,
"I appreciate the thanks which you are kind enough to address to me. You call obligingness what I regarded as a debt which I was glad to pay to the eloquent writer. All true friends of letters participate in your triumph and are bound to regard themselves as jointly and severally interested in your success. At all times and places, I shall contribute to it with all my might, if it be possible that you have need of efforts so feeble as mine.
"In our enlightened century, genius is the only power that remains above the blows of disgrace; it falls to you, monsieur, to furnish a living proof of this to those who rejoice at it as well as to those who have the misfortune to deplore it.
"I have the honour to be, with the most distinguished regard, your, etc. etc.,
"Étienne.
"Paris, 5 April 1826."