The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-09
For the Union.



For the Union
The History the Consulate and Empire under Napoleon
Amidst the din OF and the confusion OF politics,
refreshing to get hold OF anything either literary scien
thc, historical and the present work comes very
timely and most apropos, as portraying with mucl
graphic power most interesting period IN the history
our race =,
the world ever saw His mighty career seems now like
some passing dream--some fading vison--some fan
ac Of the .ty YET an M hs ira co
pora-he became general, consul, and then Emperor OF
the "grand nation" lie gathered armies as If by magic
he collected legions OF armed men With taismanic power
and he led on throughout Europe with might unknown
and with power unheard of He overthrow Kingdoms
and made kings royal dladems were tres IN his hands,
and he played with crowns children play with toys
Wonderful man No armed prlncipalhes could arrest
him in his career; eagued kings, with armies and
fleets could stop his course his power was resistless
and from London TO ST. Petersburgh all alarm and
terror at the gigantic strides of the mighty But
when all appeared to be lost and when the boldest ap-
pretended that the remains OF freedom and liberty which
still fingered Europe TO be swallowed up in the
absolute despotsm of the Great Conqueror Nature steps
in and declares that hus far shall thou CO. and no far
Their" The SHOWS, the freezing winds, and the icy re
gons OF the north, stopped his mad ambition His sol
ders horses were frozen to death by and
thousands and the defeat at Moscow but the begin
ming of those eveIses which terminated in his death on
The steri rock of ST. Helena at will not do" for any
historian TO tell us, as was remarked by Madame de
Stae tha all Europe was for years at the mercy of
d
1t is intensely ridiculous for writers attempting to
show by lengthy augmentation how absurd it was for
to have gained the battles which, by all the rules OF
war, be ought to have lost And what pity it thai
the Archduke Charles and Butcher had not learned the
all-important lesson, never to know when they were
beaten and that, on the whole, Napoleon the stu
glorious blunder! Several biographers and historians
have attempted this, both French and Englsh and even
some German authors, with that umnousness for which
some of them distinguished have gone into CON-
pick metaphysical dissertation TO show that Napoleon was
not great after all To all such writers we have
nothing TO say. Their profound stupidity is beyond our
reach-her understandings impenerably benighted-
they are beyond hopethey belong the class of ncua
bes but to readers in general who desire TO have fair
and honest exposition Of the military designs, concep-
TONS and movements Of the mighty man, refer them
TO the work whose title heads this article. 1t is from
the pen of M A. Theirs, late prime minister of France
and is one q those mastery performances which must
After the battle OF Austertz, and while the French ar
my still in the heart of Germany, Prussia always
the conqueror and sorey did she repent of her folly
AT this moment, when we are engaged in with
Mexico it would be well to peruse this portion of Ma
Poleon's military career. He was the of return
ing with his victorious army but the conduct of Prus-
STA altered his determination and he told his soldiers,
in anmatng address, that they could not return to
their country without dishonor He said:
Soldiers, the order for your France was issued
you had already made several marchestriumpha fesv
tues awaited you! But while we were INDUCING in this
too confident security fresh plots Matching under the
mask of friendship and alliance"
Do not find parallel in the conduct of Mexico
OF his progress, his marches and his victories we have
not space to He took province after prov
lnce from Prussia; he took all her ortresses and the
King was compelled, under the most Illuminating circum-
stances, to for peace The of the siege
Dantzg is very interesting, and will be perused with
much curiosity by military The interview between
Napoleon and Alexander of Russia. on the Niemen, is
described with much nnuteness by the author and the
visit OF the Queen to the conqueror at Ts form passa-
ges In the work that cannot be read without emotion
1t should be recollected that the campaigns NAPOLEON
lev'ed contributions the Inhabitants aceye he avos koea
ted. and the expenses of the ar he compelled the provinces
or kingdoms through aphich he passed 10 pay
Before closing this article which has already been
heightened out further than designed we must say
few words in relation to the Empress Josephine She
1es 1 s eest S q a any ys
dences, she forgot the poor 1t is said that she
caused tear; and when she died. three thousand
poor with hearts full OF sorrow follow ed her mounully
to the grave
Josephine would always listen to the complaints of the
poor and she hesated to visit them in their lowly
and humble dwellings, and contribute to supply their
wants and alleviate their suerings IL could be 1yisted
that others hsgh stations 1vod (ootc her noble her
generous, and her bright example.
Vi the merits OF the work, hesitate not to give il
our unqualified appreciation; and faithful impartial
and candid historian, NJ Theirs may take the first rank
minister has acquitted himself in manner alike honor.
able to his country and the mighty chieftain whose ex-
plots and achievements he has so faithfully recorded
and most honestly described The work is published by
Carey Y Hart, Philadelphia but we presume it can be
obtained from the booksellers in this city
REPARD THE SAXON.
WASHINGTON Cry, Nov. s, 1917.