Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1849-12-04
A CONTRAST.
NAPOLEON AND WASHINGTON.


belong to that race who outstrip the stand
ard of human measurement. Nothing
amazing is attached to his person he is
not placed on a vast theatre of action; is
not engaged in terrible combat with the
most skiIlful generals and most powerful
monarchs of his time does not haste full
speed from Memphis to Vienna, from Ca
diz to Moscow; he stands his ground
with a handful of citizens in country
adorned with no peculiar celebrity, within
the harrow circle of their domestic hearths.
He fights no battles which rivals the tri-
umphs Of Arbela and Pharsalia ; he over
turns no thrones to build up others with.
their ruins he does not say TO the kings
at his gate, "Quil's Sc font trop attendre,
ct qu' Attila $ ennuie.'
An air of silence envelopes Washing
tons actions; he acts slow y, as if feeling
that the liberty Of the future is in his hands,
and fearful of compromising it. This hero
of a new race manages and directs, not his
own destinies, but those of his country :;
he does not allow himself to toy with what
is not his own; but from this profound
humility what brilliancy now bursts forth !
Traverse the woods where Washington :
sword flashed to the light; what will you
find! Graves? No! world p! Wash
ington has left the United States as tro-
phv on his battlefield.
Bonaparte has no trait III common win
this grave, calm American; he combais
noisilv on an old theatre of action, in an
old country; he thinks only of building up
his own fame; takes charge only of his
own destiny. lie seems to know that his
mission will be short; that the torrent
which falls from such height will quickly
be exhausted he hastens TO enjoy and
abuse his power, like a quickly fleeing
youth. Like Homcr's gods, he longs to
reach the extremity of the world in four
steps. He appears on every shore; has
lily inscribes his name on the records OF
every nation, and throws crowns to his
family and his soldiers he is in haste in
everything, in his monuments, his laws
and his victories. Leaning over the world,
with one hand he overturns kings, with
the other brushes the giant revolution; but
in overcoming anarchy, he stiles liberty
and finally loses his own on his last field
of battle.
Each is rewarded according 10 his deeds:
Washington raises nation TO ndepen'
dence a magistrate in the repose of do
mestic life, he falls asleep beneath his own
roof. amidst the regrets of his fellow-coun'
trvmen. and the veneration of nations.
Bonaparte robs nation of It's indepen'
dence: fallen emperor, he is cast forth
into exile. where the terror of nations still
looks upon him as insufficiently lmprlson
ed. even under the guard of ocean. lie
expires the news, published at the gaze
Of the palace before which the emperor
caused so many deaths to be proclaimed
neither arrests nor astOnishes the passer
bv. What had the citizens to regret !
Washington's republic still exists; 30
naparte's empire has fallen 10 the ground
Washington and Bonaparte were boil
nursed in tire lap of democracy both borI
Of liberty the one was faithful to her, 'h'
other betrayed her.
Washington was the representative o
the wants, ideas, intelligence and opinion
Of his times he seconded instead OF opPo
sing the movements of the public mind
he willed what it was his duty to Will, IN
thing to which he was called; hence tn
conference and perpetuity OF his work
This man, not striking because In his JUS
proportions, mingled his existence wit
that of his country; his fame is the pair
monv of civilization his renown stand
like one of those public sanctuarles whenc
flows fertilizing, inexhaustlble stream.
Bonaparte had equally in his power
enrich The common domain; he had a
materials in his hands the most !nteIllgen
tho bravest and most brilliant nations o
earth. What would not now be his ran
in the estimation and reverence OF mel
/ had he added magnanimity to the herol
qualities he possessed! if, Washlnseo
and Bonaparte in one, he had named Ill
s, ertv the universal legatee of his fame
But this giant did not link his destinlt
with those of his contemporaries his g
t MUS belonged to a modern age his amO
n ton TO an ancient one he saw not III
the miracles of his life outshone the valr
Of diadem, and that this Gothic ornamel
: would i'll suit his head. Sometimes
: precipitated himself on the future at o.n {.
4 he fell back on the past; and whether g
\ inc against or with the stream OF me az
+ drew dr. with him or repulsed the age BY b
9 mighty strength Men were' IN n K ey Z.
: but means 10 phyer no syiaPA' :.