New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-25

SuuVu VI ttctm PONVi ~ s"~s PV''~~ N-0.I
in its infancy, and would have been useless in
such an expedition. 81 p ei o.
Invasion failing Napoleon was compelled to
meet England less directly, but with the CONT
nent Of Europe for battlefield. On suea ar
arena be reached a glory unrvaled, and he
achieved also his own ruin. The struggle with En-
gland, Austria, Spain and Russia lasted for years
| and was an uninterrupted chain Of the violation
| Of the rights of nations; but 1t opened bound
| less field for military combinations, the absorb
| ing passion Of Napoleon. Year after year be
| drank Of the delicious but intoxicating cup ~
victory. The policy of the Empire was the
policy of conquest and annexation, and, worse
,til, Of family aggrandizement. He created
| thrones for those Of his own blood. The cendem'
Iation of the historian of this period is unspar-
| ing. But the glory Of victory in battle was
| neuiralized by those errors OF statesmanship
prompted by d boundless passion for domination.
Napoleon found his ruin in attempting TO sur
round the Empire with vassal Kingdoms and
States, although Of the same race. The old holy
Romane-German Empire was dissolved by him IN
1876 ard the Rhenish COnfederacy erected on
IFS ruins; the German Diet was transferred from
Ratisbone 10 Frankfort, and the present political
organization Of Germany more justly dates from him
than from Karl Of FranooDy or Henry the Vogeler.
Since bis fall the RomanO-Latin family Of nations
in the West and South of Europe have been con-
strained by various causes 10 combine to con-
tinue that policy of fusion, which dates from the
twilight Of history, was carried out by the
Romans, and strengthened by Louis XIV. The
cohesive Bourbonic principle of legitimacy, which
had united the thrones Of Spain, of Naples, and
Of the Bonbpartists, has at last been super
seeded by the recognition of the rights of man and
Of pahoDahtes.
The activity, begun under the Consulate, was
continued in the FIRST years of the empire in the
creation of great public works-edihces, rnonu-
ments, canals, roads, and especially in the organ
izatioH Of the University for the supreme direc-
ton Of national instruction.
The great campaigns OF PRUSSIA, Spain, and
kustria CWagram, 1907, fruits of his military
genius, filed his enemies with despair, but who,
nevertheless, consoled themselves presently with
the POLITICAL errors which were sure 10 follow the
victories. One of these, as NJ. Theirs thinks
was the treaty Of Tilst. 1t Inundated and
crushed Prussia, and exaggerated her people to
maGIess, instead Of generously respecting the
national prde, and making them the friends Of
the French nation, rather than her deadly and
irreconcisble enemy A still greater error was
the creation Of the Kingdom Of Westphalia--an
attempt 10 establish French Germany in the
heart Of the German nation, and thus deliberately
adding fuel 10 the national evaporation. The
inyo attempt at an impossible restoration OF
Poland is also condemned as giving objectionable
OfeDse to Russia Prussia, aud Austria. The
acts by which the efete BOurbons Of Spain were
brought to give up their rights are branded Us
di,loyal aud shameful knavery, by which Napo-
icon became not the benefactor of the Spauiards,
but their oppressor. The bloody resistance OF
the Spanish people is justified, and in its results,
considered q. punishment deserved by perfdy,
by the pride Of reckless despot again violating
the most ,acred rights Of a people. In the pro-
longed Spanish war, Napoleon for the first time
found that distances embarrassed him, and that
bis empire was too extensive. He could not be
everywhere; distant war could not be conducted
from Paris, or from any other spot of Europe;
ana, NntIt De was NOT III prIboh' kurr anu
insuboIdinatiOn prevailed among his lieutenants
and morshals. The same took place in 1913 in
Germany. He remained faultless in bis combna-
tions, and indefarigable in his activity, but he
could not comprehend that his subordinates could
not move with the same rapidly. His violent
temper his immoderate lust of dominion, re-
NAMED also unchangable. He did not understand
that conquered and oppressed people justly
hates its conqueror
Tie continental system is explained by NJ Theirs
in all ts details, as an economical system and as
o State policy. With oil the correspondence of
the internal administration, the reports of custom
houses &c, he exposes the bad and good results
of the system without attempting its Justification
He believes il, however, TO have been deadly
blow aimed at the commercial prosperity of En-
gland.
NJ. Theirs differs from most other writers in
his estimate Of the results Of the divorce with
Josephine and of the marriage with the Archi-
Duichess Marie Louise. The divorce, he believes,
was painful sacrifice Of the Emperor love for
Josephine, while the marriage with Marie Louise
only fsttened his pride, and did not serve his
pow r, nor did il check his Unsuitable love Of con-
quest, dominion, and annexation. To cover his
designs he was always ready t. resort to the
bas,st measures.
At the further end of the continent, before the
lires of Torres-Vedras the power of Napoleon
began TO wane before the fortune Of England. He
had spread too wide the horizon of his action.
His genius could not overcome absolute material
;,,roso;bI,ies and mailed before SPACE and time.