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withdrawn it from La Briere's hands after the news reached him。 Des
Lupeaulx read as follows：
〃Monseigneur；If twenty…three years of irreproachable services
may claim a favor； I entreat your Excellency to grant me an
audience this very day。 My honor is involved in the matter of
which I desire to speak。〃
〃Poor man！〃 said des Lupeaulx； in a tone of compassion which confirmed
the minister in his error。 〃We are alone； I advise you to see him now。
You have a meeting of the Council when the Chamber rises； moreover；
your Excellency has to reply to…day to the opposition； this is really
the only hour when you can receive him。〃
Des Lupeaulx rose； called the servant； said a few words； and returned
to his seat。 〃I have told them to bring him in at dessert；〃 he said。
Like all other ministers under the Restoration； this particular
minister was a man without youth。 The charter granted by Louis XVIII。
had the defect of tying the hands of the kings by compelling them to
deliver the destinies of the nation into the control of the middle…
aged men of the Chamber and the septuagenarians of the peerage； it
robbed them of the right to lay hands on a man of statesmanlike talent
wherever they could find him； no matter how young he was or how
poverty…stricken his condition might be。 Napoleon alone was able to
employ young men as he chose； without being restrained by any
consideration。 After the overthrow of that mighty will； vigor deserted
power。 Now the period when effeminacy succeeds to vigor presents a
contrast that is far more dangerous in France than in other countries。
As a general thing； ministers who were old before they entered office
have proved second or third rate； while those who were taken young
have been an honor to European monarchies and to the republics whose
affairs they have directed。 The world still rings with the struggle
between Pitt and Napoleon； two men who conducted the politics of their
respective countries at an age when Henri de Navarre； Richelieu；
Mazarin； Colbert； Louvois； the Prince of Orange； the Guises；
Machiavelli； in short； all the best known of our great men； coming
from the ranks or born to a throne； began to rule the State。 The
Conventionthat model of energywas made up in a great measure of
young heads； no sovereign can ever forget that it was able to put
fourteen armies into the field against Europe。 Its policy； fatal in
the eyes of those who cling to what is called absolute power； was
nevertheless dictated by strictly monarchical principles； and it
behaved itself like any of the great kings。
After ten or a dozen years of parliamentary struggle； having studied
the science of politics until he was worn down by it； this particular
minister had come to be enthroned by his party； who considered him in
the light of their business man。 Happily for him he was now nearer
sixty than fifty years of age； had he retained even a vestige of
juvenile vigor he would quickly have quenched it。 But； accustomed to
back and fill； retreat and return to the charge； he was able to endure
being struck at； turn and turn about； by his own party； by the
opposition； by the court； by the clergy； because to all such attacks
he opposed the inert force of a substance which was equally soft and
consistent； thus he reaped the benefits of what was really his
misfortune。 Harassed by a thousand questions of government； his mind；
like that of an old lawyer who has tried every species of case； no
longer possessed the spring which solitary minds are able to retain；
nor that power of prompt decision which distinguishes men who are
early accustomed to action； and young soldiers。 How could it be
otherwise？ He had practised sophistries and quibbled instead of
judging； he had criticised effects and done nothing for causes； his
head was full of plans such as a political party lays upon the
shoulders of a leader；matters of private interest brought to an
orator supposed to have a future； a jumble of schemes and impractical
requests。 Far from coming fresh to his work； he was wearied out with
marching and counter…marching； and when he finally reached the much
desired height of his present position； he found himself in a thicket
of thorny bushes with a thousand conflicting wills to conciliate。 If
the statesmen of the Restoration had been allowed to follow out their
own ideas； their capacity would doubtless have been criticised； but
though their wills were often forced； their age saved them from
attempting the resistance which youth opposes to intrigues； both high
and low；intrigues which vanquished Richelieu； and to which； in a
lower sphere； Rabourdin was to succumb。
After the rough and tumble of their first struggles in political life
these men； less old than aged； have to endure the additional wear and
tear of a ministry。 Thus it is that their eyes begin to weaken just as
they need to have the clear…sightedness of eagles； their mind is weary
when its youth and fire need to be redoubled。 The minister in whom
Rabourdin sought to confide was in the habit of listening to men of
undoubted superiority as they explained ingenious theories of
government； applicable or inapplicable to the affairs of France。 Such
men； by whom the difficulties of national policy were never
apprehended； were in the habit of attacking this minister personally
whenever a parliamentary battle or a contest with the secret follies
of the court took place；on the eve of a struggle with the popular
mind； or on the morrow of a diplomatic discussion which divided the
Council into three separate parties。 Caught in such a predicament； a
statesman naturally keeps a yawn ready for the first sentence designed
to show him how the public service could be better managed。 At such
periods not a dinner took place among bold schemers or financial and
political lobbyists where the opinions of the Bourse and the Bank； the
secrets of diplomacy； and the policy necessitated by the state of
affairs in Europe were not canvassed and discussed。 The minister has
his own private councillors in des Lupeaulx and his secretary； who
collected and pondered all opinions and discussions for the purpose of
analyzing and controlling the various interests proclaimed and
supported by so many clever men。 In fact； his misfortune was that of
most other ministers who have passed the prime of life； he trimmed and
shuffled under all his difficulties；with journalism； which at this
period it was thought advisable to repress in an underhand way rather
than fight openly； with financial as well as labor questions； with the
clergy as well as with that other question of the public lands； with
liberalism as with the Chamber。 After manoeuvering his way to power in
the course of seven years； the minister believed that he could manage
all questions of administration in the same way。 It is so natural to
think we can maintain a position by the same methods which served us
to reach it that no one ventured to blame a sy