Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-06-15
a CONTRAST,
BY WIN. II. SEWARD.

Only two years alter The birth OF John Q
Adams, there appeared, on an Island in The
Mediterranean Sea, Human Spirit, newly
born, endowed with equal genius, without
the regulating qualities of Justice and Be
nevolence, which Adams possessed IN such
an eminent degree. A like career opened
to both: Born, like Adams, subject of d
king-ihe child of more genial skies, like
him, became in early lite a patriot and Cit
izen Of new and great Republic. Like
Adams, he lent his service 10 The State in
precocious youth, and in lis hour of need
apd won lis confidence. Bui, unlike Adams
he could not wait the dull delays Of slow land
laborious, but sure advancement He sought
power by the road that leads through fields
of carnage, and he became, like Adams, a
Supreme Magistrate, a Consul. But there
were other CoBsu,s. lie thrust them aside,
and was Cons al alone. Consular power was
too short. He fought new battles, and was
Consul for life. But Power, confessedly de-
rived from the People, must be exercised in
obedience TO their will, aud must be resigned
to them again, al least in death. He was not
conienl- lie desolated Europe afresl. sub
verieo the Republic, imprisoned the Patri-
arch who presided over Rome's compreben-
sive See, and obliged him to pour on his
head The sacred oil that made the persons OF
kings divine, and their right TO reign indie
feasible. He was an Emperor. But he
saw around him mother, brothers, and sis
tiers, moi ennobed, whose humble state re-
minded him and the world that he was a
ho haA bai
ent for The imperial crown. He scourged The
earth again, and again. Fortune smiled on
him, even in his wild extravaganza. He be-
slowed Kingdoms and PIipcipali,ies on his
kindreG-pul away The devoted wife of his
youthful days, and another, daughter oil
Ilapsburg's imperial house, joyfully accepted
bis proud alliance. Offspring gladdened
his anxious sight; dadem was placed OH
its infant brow, and it received the homage
of princes even in its cradle. Now he was
indeed a Monarch-a Monarch by divine
appointments legitimate Monarch-the
fist OF an endless succession OF Monarchs.-
But there were other Monarchs who held
sway in the earth. He was moi CONTENT
He would reign with his kindred alone. He
gathered new and greater armies from his
own land--irom subjugaIed lands. He cal
led for,h'ihe young and brave, one from eve
ry household-from the Pyrenees to the
Zuyder Zee-from Jura TO the Ocean. He
marshalled them into long and majestic col
nmns, and went forth 10 seize that universal
Dominion, which seemed almost within his
grasp But Ambition had tempted Fortune
lco far. The nations of the earth resisted
rebelled, pursued, surrounded him. The
pageant was ended. The Crown fell from
his presumptuous head. The wife who had
welded him in his pride, iorsook him in the
hour when fear came upon him. His chile
was ravished from his sight. His knsmer
were degraded to their first estate, and he
was no longer Emperor, nor Consul, nor Gen
eral, nor even citizen, but an exile aud d
prisoner, on lonely island in the midst o
the wild Atlantic. Discomfort attended bin
there. The wayward man frelted out few
long years OF his yet unbroken manhood
looking off. at the earliest dawn and in the
evenings twilight, toward that distant worit
thai had only just cluded his grasp. Hi
] heart corroded. Death came, not unlocked
for, though il came even then unwelcome
He was stretched on his bed within The for
which constituted his prison. A few ias
and faithful friends Stood round. with III.
guards who rejored that the hour of relic
from long and wearied watching was a
hand. As his strength wasted away, deli
rum siined up the brain from its long ant
inglorious inactivity. The pageant of Am
bition returned. lie was again Lieulen
ant, a General, a Consul, an Emperor o
France. He filled again The throne of Chat
emagne. His kindred pressed around him
again reinvested with the pompous pagean
Try of Royalty. The Daughter OF the Ion!
! line of Kings again stood proudly by hi
side, and the sunny face of his Child shon
out from beneath the diadem that encircle.
its flowing locks. The Marehas OF the En-
pire awaited his command. The legions o
the Old Guard were in the field, and ihei
; SCARED faces rejuvenaied, and their ranks
,hinued n many battles, replenished. Rus
STA, Prussia, Austria, Denmark, and England
gathered their mighty hosts to give him bat
. lie. Once more he mounted his impaiien
charger, and rushed forth to conquest. H
waved his sworG aioft, and cried "'Teie d
Ames" The feverish vision broke, tn
mockery was ended The silver cord wa
loosed, and the warrior fell back upon hi
bed lifeless corpse. This was The END o.
tEARTH. The CoRs1cAN WAS NOT CON
TENT.