Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-10-13
A CONTRAST.
NAPOLEON AND WASHINGTON
From Memoirs of ChsscsubriM,d, by hinAelf.

meaSuTeUcHt. <>othhS ''c -
tached 10 his person; he is not placed on
vast theatre of action; is not engaged IN ter
rible combat with the most skilful generals
and the most powerful monarchs OF his time
does not haste full speed from Memphis to |
Vienna, from Cadiz TO Moscow; he stands
his ground with a handful of citizens in a
country adorned with no peculiar celebrity, |
within the narrow circle of their domestic
hearths. He fights no battles which revive
the triumphants of Arbela and Pharsalia he
overturns no thrones to build up others with
their ruins; he does not say TO the kings at
his gate, ''Quils so font trop attenkre, ct qu'
Attilla s'ennuie."
An air of silence envelopes Washington's
actions; he acts slowly, as il feeling that the
liberty of the future is in his hands, and fear
ful of compromising it. This hero oil new
race manages and directs, not his own des,i-
MES, but those of his country; he does not
allow himself to toy with what is not his
own; but from this profound humility wha,
brilliancy now bursts forth! Traverse the
woods where Washington's sword flashed TO
the light what will you find Graves? No!
world Washington has left the United
States trophy on his battle field.
Bonaparte has no trait in common with this
grave, calm American: he combats noisily
on an old theatre of action, in an old country;
he thinks only of building up his own fame,
take charge only of his own destiny. He
seems TO know that his mission will be short:
that the torrent which falls from such height
will quickly be exhausted; he hastens TO ell
joy and abuse his power like quickly fleet
ing youth Like Homer's gods, he longs to
reach the extremity Of the world in four steps.
He appears on every shore hastily 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 notwithstanding over
the world with one hand he overturus kings,
with the other crushes 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 to his deeds.
Washington raises nation TO independence
magistrate in the repose of domestic life,
he falls asleep beneath his own roof, amidst
the regrets of his felew countrymen, and the
veneration of nations.
Bonaparle robs nation of its independence
fallen emperor, he is cast forth into exile,
where the terror of nations still look upon
him as insuiliciently imprisoned, even under
the guard of ocean. He expires; the news,
published at the gate of the palace before
which the conqueror caused so many deaths
TO be proclaimed, neither arrests nor aston
ishes the passer-by. What had the citizens
10 regret!
Washineton's republic still exists Bona
parties empire has fallen to the ground
Washington and Bonaparte were both nursed
in the lap of democracy; both born of liberty;
the one was faithful 10 her, the other betray.
ed her.
Washington was the representative Of the
wants. ideas, intelligence, and opinions OF hi'
times; he seconded, instead of opposing, the
movements of the public mind ; he willec
what it was his duty to will, the thing tc
will, the thing to which he was called hence
the conference ard perpetuity of his work
This man, not striking because in his jus
proportions mingled his existence with tha
of his county; his fame is the patrimony
of civilization his renown stands like one o
those public sanctuaries whence flows fer
tilizing, inexhaustble stream.
Bonaparte had equally in his power to en-
rich the common domain; he had as mate
rials in his hands the most intelligent, th
bravest and most brilliant nation on earth
What would not now be his rank in the es,i
nation and reverence of men had he adde'
magnanmity to the heroic qualities he pos
sessed if, Washington and Bonaparle in on
he had named liberty the universal legatee O
his fame!
But this giant did not link his desiinie
belonged TO modern age, his ambition II
an ancient one he saw not that the miracle
of his life oushone the value of a diaden
and that this Gothic ornament would i'll su
his head. Sometimes he precipitated him
self on the future, st others fell back on III
past-and whether going against, or with tn
stream of the age, drew with him, or repu
sed the waves by his mighty strength, Me
were, in his eyes, but means TO power-r
sympathy united their happiness and his
he had promised 10 deliver them, and he fe
tered them-he isolated himself from ther
and they became estranged from him. II
kings of Egypt bull, their funeral pyramid
not amidst verdant fields, but amidst sleri
plains of sand-these vast tombs rise Ill
eternity in solitude, Bonaparte followed the
example in erecting the monument OF his
nown.
THE SHAVERS.