'Centralisation, though it is generally disclaimed by every party that is
in opposition, is so powerful an instrument that every Monarchical
Government which has ruled France since 1789 has maintained, and even
tried to extend it.
'The Restoration, and the Government of July, were as absolute
centralisers as Napoleon himself. The local power which they were forced
to surrender they made over to the narrow _pays legal_, the privileged
ten-pounders, who were then attempting to govern France. The Republic
gave the election of the _Conseils generaux_ to the people, and thus
dethroned the notaries who governed those assemblies when they
represented only the _bourgeoisie_. The Republic made the Maires
elective; the Republic placed education in the hands of the local
authorities. Under its influence the communes, the cantons, and the
departments were becoming real administrative bodies. They are now
geographical divisions. The Prefet appoints the Maires; the Prefet
appoints in every canton a Commissaire de Police, seldom a respectable
man, as the office is not honourable; the Gardes champetres, who are the
local police, are put under his control; the Recteur, who was a sort of
local Minister of Education in every department, is suppressed; his
powers are transferred to the Prefet; the Prefet appoints, promotes, and
dismisses all the masters of the _ecoles primaires_.
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