The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-23
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Napoleon ms "A world Force.

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Napoleon ns a World Force.
Lord Rosebery has lately written rec
ord of the life of Napoleon at st. Helena,
which is in some sort an analysis Oh
the character and career of that phenom-
email being. 1t is interesting in itself and
as representing a certain tendency in the
thought of the age.
As statesman Lord Rcsebery could
hardly fail to be in touch with the spirit
of his time, and his opinion of Napoleon is
not that of a mere doctrinaire. still less
that of literary man or dry -as-dust bios-
rapher He sees Napoleon in the light Of
the causes which made him and the in
fuence which he had on history. His con-
clusion is that the very qualities which
made Napoleon great were those which
precipitated his downfall. Human nature.
he thinks, is not made to endure the con-
seriousness of unlimited power and unique
wisdom. In short, no man is fitted to be
an absolute despot. In view OF the TACT
that many political economists think that
America. like other Republics of history.
is tending toward empire, it may be well
to consider Napoleon's career from this
point of view.
There was a period in which the first
Emperor of France was regarded with an
admiration so intense that it blinded the
Judgment, or with a hatred SO great that
he appeared a devil incarnate. In both
cases there was feeling that he was not
mere man, that there was about him
something superhuinan. Then the reaction
came. and there was an effort. not very
successful. to show him as frail and
faulty human being favored by peculiar
concentration of circumstances But when
all his failings and foibles are recorded
the fact remains that he is unique and
marvellous character. What WAS the Sc
cret CT il? And why. being SO great, was
he not greater?
There is no need to put upon his charac-
ter the Philistine Interpretation that be-
cause he was net good he must therefore
fail sooner or later. 1t was not his crimes
which ruined him. Craftsmanship is not
altogether a moral art. Moral greatness
does not. as rule. mean worldly success
Nevertheless, there is in this same Philis-
tine notion shadow Of truth.
Lord Rcseberys idea is that, having
risen above his councillors. having moth
ing TO learn from any human being with
whom he came in contact, and feeling
himself the greatest legislator, as we'll as
the greatest soldier. in Europe Napoleon
began to exercise his power for its own
sake, and lost sight of the foundations on
which it rested. He placed a greater
strain upon the resources OF France than
that country could bear; and he failed to
take into account the character of the
people with whom he dealt. The isolation
produced by his very power took him out
OF touch with humanity. This lack of true
estimation of forces proved his ruin.
1t follows, then, that however great
man may be, If he fails TIC understand
others he will come 10 grief since the
greatness of every man depends more or
less upon his meeting some need of the
world. 1t sometimes seems rs il there |
were some elemental force in the uni |
verse, of which the man of determined |
will may lay hold, as electricity is brought |
to be the servant of man. This force may /
or NAY not seem supernatural. II may b. 1
simply the force in others which the |
great are able to range on their side. |
But If a mans greatness is to remain, he /
must bring himself into alignment with |
some great world tendency; he must be |
working not for his own personal anbi- |
tion as against the interests of others,
bus in harmony with one of the great
waves of human thought, whether con-
Reryatire or progressive. There are men
who have risen 10 greatness simply by /
stubborn opposition to some progressive
and SO long as it can be
proved that conservatism is the will of
the majority, they remain great. No ty-
rant was ever a tyrant longer than his
subjects allowed him to be. He ruled
them Just so long as he could appeal to
qualities in them which harmonize1 with
his will, and not Il second longer Up to
4 certain point in his career Napoleon
vas able TO do this: he met demands of
he time: he formulated the Code Ma
,oleon; he gave the age hero, leader.
IN object of idolatry. Then he began to
cave humanity out of his calculations, |
md what he called his star of destiny ]
eemed 10 desert him. Having lest touch |
With the power whereby he once ruled, h. s
ould no longer use that power to his own
dyantage. Should a man of overpower- I
ng personality gain dominion over the l
American people for his own ends, his {
power would last just SO long as he did
ONE things in harmony with the will of c
he people. When his dominion ceased
o satisfy the needs of their natures. he {
you'd fall, or his system would fall il he I
established one. The forces which make 4
he destiny of nations are too great to be ]
effected by any one man for his personal
mbition. Personal ambition is essen &
Ialiy' selfish, and separated from thu ]
eeds of humanity; and in just so far as !
ny man yields to 1t he lessons mis- future
over and the impression which he will
lake upon posterity.
c
HistOr!'s Cheerful Parallel. u
There are no trusts sententiously a
bseryed the great and good Mayor of the II