The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-29
NAPOLEON AND WILLIAM II.

The sneering reference OF the young Em
peror William to Napoleon the Great as
Corsican parvenu has not yet ceased &c
excite ccndemnatory comment, although the
Emperor was careful to substitute In the
official publication of his speech, Corsicsn
conqueror tor the words which he was 70
ported to have used at Erfurt. American
journals have animadverted upon the indis-
Greet and foolish utterance Of the German
monarch with almost as much bitterness as
the French. The explanation OF this attl-
tude on their part is not at first apparent but
| it is probably due to several causes.
First Napoleon, though ono of tho most
absolute monarchs who ever occupied
throne, was essentially representative OF
the people. General, Consul, Emperor, l
owe all TO the people," he exclaimed in his
address to his soldiers at the grand review on
the Champ De May. after his return from
Elbs. and the assertion was historically cor
rect. He was elected the sole ruler of France
by the practically unanimous voice of the
French, an act that had up to that time no
precedent in the history of modern Europe.
In the midst of all the grandeur OF his En-
pire he was Democratic monarch, represent
ing consciously and expressly the principles
of Democratic sovereignty even in the con-
ference of Erfrlrt. as was shown by his re-
ference TO that portion of his career when he
was a lieutenant in the regiment of La Fere.
II the American people would ever heartily
approve Of monarchy in other countries 1t
would be in the instsnce of man like Napo-
leon, who, rising from nothing. achieved
everything by the force of his own genius.
Nature had implanted in him the spirit and
talents of king. and his elevation was in &C
cord with natural law.
Secondly. Americans admire Napoleon be-
cause he was during the greater part of his
public life the incarnation of success. There
was no such word as failure or impossible in
the vocabulary of the Corsican. His methods
were often brutal, and his principles were but
little modified 10y conscience, but the dazzling
character of his tIiumphs concealed the means
by which they were frequently won. 1t is
not very complimentary to the American peo-
pie TO say that the first thing they look to is
success, aud that they are only too willing TO
avert their eyes from the general means by
which it is won. Napoleon is the most won
derful exponent of success that the world has
ever seen. While we cannot agree with him
when he claimed that he rose to the throne
without committing n crime, yet it can be
truthfully said of him that he became Empe-
ror by the commission of fewer crimes pro-
portionate to his temptations than have been
recorded in the life Of any man who approx
mated him in grandeur attained by the exer-
ton of similar energy from the same humble
beginnings. Men can therefore admire his
triumphs without discovering in him too
marked resemblance to Attila. Genghis,
Khan and Tamerlane, similar incarnations of
force and success
But there is another reason why Americans
criticise the reflection of William upon the
origin of Napoleon We live 50 far from all
the glamor of thrones that we torn a very
estimate of the European mon
arch. To us, therefore, it appears to be
highly ridiculous that young monarch who
has as yet displayed only remarkable energy
in paying round of friendly visits to the
soveregns of Europe. should sneer at the
man who forced his way into every capital of
the continent. and who occupied the palaces
of his fellow monarchs, not as guest. but as
a conqueror, and who was treated with the
Difference that was due to man who was
the King of Kings. instead of
being the mere accident of an accident like
William. the mere son Of his father-the mere
eldest son OF an eldest son.