We should always remember that being a liberal did not mean the same thing in 1800 as it does today. Here are some earlier answers on Napoleon's rule:

• How did the people of France go from executing a king in 1793 to near-unanimously endorsing an emperor in 1804? How was Napoleon able to convince people that his absolute rule was different to the kings'? by u/MySkinsRedditAcct, flaired in French Revolution
• Perception of Napoleon as a democratic ruler by u/kieslowskifan, Quality contributor
• Was Napoleonic France more liberal than the old European absolute monarchies(Austria, Russia) at the time? Would life for the average person have been better than before/during the Revolution? What principles of the Revolution did Napoleon uphold? by u/Malaquisto