NAPOLEON THE LITTLE ***

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THE WORKS OF VICTOR HUGO

Handy Library Edition

NAPOLEON THE LITTLE

_THE WORKS OF VICTOR HUGO_

NAPOLEON THE LITTLE

_BOSTON_ _LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY_

_Copyright, 1909,_ By Little, Brown, and Company

CONTENTS

PAGE BOOK I

I. December 20, 1848 1

II. Mission of the Representatives 10

III. Notice of Expiration of Term 12

IV. Men Will Awaken 17

V. Biography 22

VI. Portrait 26

VII. In Continuation of the Panegyrics 35

BOOK II

I. The Constitution 46

II. The Senate 49

III. The Council of State and the Corps Législatif 52

IV. The Finances 55

V. The Liberty of the Press 57

VI. Novelties in Respect to What Is Lawful 60

VII. The Adherents 64

VIII. Meus Agitat Molem 69

IX. Omnipotence 76

X. The Two Profiles of M. Bonaparte 81

XI. Recapitulation 86

BOOK III

The Crime 96

The Coup d'État at Bay 98

BOOK IV

THE OTHER CRIMES

I. Sinister Questions 150

II. Sequel of the Crimes 159

III. What 1802 Would Have Been 175

IV. The Jacquerie 180

BOOK V

PARLIAMENTARISM

I. 1789 189

II. Mirabeau 191

III. The Tribune 193

IV. The Orators 196

V. Influence of Oratory 201

VI. What an Orator Is 203

VII. What the Tribune Accomplished 205

VIII. Parliamentarism 208

IX. The Tribune Destroyed 211

BOOK VI

THE ABSOLUTION: FIRST PHASE

I. The Absolution 214

II. The Diligence 215

III. Scrutiny of the Vote.--A Reminder of Principles.--Facts 217

IV. Who Really Voted for M. Bonaparte 229

V. Concession 232

VI. The Moral Side of the Question 234

VII. An Explanation for M. Bonaparte's Benefit 238

VIII. Axioms 244

IX. Wherein M. Bonaparte Has Deceived Himself 246

BOOK VII

THE ABSOLUTION: SECOND PHASE: THE OATH

I. For an Oath, an Oath and a Half 251

II. Difference in Price 255

III. Oaths of Scientific and Literary Men 258

IV. Curiosities of the Business 261

V. The 5th of April, 1852 266

VI. Everywhere the Oath 272

BOOK VIII

PROGRESS CONTAINED IN THE COUP D'ÉTAT

I. The Quantum of Good Contained in Evil 275

II. The Four Institutions That Stand Opposed to the Republic 280

III. Slow Movement of Normal Progress 282

IV. What an Assembly Would Have Done 285

V. What Providence Has Done 289

VI. What the Ministers, Army, Magistracy, and Clergy Have Done< 291

VII. The Form of the Government of God 292

CONCLUSION--PART FIRST

PETTINESS OF THE MASTER--ABJECTNESS OF THE SITUATION

I. 293

II. 298

III. 301

CONCLUSION--PART SECOND

FAITH AND AFFLICTION

I. 315

II. 323

NAPOLEON THE LITTLE

BOOK I

I

DECEMBER 20, 1848

On Thursday, December 20, 1848, the Constituent Assembly, being in session, surrounded at that moment by an imposing display of troops, heard the report of the Representative Waldeck-Rousseau, read on behalf of the committee which had been appointed to scrutinize the votes in the election of President of the Republic; a report in which general attention had marked this phrase, which embodied its whole idea: "It is the seal of its inviolable authority which the nation, by this admirable application of the fundamental law, itself affixes on the Constitution, to render it sacred and inviolable." Amid the profound silence of the nine hundred representatives, of whom almost the entire number was assembled, the President of the National Constituent Assembly, Armaud Marrast, rose and said:--

"In the name of the French people,

"Whereas Citizen Charles-Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, born at Paris, fulfils the conditions of eligibility prescribed by Article 44 of the Constitution;

"Whereas in the ballot cast throughout the extent of the territory of the Republic, for the election of President, he has received an absolute majority of votes;

"By virtue of Articles 47 and 48 of the Constitution, the National Assembly proclaims him President of the Republic from this present day until the second Sunday in May, 1852."

There was a general movement on all the benches, and in the galleries filled with the public; the President of the Constituent Assembly added:

"According to the terms of the decree, I invite the Citizen President of the Republic to ascend the tribune, and to take the oath."

The representatives who crowded the right lobby returned to their places and left the passage free. It was about four in the afternoon, it was growing dark, and the immense hall of the Assembly having become