The National tribune., 1898-08-18

INJUSTICE OF ENGLISH CRITICISM OF
NAPoLEoN-A TRAIN OF EvILS-THT
YOUNG CORSICAN AS A SAvIOR-NA
PoLEoN's PLANS FOR THE AG.
GRANDIZEMENT OF FRANCE SPOILED
BY EUROPEAN NATIONS.
Perhaps there is no greater example OF
fhe control of English literature and Eng
fish criticism over public opinion in this
country than the views they have inn
pressed upon it respecting Bonaparte.
With Wordsworth, SOuthey, and Byron in
poetry, and Scott, and Alison, and the
English reviews, in prose, all making him
monster in cruelty and selfishness,
even though he might be an angel in
genius, We have, without scrurle, adopted
the same sentiments and set him down
as a scourge of his race.
The few American writer's who have
ever attempted TO give an analysis of his
character and a fair criticism on his ac-
lions, haze failed by Judging him as if he
had grown up on the Puritan soil of New
England, instead of amid the chaos and
anarchy of France and the exciting
sounds of war as Europe moved to battle. |
Their criticisms have in reality usually |
been mere essays on the horrors of war, in |
which Bonaparte figures as the chief il |
Illustration. There is no recognition of the |
peculiar trials that surrounded him. of |
the genius that mastered them of the |
temptations to which he was exposed,
and the necessity that frequently COM
peiled MN to courses that warred with
his wishes
English historians make no Scruple of
belying him, and while some of our
American writer's, by placing on him the
guilt OF those desolating wars that loaded
Europe with the dead have done him
gross inIustice-they have also committed
an objectionable error in history That
English historians should attempt to
cover their most successful enemy with
unmerted guilt, especially when it is
necessary 10 DO so, in order to screen
their own nation against the accusations
which France lays at her door, is to be
expected.
Still, Scott has done himself more injury
IN his Lie OF Napoleon than he has the
great man he slandered and Mr. Mitchell, |
who has lately written three volumes to
convince men that Napoleon was a fool,
mas succeeded only in proving himself
one MI. Alison is almost the only one
VINO has at all comprehended his true
character, but, while he is forced to bear
noble testimony to his genius, he is afraid
OF OFFENDING the preudices and vanity of
ms countrymen, and SO attempts as an
onset TO his praise, to prove him destitute
oil conscience, and capable of great mean
neSSeS. To do this he not only faIsifies
history, but drags forth with themost ludic
rous gravity, all the petulent speeches
ne ever made in sudden ebuliitions of
passion, or in the first chagrin of disap-
pointment.
The unjust and passionate remarks
man OF Napoleon S temperament however
noble his character, will always make in
moments of irritation, are arrayed against
his greatest acts with studied exaccera-
ton, and declared sufficient to neutralize
them all This is like going into a mans
n-Ch IN l. -l-I
speeches, or make a peevish remark to a
servant in moment of irritability offset
the nobleSt acts of his life
MANIFOLD ABILITIES.
Napoleon Bonaparte. whether we think
of his amazing genius, his unparalleled
power of embracing vast combinations
while he lost sight of none of the details
necessary TO insure success, his rapidity
of thought and equally sudden execution, l.
his tireless energy, his ceaseless activity,
his ability to direct the movements of half
a million of soldiers in different parts of
the world and at the same time reform the
laws, restore the finances, and administer
the government OF his country; or whether
We trace his dazzling career from the
time he was poor proud charity boy at
the Military School of Brienne to the
hour when he sat down on the most bril-
liant throne OF Europe, he is the same
wonderful man, the same grand theme for
But before entering on his character. 1t
De necessary that whatever unjust pre- u-
d1ces we entertain should be removed and
our errors In history corrected The first
great barrier in the way of rendering him
yustice rs the conviction everywhere en-
tertained that he alone. or chiefly. is
chargeabie with those desolating wars
that covered the Continent with slain
armies. His mounting ambition is placed
at the foundation of them all. and no
greatness OF mind can OF course compen-
safe for the guilt OF such wholesale muir
der.
II Is impossible for one who has not
travelled amid the monarchies of Europe
end witnessed their nervous fear of repub-
fican principles and their fixed deter
minauon, at whatever sacrifice of Justice,
human rights, and human life. to main
tain their oppressive forms of Government.
90 appreciate at all the position of France
at the time of the revolution. The balance
oil political power had been the great OBJ
eect OF anxiety, and all the watchfulness
directed against the encroachment of one