The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-01-26
ALEXANDRIA La. WEDNESDAY,, JANUARY 26, 1876.


spects, that Of every great conqueror
who preceded him, In his 9th year
he was raised to the command Of the
French army, at so liz. caused him-I &
self to be elected first Consul, and at I
IS he. was proclaimed Emperor OIL.
France. During the ten years that 1
he ruled he was the most powerful |
not only Of his age, but OF /
modern times tile world trembled at
the terror of his name. He united /
in his person the threefold character
of conqueror, usurper aud legislator.
No man ever enjoyed q greater op-
portunity of beneftting his fellow
men than Bonaparte; YET his oppor-
tunity was cast away, except as tar
as it suited his unsuitable am)itiont
and lust of power, to which he was
ready to sacrifice every nrincipe Oh
justice and humanity. He chose toll
be an Alexander orr Caesar, rather
than a Washington, snbverter,
rather than protector of liberty, a.
terror and. q seourge, rather THAN a
BLESSING to mankind. The close Of
his eyentful life furnished q most
Instructive lesson on the instability
of all human things, and the vanity
of all human glory. He died on the
Island of st. Helena, on the 9th Of
May, 1921, in the 9th year Of his
captivity and the 52nd year Of his
age.
4 We see the great man conquering
|nations, dethroning Elnperors and
Kings. Yet great as were his world
lily conguests, he could not conquer
self. He could not rule one passion
of his soul, he couldn't anell the eyer
rising ambition Of his heart. lie
: sacrificed happiness and honor on
the altar Of ambition. Excelsior
Excelsior !! was the watch word eYel
Onward, ever pursuing and achieving
= ever rising higher, still higher, unit
I he reached the summit of his all glo
! rious career. Power, glory and re
q nown. were the Gods he worshippet
: and served, ana to them he sacrificed
: the happiness OF his home, and tn
peacefulness Of his conscience. II
e ruled nations, conquered Kingdom
I" and Empires, commanded legions-
J vet he, the mighty Napoleon, at til
Il mention Of whose name the Who'll
u continent of Europe trembled, he til
j powerful conqueror Of nations, TIL
glorious military chief, could nc
U conquer one defect in himself, h
Il governed the world, yet he could &c
e, conquer self. How much more glt
le rious and praiseworthy, how niue
IT more worthy Of reward, would it hay
I, been for him to have first conquere
e. self, and then conquered the worl;
n First quelled that ungodly, unhol
IN love Of power, which made him So
OF rifce all justice and moderation. I
= his own master, and then he wei
III worthy to be master of the world
IS. So let us ever remember that the fir
y and most beneficial step, we shou
u take towards rising higher, still hig
II er, is to first conquer self, and the
ne little victories over ourselves are f
at greater than victories gained over Il
II, world. Nations are conquered
- force ofarms and might; we eonqu
al self by the might of character, IL
" uuires far more skill, perseveran
ny and strength of character, to bri
* under control, our unruly passion
ep than it does to command obedien
'he from the world by the force Of arm
M Let US conquer self, and then we c
me exclaim Excelsior! Excelsior! his
NY er, still higher. I have conquer
&C. self now-I will conquer the NO
Dhe and all besides.
or
His A few Radical newspapers
his viciously assailing us because
sm- some of our amiable illusions to s
oor ator Morton and his Mississippi |
the olutions. Though we have suffice