Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1901-04-27
NAPOLEON's WISDOM.
THE GREAT GENERAL UNDERSTOOD
THE VALUE OF DISCUSSION.

the First Great Cause.
Man exercises his muscles to improve
them. He completes muscularly with
his fellows, and rivalry of muscle ends
in muscular improvement all around
What exercise does for the muscles
discussion does for the brain.
The importance of discussion Napo-
leon appreciated thoroughly.
And when he discussed, he discussed
like q big man, selecting questions to
exhaust the mind and lead far away
into fields of conjecture and widest
speculation.
His was no dreamer's brain, giving
to speculation the time needed for do
ing. First came the real work Of the
day or hour-the planning and finish
ing Of details, from the disposing Of ar
my corps to the smallest final arrange
ments.
Then, free from actual work, seeking
relief from concent rated application,
his brain sought rest in talk worth
while.
On his voyage to Egypt, determined
to waste no time, he organized serious
discussion as lnethodically as he ever
organized fighting plan.
The discussions were regularly ap-
pointed affairs.
Needless to say, Napoleon arranged
everything and controlled everything.
He selected the subject for discus.
sion. he chose the three or four on each
side to support and oppose any given
proposition.
These were his favorite topics: First,
the art Of war; second. the art of gov
eminent; third, religion.
From his point Of view his chief sub
jects for discussion were admirably
chosen. They represented the only two
things he cared for here below and the
final question affecting his fate here
after
But his field of thought. like the
scope of his ambition. was unlimited.
Once he asked his chosen debaters to
decide whether the planets are inhab-
tied
Again. he discussed this earth's prob
able ending. by fire or water,
He discussed also the meaning Of
dreams and phe value of present.
ments'
In practical life be discarded every
thing save realities. but in discussion
all abstract questions interested him.
1t may interest you to know that in
general he denied positively the exist
ence of hell perhaps that was caution
on his part-and maintained that no
man should die without confessing his
sins:
Only a fool says that he will die
without confessor There is so much.
we do not know and that we cannot
explain"
1t is deeply characteristic of Napo-
leop's thought that he should have de-
3clared for Mohammedanism in prefer
ence to Christianity.
: He admired the religion of NOLAN
med ''because ii conquered one half the
world in TEN years, whereas 1t took 300
years for Christianity to establish it
self"
The old French king became convert
ed because be thought the Christian
God beat his pagan god in battle. Ma
.poleon had not travelled far beyond that
old king
The man who seeks for all sorts OF
wisdom in Napoleon will be deeply dis
appointed when he comes TO analyze
the great lighters religious thought
But for the hero worshiper there Is
comfort in this:
Napoleon trifed with everything ex-
cept the first great cause.
On the deck Of his ship on a fine
night there was much irreverent, Clip
pant, materialistic chatter The revo-
luton had made stupid atheism fash
ionable
But Napoleon was impressed by the
calm night. the blue, dark water and
the silent. beautiful stars shining down
in cosmic rebuke of the tiny BIAS
phemers below.
z He stopped very abruptly the prattle
of atheism.
Toward the stars be pointed thel
short. thick arm SO soon to rule this
little planet.
You may talk as long as you please.
gentlemen, but who made all that9'
There was no answer, and there was
no more atheism that night
The man who was to build UP the
code Napoleon could appreciate the
force and necessity Of law. His mind
realized the feebleness Of man. coping |
even with little problems Of earth.
He felt that grea laws and a Great
must swing and direct those
millions Of silent worlds above,
When Napoleon was still Corsican
patriot, the great Paoli said to him;
Napoleon. you are not q modern.
You talk like the heroes of9Plnta rch.
Earnestness OF the old kind was In
deed Napoleon's characteristic as en-
peror. planning to rule Asia from the
back Of al ornamented elephant or az
4 poor. half starved lads taking OF bis
muddy shoes 70 enter the presence Of
the matronly Mime. Permon and listen
Ing TO her stories or descent from the
OF ConstantinoI Be.
Napoleons Ia his hours Of work was q