The National tribune., 1897-11-18
g.! :! : ~: !!
IN / " M ~ Br j T. HEADLEY
NJ III Pofse Illustrated by Reproductions the Best French Pictures

Revolution rends this framework as il
il were a cobweb, and lets the struggling,
painting mass beneath suddenly erect them
selves to their full hight and fling abroad
their arms in their full strength. Tie sur
face which before kept its even plane, eX-
cept where star or decoration told the
right of the wearer to overlook his fellow,
becomes all at once a wild waste OF rolling
pillows.
Then man is known by the force within
him, and not by the pOmp about him.
There is also a prejudice and bigotry
always attached to rank, which prevents
it from seeing the worth below it, while 1t
will not measure by just standard, be-
cause that would depreciate its own ex-
cellence. Those, on the contrary, VINO
obtain influence through the soul and
force they carry within them, appreciate
these things alone in others, and hence
Judge them by n true criterion. -.
HOW BoNAPARTE CHOSE LEADERS.
Thus Bonaparte-himseH sprung from
the middle class of society selected men
to lead his armies from their personal
qualities alone. This is one great secret
of his astonishing victories. Dukes and
princes led the allied armies, while men
| headed the battalions OF France.
Bonaparte Judged men by what they
could do and not by their genealogy. He
looked not at the decorations that adorned
the breast but at the deeds that stamped
the warrior; not at the learning that made
the perfect tactician, but the real practi-
cal force that wrought out great achieve
| mentS.
Victorious battlefelds were to him the
birthplace of titles, and the commence
ment of genealogies; and stars were hung
on SCARED and war battered, rather than
on noble breasts. He had learned the
! truth taught in every physical or moral
revolution, that the great, effective mold
ing characters Of our race always spring
! from the middle and lower classes. All
! ref0rmerS also start there, and they al
ways must, for not only is their sight
clearer and their judgment more lust, but
! their carneS: language is adapted to the
! thought, and sympathies of the many.
Those men also who rise to power through
! themselves alone feel it is by themselves
alone they must stand hence the lmpel-
| ling motive is not so much greatness to he
| won, as the choice between it and their
original nothngness. BonaDarte was
| aware of this, and of all his Generals who
! have gone down to immortality with nm,
how few were taken from the upper classes.
Aurereau was the son of u grocer Bcrna-
| dotte Of an attorney, and both commenced
| their career as private soldiers. ResSleres,
| St Cyr, Jourdan, and the fiery Junot all
| entered the army as priyateS. kleber was
an architect; the impetuous Lannes the
son of a poor mechanic; Lefevre, Loison,
| and the bold Scotchman, Macdonald, were
! all of humble rarentage.
The victorious MaSSena was an orphan
| sailor boy, and the reckless, chivalric
| Murat the son of country landlord.
| Victor, Suchet, Oudinot, and the stern and
steady Soult were each and all of humble
origin, and commenced their ascent from
| the lowest step of Fames ladder.
! And last of ALL Ney, the "bravest of the
| brave" was the son OF poor tradesman
| of Saue Louis.
Immediately on the assumption of
preme power, Napoleon created Is Mar
| shals, leaving TWO vacancies to be filed
afterwards. Four of these were honorary
appointments, given to these who had dis
tinguished themselves in previous battles,