Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-09-18
From the Philadelphia Press
The EnNIf Kan0lannS.

The FeIr NapOleOns.
statement has appeared in a French Journal, four
namesake, La Presto of Paris that Louis Napoleon had
purchased from the East India Company that part of
the island of ST. Helena which inhabited by the
Emperor Napoleon from 1915 to 1921. Longwood,
where he lived died. and buried, is the property
of France, once governed by Napoleon.
Never was man more popular, IN the country which
he ruled, than this man. We do not except our own
Washington who seems regarded among all civilized
nations with respect bordering upon veneration. Wash
ingon as the LberatOr, may have been more justly
titled to affection and regard than Napoleon, the Con
uuerorbut it is the nature of the French to love and
hate with something akin to ferceness We remember,
in silent gratitude with what unsesh devotion perse
verance courage and Judgment Washington devoted the
best years Of his life to the service of his conryhow
when the great achievement was completed, by her adj
mission into the family of nations, he laid down the al
most sovereign trust which had been placed in his hands
and retired into private life, how, at the unanimous call
of the people, he gave eight years of his closing life to
their service in a civil capacity,-and how, when the
death-angel summoned him to another and better
world his grave was watered with nations tears.
The same noble and, above ALL manly characteristics
which endeared him to us, have for Washington al
like regard at home. In England more particularly,
this regard has deepened into feeling OF NeneratOn-
For there was in the character of W ashngtOn many
points of smude to the leading traits of the English
character itself A warm heart with cold demeanOr ;;
invncbe adherence the claims of Duty; rectitude OF
principle, which nothing could weaken cool Judgment
and great perseverance, and that peculiar courage
which, while it rather shrnks from display, appears to
gain intensity when called into action, and does not feel
for it will not submit to, such thing defeat. Deep
in the hearts of Engishmen is respect and veneraon for
him who is now known among Father of his
COmtrv-a title prouder than that of King or Caesar
Though such a cynic Thackeray may at him
" Mr.. Washington, England herself holds far differ
ent opinion. The name of Washington is household
word at English hearhs and, at this hour Englshmen
think that the only man fit to be compared with their
Wellington, is own immortal W Washington.
The regard which the French have for Napoleon is
entirely different TO u.s. Washington appeared as the
LiberatOr when we combined to fight the battle for
freedom. Napoleon endeared to the French as the
Conqueror. He overthrow thrones, and dynasties and
Nominations, and added territory to that France which
placed him in command He gratifed the amour prOpre
of Frencmen, by emulang the conquests of their Char
emagne The spoils of subdued nations whom his
sword made tributary to France enriched her capital
and the Louvre became treasury of art crowded it
was with the noblest paintings and sculptures which
had previously embelished and enriched the paatia
abodes of Emperors and Kings, Princes and NObles
galleries and churches in Italy, Spain, Portugal Ger
many and the Netherlands He made Paris to use the
words of PhiIps the miniature metropolis of the
world He elevated the dominion, he augmented the
wealth. he increased the territory and above all he
tended and exalted the Glory of France To this last
he constantly appealed, He treated his soldiers if
each and every of them were worthy of his personal
regard There eNaggeratiOn, of course in the re-
mark that every drummer in Napoleon's armies bore
himself as if the baton of Marshal Of France at
the bottom of his knapsack but in very TRUTH every
man appeared though he fought under Napoleons
eve for good conduct found immediate and liberal
ward and promotion 10 the last the soldiers chung to
him. How touching is the simple record of his taking
leave of the army in the court yard of Fontainebeau,
after his first abdication, in 1914? How thrill
ing the narrative of his return from Elba, when
the troops sent forth to arrest or slay him. burst
into tears as the welknown form and features
and yet more near, and, fnging away their weapons,
eagerly surrounded him, proud even to touch his gar
ments and gladly re-assumng the tri-coor cockade
which was associated in their minds with hundred
Victories, and with him! How blOOdess that triun-
plant return to Paris, justifyng his own boast that
the eagle would fly from tower to tower, until it
alighted on the pinnacle of \ Otre Dame!' How sub
lime the devotion of his soldiers at bloody, but most
bootess Waterloo" And how pathetic, with ming
ling of saddened pride their reception of his mortal
remains, resting beneath the dome of the Invaides
in Paris, after fve-andtwenty years of banshment.-
Even the occupation of the thrOne-Of his throne-by
Louis Napoleon mainly owing to the affection which
the veterans of the Empire bore for his memory They
had kept alive in every hamlet and village of France
the recollection of what he had done They forgot his
faults and loved to dwell the greatness Of his achieve
ments and the gigantic power Of his worldgraspng
genius. No wonder that with such impressions the
mind of France Louis Napoleon should have been cleo
ted President and finally chosen " Emperor of the
French, by the grace Of Cod and the will of the Peo
pie
l
not all soldier. He equally great in the cabinet and
the field, in the council chamber in the camp His
administrative powers remarkable and the rapidy
with which he conceived great plans wonderful as
the certainty with which he had them executed In his
lexicon there such word impossible. His mind
grasped at once the mnues details and the greatest prn
cipes. He seemed to know everything if by inu-
ton He had the art of intusng much of his spirit
into the minds of those whom he empoyed-but then
he rarely did employ any but men of ability He
was placed on such emnence that it impossible
for him to feel Jealous of any man. and therefore, he was
just toward all men. He had fascination of man.
ner and those who into familiar intercourse with
him. felt if under the spell of an enchaner so warmly
truly, and lovingly did they regard him.
t Amid the vast abors imposed on Napoleon,-n his
double capacity of ruler and sodierhe found time for
codifying the laws of France and recasng them with
much simplicity possible for reproducing them
as the far-famed Code Napoleon which continues in
France, Belgium, and parts of Italy and Germany
His fame soldier may pass away even as his con-
be challenged or clOuded but thing is certain-he
reduced the chaos of French law into order and conss
tency and he will take his place, for ever among the
great beneactOrs of mankind, with Moses and JUSTIN
an.
!; His very misfortunes endeared him to France His
fall, from summit of glory and power such AleXan-
der Caesar and Charemagne had not reached was great
indeed Yet there surprising elasticity in his mind
for, great as was that fall he recoed from Elba and
the rebound cast him back into Paris aye every inch
King" Finally conquered, by treachery as much as
vaor, he threw himself like Themisoces upon the hos
pitay of his greatest and most constant foe; but the
Ministry of England deficient in magnanmity and
giving him the fate of Prometheus flung him into can
tvity on the sandprison of st. Helena There sub
ected to many petty insult the remaining six wears OF
his life spent and he employed them worthiv-n
writing the history which he had made IN recording