The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-02-05

We give another Of our great countrymsn's
lectures on "Representative Men" The orr
ginaliiy, vigor, and briIiancy with which this,
End every subject which he touches. is treated,
will commend it even to those who may dissent
from his conclusions:
,fr. E.erssa's Lecture as the Mscha.ies'
In-titstion, Nettisyham.
"NAPoLEoS, TIE MAN OF ACTION"
Mr. Emerson. on his appearance, was re-
ceived with cheering, and proceeded to de
liver, with perspieuity Of style, and case OF
manner, the lecture, OF which the following
is a brief outline Among the principal
men who figure in modern history, the aver
eye character and aims Of the nineteenth
century are best expressed by Napoleon
Suonapaue. Not the best nor the worst,
but the best known and the most powerful
of the men Of his period-he owed his pre-
dominance to the fidelity with which he ex-
presses the tone Of thought, the belief the
aims, of the masses Of cultivated men. We
cannot better hold up to the judgment of
reason the popular modes Of thinking and
acting in bis tine, than BY looking at them
III ALC AllC VI >O(n titulFtUuSl-
In natural history, We are told that every
organ is composed of homogeneous particles:
that every whole is made up Of similsrs
that the lungs are constituted of infinitely
small lungs, the liver of infinitely small
livers, and the kidneys Of infinitely small
kidneys. And by this analogy, if any man
carries with him q power over the minds
snd affections Of vast numbers Of people,
IL is because he represents them; if Napo-
leon is France, is Europe, it is because the
people he sways are men Of the same kind,
are lille Nspoleons. He is an incarnate
democrat; the representative Of the demo-
cTatic, active, middle class Of men; having
its virtues and vices, and, above all. its spir-
it and ann. he is material in his aims
his object is sensual success. Intellectual,
learned, and skilful, he subjects all these
qualities 10 the attainment OF msterial sue
cess. God has granted, says the Koran,
'1o everyNpeople prophet in his own time. "
Pans, London, New York, was each TO
have It's prophet; and BUonaparte was
qualified and sent. He is thoroughly mod
eTn; lie represents the spirit OF the newspa-
pers. As lac himself said, he is mo saint,
no cspuchin.' He is no hero, in the high
sense. The common man admires him,
because be finds him like himself. He be-
comes lot merely the representative, but &C
;ualIy monoPOliser and usurPer, of other
minds Like Mirsbeau, he makes use OF
all the best thoughts of other men. All
the sentiments which commonly embarrass
men in the pursuit Of the objects they desire,
he renounces. There is an Italian proverb.
III you would succeed, you must not be too
good" He would help himself with his
hands and head he was = worker, IN brass,
in iron. ia buildings, in money, and. in
troops, and a wise master workman. He
came unto his own, and they received him.
he supersdded to these natural and animal
forces, insight and generalisalion.
The ART OF wsr was the perpetual game
he studied, aud in which he exeued bis
wonderful arithmetic. The times, his own
constitution, and the circumstances Of his
youth and education, combined to develope
this democrat to the highest degree. He no
sooner saw the end than he beheld the
means. He himself had always the great
est share in every success. Such a man
was wanted, and such a man was born.
lie had 10 scrupIes; he was intensely sell
fish. He talked frequently Of his destiny
aud admitted that he was only marching in
unison with his fellow-men. He had a d.
rectness of action never before combined
win so much comprehensiveness. He isl
raof1ls e.. eli r.lL--o II
truth obscurers He never blandered into
victory; bis principal means were in him.
self
History is full Of the imbecilty Of kings
and governors, who, in times Of difficulty,
did not know what TO do. Napoleon did
know what 10 do. Had his ends been pub
lac, and not egotisic, he had been the first
man in the world. He cared not at what
price success was obtained. Still he was
not cruel, he was not blood thirsty; but he
would suffer no obstacle to stand ia his
way. Even his own life he frequently
perilled. His victories were only 50 many
doors, or new weapons, and he never lost
sight of his way onward. He fought sixty
battles, and never had enough. His prodi-
gioUs vigOr was guarded and tempered by
the coolest prudence and Punctualiy.-
When talking Of moral courage, he said
he rarely met with man who had any Of
the two o'clock in the morning" kind
that is, when totally unprepared for action.
Thai sort Of courage he considered that he
did possess in high degree. His secretary
at the Tuillenes was ordered not TO disturb
his rest with the announcement of VIC
tory; but, in case Of defeat to arouse
him instantly. HIS achievement OF busi-
ness was immense, and enlarges our ideas
Of the known powers OF man. He was
not to be imposed upon. He could cipher
as well as another man. When his palace
expenses involved hun in debt, he examined
the accounts himself, and detected numer-
Gus over-charges
HIS grand weapon-the millions he d.
rected-he owed TO MS representative charac-
ter. lie Interests US only as he stands Tor |
France and for Europe. The talent and |
activity Of the country looked up to him as
a natural chieiiain. Like other strong
spirits. he had an impotence OF fools. In |
Italy he said there were eighteen millions
Of inhabitants. yet but few men were to be
found. he discerned merit and promoted
il; seventeen men in his time Were raised /
from common soldiers to be kings, mar
shsls, dukes, or generals. Before ambition 1