The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-23
NapOlcOn's Marshnls.
Temple Bar.I

lIcmpbe Bar.J
II q man were asked what epoch OF the
past he would most gladly summon bacK
so as to live in it, he would choose well III
reviying the reign Of Napoleon and ma
king himself an officer in the imperial army.
To us who read OF those ten sparkling
years-1S04-'14-when the great Emperor
carried the spoils OF Europe to Paris ana
distributed crowns and coronets, Datohs,
estates. and even highborn brides among
his victorious soldiers-it seems as II tne
excitement OF being French officer must
have been so intense as to keep the nerves
in constant thrill. a single act OF bravery
i'm the field might bring q man under the
conaueror's notice, and 10 win honorsfrom
his hand was very different thing to GET
ting them from the public, which he had I'M
proved away. The grotesque Governments
OF the revolutionary period never made
general without bringing him to book alter
ward to test whether he came up to the
full standard OF republican foolishness,
and il he DID not he was sure to feel that
his head sat loosely on his shoulders.
Even under the Directorate generals VINO
returned in triumph from war had their
pleasure married by being solicited
TO Join in political intrigues. and II
made matters worse that such intrigues
were often necessary TO secure 10 tnem
not only their honors but their pay. At a
time when It required 15,000f. OF republic
can paper money to make q louis dor, all
grades and dignities which the republic
conferred might be compared to dSSigi,dtS-.
they bore no sort of specific relation to
those bestowed under the old monarchy.
Napoleon, however, suddenly raised all
these deprecated honors to q premium,
and it was the most signal glory OF his
reign to have done so. He was greater
as pacticator than as conquer
or. To have re0pened the churches, TO
have replaced Justice on her seat, to have
put an end to the reign OF takers and
writers-the men who are least fitted for
business, but who. under republics, get
a monopoly Of it to the general detri-
ment-was mighty achievement. Ii
set all things in order, and made France
once more habitablc and pleasant TO
dwell in. But again, when Napoleon
created a new aristocracy he perform
ed a brilliant stroke OF policy. Those
who have ridiculed him for it, as ii
he had INDUCED in a mere piece OF van
ity. have not considered what were the
difficulties OF his position. Until he had
converted his foremost soldiers into princes,
dukes. and counts they could all feel that
he had not done so much for them as
Bourbon King would have done. and some
Of them did feel it. Many were sprung
from the poorest class, and the prestige OF
the village seigneur, to whom they had
bowed as boys. doomed very large in their
memories. The character OF nation
is not to be altered within few years
because number OF ranters have de-
claimed about equality even to the length
OF proposing that all steeples and towers
should be RACED, so that buildings might
be OF one symbolical height. and the per-
secution OF the nobility during the revo-
luton had really added to the value OF IT,
ties. Whether Napoleon wished to lessen
the worth OF the old distinctions or merely
to crafty his followers by placing
them on level with their former
masters. the mobiles, his creation OF
new aristocracy was n wise act, and 1t
was Immediately ratified by popu-
lar approval. Somebody TESTED with Ney
about the new nobility having no ances-
tors. ave are ancestors" answered the
Marshal: and this view was so generally
accepted that even when the BOurbons
were restored the Imperial titles obtained
full recognition. In 1915 Louis XVIII.
actually created the young Prince OF Neuf-
chatel and Wagram-Bertbier's son, who
was but five years old-a hereditary peer
of France