The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-08


in the year and a half after his arrival from
Egypt. Hearing that the Republic was
everywhere defeated, and Italy wrested
from its grasp, he Immediately set sail
Tor France, and escaping the English feet
in a most miraculous manner, protected
by his star, reached France in October.
BY November he had overthrow the in
efficient Directory and been proclaimed
| First Consul with all the attributes, but
none OF the titles, of king. He Immediately
commenced negotiations with the allied
powers, while at the same time he brought
his vast energies to bear on the internal
state of France. Credit was to be re-
stored, money raised, the army supplied,
war IN tendee suppressed, and conSti-
tuition given to France. BY his super
human exertions and ail-pervading genius
he accomplished all this, and by next
Spring was ready to offer Europe peace or
war.
Order sprung from chaos at his touch,
the tottering Government stopped rock
ing on its base the moment his mighty
hand fell upon it, wealth flowed from the
lap OF poverty, and vast resources were
drawn from apparent notbingness. France,
rising from her prone position, stood
ready to give battle to the world Europe
chose war.
sUPERHUMAN EFFORTS.
The gigantic mind that had wrought
such prodigies in seven months in France
now turned its concentrated strength and
wrath on the enemy. Massena he sent TO
Genoa TO furnish an example OF heroism
ed to Swabia to render the Black Forest
immortal by the victories of Engen.
MoSklrch and Bibcrach, and send the
AuStrianS IN CONSERVATION to their Capi-
tai, while he himself, amid the confusion
and wonderment of Europe at his com
nh tnA TO L.
thuSiastlc troops down the Alps, and by
one bold and successful stroke wrested
Italy from the enemy ard forced the aston
ished and discounted sOvereigns OF Europe
To an armlstice OF six months.
Unexhausted by his unparalleled eff
1orts, no sooner was the truce proclaimed
than he plunged with the same sudden
ness yet profound forethougbt with which
he rushed into battle, into the distracted
politics OF Europe. BY slfiiIfll stroke of
policy in offering Malta to Russia, at the
moment it was certain to fall into the
hands If England, he embroiled these two
countries IN "A quarrel, while by promis-
ing Hanover to Prussia he bribed her to
reject the coalition with England, and
consent to an alliance with himself
AT the same time he planned the league
OF the neutral powers against England,
armed Denmark and Sweden. and closed
all the ports of the Continent against her.
his deep sagacity was thus battling the
Cabinet of England, involving her in a
general war with Europe, and pressing to
her lips the chalice she had lust forced
him to drink, he apparently devoted his
entire energies to the internal state of
France and the building Of public works
lie created the Bank Of France, put the
credit OF Government on firm basis, be-
gan the Codes, spanned the Alps with
roads sufficient monuments in them
selves of his genius-and restored the
complete supremacy of the laws through
out the kingdom.
All this he accomplished in six months.
and at the close of the armistice was
ready for war. The glorious Campaign of
Hohenlinden followed, and Austria, fright
ened for her throne, negotiated the peace
OF Luneville, giving the world time to re-
cover its amaZement and gaze more
steadily on this mighty sphere that had
shot so suddenly across the orbits of
kings.
(IO be cOntin,isd)