The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-03

We pass over those chapters Of the book
which deal with the destructive period follow
| ing 1892. and come to the work OF recon-
| struction undertaken by the Emperor Napo-
leon. Old France had been destroyed and ne W
France needed organization. Everything was
budding In the latter. and elements OF CO..
hesion were not lacking. but nothing was in its
proper place. No doubt the new chief OF the
State had this advantage on his side. that no
institution having taken root in France since
the beginning OF the revI luton. there was
nothing standing In his way. and he could
therefore. give free reign to his conceptions
II Is our authors belief. nevertheless, that
Napoleon would have considered himself more
fortunate had he been able to lay his hand on
some old institution, some time hon ored social
custom. even some national prejudice which
had stood the brunt OF centuries. and upon
which he could have laid the foundations OF an
edihce. We are told that moro than once he
expressed his regret to this effect. showing
himself in this respect far superior to the men
OF talent who surrounded him. whose training
had taken place during the revolution. and
who had derived from It their prejudlces in
favor OF general lsvslling. thus rendering all
building up an impossibilty. They were
merely capable OF destructive work. Nothing
in this book reflects more credit on the au-
thor's intellect than his exposition Of the the
OiJ 'hhh wv hhAh - aio iViulslhc " constitute
an organized social system. Such system re-
qures. no doubt. a written legislation In har-
mony with its material position: but by the
side OF this written legislation there must
be found an unwrittsn one composed OF
usages, customs, accepted ideas and man
neTs. and this latter one Is the only
one which governs social life in the innumsr-
able cases where written laws cannot make
themselves felt. Concerning written legisla-
ton. the Chancellor has previously pointed
out with what happy results the first Consul
devoted his attention TO it with the aid OF his
Council Of State. AS Emperor. he could do no
better than pursue his work as First Consul.
and We are assured that he never ceased Civ
ing his best attention TO it, At the tune OF our
authors entering the Council OF State. the
civil code and the code OF civil procedure were
completed. and the commercial code was I'M
der discussion. The penal code and the code
OF criminal procedure were In course Of prep
aration. To TscAst all the eOuntry's leRisIa-
ton was not in Pasquier's opinion.
a rash undertaking. at time when
every idea aud principle OF legisla-
ton had been expounded and discussed:
when advantage could be derived from tho
most diversified experience and when tho
Council could boast Of lawyers Of the first
rank such as Tronehet. CambaeeraE and Por-
tails. The principal and real merit Of the En-
Ieror. considered as a statesman. lies in hay-
ing conceived the necessity Of the undertRk-
ing and OF having pushed it forward with tho
activity ehaTacterizng all his doings, aud
which he had the faculty Of communicating 10 |
others. The amount OF work which he goI out |
Of his Council OF state during the first six or |
seven yeaEs OF his reign Is described in these |
memoirs as stupsndous. Il is also aeknowl- |
edged that no knew so well how TO apply his |
intellect to matters which must have been Gem |