Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-08-06

clothing, and discouraged by weak de-
lay. against forces of full double its
strength. The boy-geperal did not
shrink from what chilled the hearts OF
veteran graY.beards. He put his men in
heart by the force of magnetic genius.
and, moving masses OF troops from
place to place. in spite OF every obstacle,
with rapidity unparalleled by previous
exploits of war, and bcwidering to the
faculties of his foes, in little moro than
year he cut three armies TO pieces,
marched after a fourth to the very heart
of Austria, and wrung from the Emperor
a treaty of peace which made over broad
lands TO France. The unscrupulous au-
dacity of his moral nature Was disclosed,
not only by his betrayal OF the Venetians
to Austria, for the sake of gain of terri
tory 20 France, bat also his rejection OF
/ moderation and mercy whatever sack,
/ slaughter aud outrage served his turn or
/ pleased his whim, by his plunder OF the
Italian dukes and his rashless spoliation
of the Sovereign PontiT. to whom he
owed a spiritual allegiance. He robbed
/ Italy-R1me itsell-Of srt treasures be-
yond al price. aud oXacled irom the
sovereigns of the classic peninsula a
sum equal 10 two millions OF sterling
money. The splendid prowess of French
arms and the filling of Gu empty purse
we're welcome to the hearts of the Direc-
tory, Uor did they question the ugly
means by which the treaty ot peace was
/ settled, or obiec. TO the terrible measures
| Napoleon sometimes used 10 strike terror
I into s3ien populations. But the arro-
gaucc ol The General IN concluding
treaty wi,hou. saying one word abou! it
to his supgr.oJs, and the genius he show
cd ior government aud political intrigue
iu dealing with tho ruptured States Of
Italy. gave riso 90 intense uneasines.
among ruling men in Paris. When
Bonaparte, flushed with victory. return
ed ~ the capital all saw in him the idol
of tho people. France hailed him as her
lover and her champion. The Directory
shook in her shoes, and were glad
enough 10 send him with all despatch 10
Egyp, in charge OF sort of wild-gooSe
expedition. lie sailed away, high-heart-
ed, tor visions OF q Incorporating Eastern
empire were dancing through his brain.
But England and the Sultan. together
With his own unnamed impotuosi,y,
proved 700 much Tor him iu bis adven-
ture. he saw the expedition crumbliug
uselessly away. Another man would
have stayed 70 work out Of loriorn hope,
or, finding 1t indeed forlorn. would have
trunded back to France, taking with
him the whole debris OF his expedition.
! What Bopaparte did was 10 write let
ter naming general in bis place. then
suddenly taking a ship with few Of his
/ iavorite spirits, be sailed forthwith for
France, turned up one day in Paris when
no ore thought him nearer than Egypt,
and found the Directory in thoroughly
evil odor with the nation. The populace
OF Paris. in especial, were ripe tor any
change. Napoleon felt the supreme mo
mant. His preseace proved enough to
drive the feeble Directory iuto helpless
disorgGn' cation. Two National Councils
remained to be made obedient TO his will.
He dealt with the Council of Elders by
utteriug some dark hints of conspiracies
lrsught with danger to public liberty. To
/ the much more stubborn mettle Of the
Council of Five Hundred no applied u
stern demeanor, and words breathing q
resolute spirit Of defiance. Cries re-
sounded through the hall, daggers
cleaned, and the great Napoleon might
| then and there have ended his career but
Tor the guard OF soldiers ho had taken the
precAuticn to bring with him to the door
ol tho hall They bore him off in safety.
The Pre- idout, his brother Lucieo, who
dared to speak on his behalf, had hair.
breadth escape from death. He, too,
was gdsrded out by soldiers. No sooner
did he hnd himself quite safe beyond
dsgger's length than he sent into the
chamber 8 military force to clear the
Eiva Hnrdrod ont
The order was fulfilled at bayoneis
point. Some deputies, panic-stricken,
made their exit by means OF the windows.
The Council OF Five Hundred was no
more. Napoleon's viii became that iu-
slant the dominant power in France. He
made himself First Consul, attaching
TO the Office such privileges and powers
as no monarch can now presume to
WELD.
From monarch, in fact, to emperor in
name he found the transition easy. Five
years accomplished all. In that brief
period, by brilliant wars abroad, and by
q domestic policy which made Bonaparte
alone the source of power and the master
of public men, his supremacy over
France became complete. When, in
1904, member of the Senate-whose
name would have been long ago blotted
out by the hand of time but tor that one
notable act-when he formally proposed