Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1895-10-24
Washington and Napoleon.

simultaneously with these events the
most careful preparation was made for
step which might rebound to Bona
parties credit If properly taken. but
could easily be detrimental to the COM
plete success Of his schemes. Under
the new constitution every department
or government had an assigned DWELL
ing-place. That of the consuls was to
be the Tuileries. How could an abso-
Lutte dictator install his penates In the
sometime home Of absolute royalty
without inspiring general distrust?
The first step was to rechristen the pile
as the palace of the government" the
next to consecrate 1t to glory. From
far and near the statues Of the great
were gathered to adOrn its halls. T''e
choice OF these displayed in significant
confusion the generals an@ ..atesmen
OF all times in all places. Alexander.
Caesar, Frederick. Cato, Cicero, Bru-
tus: Nirabeau. Marceau. and Joubert:
and many others Of lesser note, were as
sembled in effigy. But highest of all
was set the image of Washington. the
news of whose death had just reached
Europe. His example was to be held
up as the real inspiration Of the new
ruler. In order both to arouse the inn
their understanding the army was put
into mourning for the great American,
and festival was instituted in his
honor. To honor the typical and ideal
republican of the age was conspicu-
ously effective idea. since it accorded
thoroughly with the approved tradi-
lions of the Revolution.
The celebration was set for February
8, 1900, and proved great success. 1t
had already been decided to reawaken
public enthusiasm by instituting great
military ceremonies to accompany the
final deposit of the captured standards
from Aboukir in the hospital Of the In
valides. These and the Washington
festival were interviewer with consum-
mate art. and while the First Consul's
victories were recalled In the imposing
parade, the simple and impressive
words of an able orator. NJ. de Fon-
tanes, reminded the nation that the i'm
mortal Washington had shown as q
general more strength than brilliancy.
and had awakened but little enthusi-
asm, but great confidence; that he was
one Of the men inspired to rule who
appear from time to time in the world;
that he was neither partisan nor dema-
gogue; and that when peace had once
been signed he laid down his arms to
become the wisest of constructive legis-
lators. Yes. Washington; thy coun-
sells shall be heard-thou warrior
legislator, administrator! He who in
his youth surpassed thee in battle, like
thee shall close with conquering hands
the wounds of his country" Minds less
quick than those of the Parisiars
would have discovered the moral of the
address even without the peroration.
When the official journal next day pub
lished the glowing words and described
the brilliant ceremony. the coming
monarch was already lodged under the
roof of the Bourbons. Since at Leoben
Bonaparte had made the liberation of
Lafayette and his family an indispens-
able condition Of the treaty, it might
have been expected that his name. so
long used elsewhere in a natural juxta.
position, on such an occasion would be
linked with that of Washington; but
the honors Of that day We're to he
shared with the dead foreigner. not
with the living Frenchman.-Prof.
Sloanes Life of Napoleon in the August
Century.