The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-04-24
NapeleOn's INSTRUMENTATION.

When the news of the successes in
Piedmont reached Paris, public fes-
1ivals were dccreed and celebrated,
out the democratic spirit of the di-
rectOrs could brook neither the con-
temptuous disregard of their plan
which Bonaparte had shown nor his
arrogant assumption of diplomatic
plenipotence. Knowing how thor
Oughly their doctrine had permcatcd
Piedmont, they had intended to
make it a republic. 1t was eXaspera-
ting therefore that through Bona
parties meddling they found them
selves still compelled to negotiate
peace with monarchy. The treaty
with the king of Sardinia was final
ly signed by them on May Is, but
they had previously determined to
clip the wings of their dangerous fall
con by assigning Kellermann to
share with Bonaparte the command
of the conquering army, and by con-
frming Salicetti as their diplomatic
plenipotentiary to accompany it.
This news reached their general at
Lodi on the eve of his triumphal en-
try into Milan. LAS things now are, !"
he promptly replied to the directory,
you must have general who pos
sesses your entire confidence If l
must refer every step to government
commissioners, if they have the
right to change my movements, to
withdraw or send troops, expect
nothing good hereafter" To Carnot
he wrote at the same time: "I'd be-
lieve one bad general to be worth
two good ones. War is like govern
ment, a matter of fact. I do not
wish to be hanpered. have begun
with some glory. I with to continue
worthy of you" Aware probably
that his own republican virtue could
not long withstand the temptations
opening before him, he began the
latter missive, as if to excuse him
self and anticipate possible accusa-
tions: 81 swear I have nothing in
view but the country. You will al
ways find me on the straight road. l
owe to the republic the sacrifice of
all my own notions. If people seek
to set me wrong in your esteem, my
answer is in my heart and in my
conscience. 1t is of course needless
to add that the directory yielded not
only as to the unity of command,
but also in the fatal and vital matter
of intrusting all diplomatic negotia-
tons to his hands.
In taking this last step the execu-
tive virtually surrendered its iden-
tity. Such, however, was the eXul-
tatiOn of the Partisan populace and
of the soldiery that the degradation
or even the forced resignation of the
conquering dictator would have at
once assured the fall of the directors.
They could not even protest when,
soon after, there came from Bona.
parte dispatch announcing that the
articles of 1.-THE glorious peace which
you have concluded with the king OF
Sardinia" had reached "us" and
significantly adding in later para
graph that the troops We're content,
having received half their pay If
coin.
Voices in Paris declared that fol
such language the writer should be
shot Perhaps those who put the
worst Interpretation on the appar
entity harmless words We're correct
in their instinct, In reality the di
rectory had been wholly dependent
on the army since the previous DC
tober, and while such an offensiv,
insinuation of the fact would be, i
intentional, most unpalatable, ye
those who had profited by the fac
dared not resent q remote reference
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