Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-21
LOUIS NAPoLEoN's HOOK
The History OF Julius Caesar-Pre.
face 90 tue Book.

Historical truth ought no, to be less sacred
than religion. II the precepts Of faith elevate
our souls above the interests Of this world the
lessons Of history, in their turn. inspire Us with
the love of the beautiful and the just, with a
hatred for everything which ie an obstacle 70
the advancement OF the welfare Of mankind.
Those lessons, TO De profitable. require certain
CONDITIONS. IL "a necessary that facts should be
reproduced with rigorous tctitude. that politi-
cal and social changes should be philosophicay
analy wed the pquant attraction OF the details OF
the lives OF public should not distract stteD
lion from their political ,ssk or throw their prov
dental mission into oblivion. The historian too
often gives The various phases OF history as
spo1tseeous events, without diving deeper into
anterior facts for their origin and natural deduc
ton; in like manner SIS the artist, Who in repro
dueng the accidents Of nature, deyOtes himself
simply 20 this picturesque effect. without being
able in hs picture to give their scientific demon
stratioa. The historian ought to be more than
painter. be ought, like the geologist. who
plains The phenomena OF the GLOBE 20 disclose
the secret of the transformation Of our socisl
world
But, in writing history, what are the means to
ascertain the trothl The only way il to follow
the true rules of logic Let Us take il for granted
AZ orce that great results are always due TO a
great canse. never to a sm all one: in other words
appearances
letis 20 great results without pre- existing cause
which has allowed that small incident to achieve
great result spark does not create great
conf,gration unless il falls upon combustibe
materials sccumu ated beforehand. .MontesQueu
confirms this opinion. 1T j. not good fortune,
he says. (Which rules the world There
are general causes either moral or physical
which act 10 every monarchy, elevate t, uphold
IL. or ruin Il. Al incidents are subject to these
causes and If the chance OF .ttle-that IS 20 say
special cause-has ruined the state, there ex-
lated general cause whch implied that that
state was 10 perish in single battle; in fact.
the chief Inducements absorb al other snecial
incidents" f#
II. during a period Of nearly one thousand
years. the Romans always issued forth triumph
ant from the most severe trials and the greatest
dangers, it Is becase there was ! general cause
which always rendered them superior 20 their
enemies and .hich did not suffer defeats aud par
tial disasters to lead TO a fall of their sway. If
the Romans. after giving 70 the world the exam
pie OF people establishing Themselves firmly and
growing great by liberty, have seemed. since
Cesar. 10 throw themselves blindly into seridom.
IL Is because there existed general reason which
fatally prevented the republic from returning TO
the pure form Of lie former institutions, il is
because the wants and the new interests OF a
SOCIETY in labor required other means to be
satisfied
In the same manner that logic proves 10 as in
important events the reason shy they are impera-
tive. In like manner we must recognize both in
the long duration OF an Institution the proof OF
It's worth, and in the incontestable influence of "a
man upon his age the proof Of his genius. The
task consists, then. in eudeavoring 10 discover
The vital element which constitutes the strength
of the -institu ion. like the predominant idea
which made the man act. FOIlowiug this rule
We shall avoid the errors Of Oh Ise historians rho
collect facts transmitted by preceding ages With
out arranging them according 10 their philoso-
phic4l Importance; glorifying what deserves cen
cure. and leaving in the d ark that which calls for
light Ii is not minute analysis Of the Romsn
organization which will make Us understand the
duration OF so great an empire, but deep i'll
vestigaton into the spirit OF its Institution; il is.
moreover, a detailed narrative OF the lesser act
Of a superior man which will reveal 20 us the Sc
cret Of bis nscendsLcy, but a careful examination
Of the elevated motives of his conduct. When
extraordinary facts demonstrate an eminent
genius, phst can be more CONTRARY to good sense
than TO attribute to him all the passions and sen
siments of medocntJi What more erroneous
than not 10 recognise the pre- eminence OF those
privileged beings Who appear from time 10 time
in history as brilliant beacors. dissipating the
darkness of their epOch and throwing light upon
the futureg To deny such pre- eminence would,
moreover. be an insult TO human nature, by be
lie1ng il capable OF submitting for a length OF
time and voluntarily 10 domination not based
upon real greatness or inconIest sHle utility Let
Us be logical. and we shall be just;
Too many historians find il easier 10 lower
men OF genius than 20 raise themselves bY
generous inspiration TO their Level by penetrating
their vast Designs. Thus. 40 reg ards Csc ,tF, in
stead OF showing Us Rome torn bv civil wars.
corrupted oy wealth. treading It's ancient instiiu
tons under foot. threatened by powerful nations
the tuls, the Germans and the ParthiAns-
incapabable OF maintaining itself without
stronger central power. more stable and more
just; instead. say. OF drawing that faithful pic
ture. Cesar is represented % u.s. from Li. very
yerSh, neditsting aready upon supreme power.
Ii he Tesists Scylla, if he dis4grees wish Cicero
II lie enters into alliance with Pompev, il is all
the result OF that far sighted cunning which has
OWNED everything 10 enSlave every thing: If he
ds-hes into Gsul. it IS TO scouire wealth bv
pillsge. or soldiers devoted 10 bis cause: II
be crosses the carry his eagles into al rn-
known countFy, the Conquest OF which rill
strengthen that OF the Gsus. IL was cot 20 seek
for pesrls supposed 20 exist in the seas of Great
Britain. II. alter having vanquiShed TIE formi-
d<ble enemies of Itslv beyond The Alns ne med
isates upon 81 expediti0a against the Parthians
20 avenge the defeat OF Csassus IL l. say certain
historians. because activity suited his nature
ana t0At ne efIuNeu ptttcf NAtN ~ the
field; II be accepts With gratitude laurel crown
from the senste ard bears il proudly. II Is to hide
ais bald head; If. 6nsliy, Re Is sssssSi1ated by
the men whom be has overwhelmed with bis
bounty. it Il because he wished 10 make himself
king: as If be vas not, FOR MS contemporaries as
veil posterity, much greater than any king.
Since SretOnious and Piutsrch. such are the mis-
cradle interpretations which have been given 70
the noblest acts
But by what sign are we 70 recognrIe The true
greatness Of mani 10 the sway OF bis IDEAS.
-hen has principle and bis system triumph despite
his death Or his defeat il il not. in fact the
rrerogaiive OF genius 20 ouilive destruction. and
20 extend its empire over future generations
Casar disappeared. and bis influence pTedomin-
ates still more than during his life-time Cicero,
his adversary. is obliged TO exclsim, "All the
acts OF Cassr. his writings. bis promises, bis
thoughts are more po<erful after his de sth than
10 he -ere s,ill alive" During centuries Il has
suficed 10 tell the world that such the viii
Of Tn AT for the world 10 ohev.
That ~hieh precedes. Sufficiently indicates The
object have proposed to myself in writing this
history. That object Is 10 prove that shen
Prosldenee Rises up such men as Cssr. Charlie