The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-07-01
A Beautiful Contrast.

Only two years after the birth of John Q.
Adams, there appeared in the Mediterranean
sen, a human spirit, newly born, endowed
with equal genius, without the regulating
qualities of justice and benevolence, which
Adams possessed in such an eminent degree.
A like career opened to bo:h-born like Ad-
ans, subject ola King-ihe child of more
genial skies, like him became, in early life, Il
patriot and citizen of new and great repub-
lie. Like Adams, he lent his service 10 the
state in precocious youth, and in lis honr OF
need and won It's confidence. But unlike
Adams, he would not wait the dull delays of
slow and laborious, but sure advancement
lie sought power by the hasty road that leads
to carnage, aud he became like Adams, STU
preme ma gistrate, II consul. But there were
other consuls-he was not content. He thrust
them aside, and was consul alone. Consular
power was too short. He fought new battles
and was consul for life. But power, confess
eddy derived from The people, must be eXer-
cised in obedience to their will, and must he
resigned to them again, At least IN death. lie
des0lateh Europe atresh, snbverted the re-
public, imprisoned the patriarch who pre-
sided over Rome's comprehensive See, oh
liged him 10 pour on his head the sacred oil
that made tho persons of Kings divine, and
their right 10 reign indeiensible. He was an
Emperor. But he saw around him mother,
brothers and sisters not ennobed; whose
humble state reminded him, and the world,
that he was horn Plehian; and he had no
heir to wait impatient for the Imperial crown.
He scourged the earth again, and again For
tune smiled on him even in his wild eXtrava-
gance. He bestowed kingdoms and princ-
paities on his kindred--put away the devot-
ed wife of his youthful days, and another, n
daughter ofHupsburgh's Imperial house, Joy
fully accepted his proud alliance. OFFSPRING
gaddened his anxious sight; diadem was
placed on its infant brow, and it received the
homage of princes, even In its cradle. NOW
he was indeed a monarch by divine appoint
ment--the first of an endless succession of
monarchs who held sway in the earth. lie
would reign with his kindred alone. lie
gathered new and great armies, from his own
land, from sublugated lands. He called forth
the young and the brave--one from every
ousehold-from the Pyrenees TO the Zuy-
r-Zee-from Jura to the ocean. lie mar
shaleh them into long and majestic Columns,
and went forth to seize the universal donln-
ion, which seemed almost within his grasp,-
But ambition had tempted fortune too far
The nations ofthe earth resisted, repelied'
pursued, surrounded him. The pageant was
ended. The crown fell from his presump-
tons head, The wife who welded him IN
his pride, forsook him in the hour when lear
came upon him. His child was ravaged from
his sight His kinsmen were degraded to
their first estate, and he was no longer En-
peror nor consul, nor even citizen, nut an
exile and prisoner, on lonely island, IN the
wild Atlantic Discomfort attended him there
The hayward man fretted out few long
wears ofhis yet unbroken manhood, looking
off at the earliest dawn and in evenings twl-
light. toward that distant world that had just
eluded his grasp. His heart corroded. DEAN
came unlocked for, though it came even then
unwelcome. He was stretched on MS oeo
within the fort that constituted his prison.
A few fast and faithful friends stood around
with the guards who rejoiced at the hour of
relief from long and wearisome watching was
at hand. As his strength was wasted away
delrium stirred up the brain from its long
and inglorious inactivity. The pageant oil
ambition returned. He was again lleuten'
ant, genera,a consul AN emperor OF france
He filled again the throne of Charlemagne. -
His kindred pressed around him, again rem
vested with the pompous pngeantry ofroya'ty
The daughter Of n long line of kings again
stood proudly by his side. and the sunny ince
ofhis child shone out from beneath the Gia'
mond that encircled his flowing locks. Inc
mnrshalsl of the empire awnited ms COM
mapd. The legions of the old Guard were
oonin in the field. their Scared faces rejuven'
atedand their ranks thnned in many battles
repIenished. Russia, Austria, Prussia, Den
mark and England, gathered their mighty
hosts to give him battle. Once more ne
mounted his impatient charger, and rushed
forth to conquest. He waved his sword alot
and cried "Tete de .Araee." The teverish v's
ion broke-the mockery ended. The silver
chord was loosened, and the warrior fell bacF
] upon his bed lfaless corpse, This was Inc