New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-13

formation from a beHencent constructive states
man into despot who had to be suppressed for
the sake OF humanity. He sought thus 70 ex.
ploit for selfish ends all the lands he conquered
or controlled What was his ultimate aim in
attempting to reorganize all Europe? Either Ia
began as benevolent reformer, intent upon tia
welfare Of his fellow men. and then became in
toxicated or went mad and changed his purpose
or. else he meant oppression from the outset
and began with reform only as means 10 con-
quest and exploitation However that was. tia
nemesis Of his own deeds overlook him with
hand as heavy as her Ieaden foot. Through his
own devices he COmpassed his own fall and
prepared the way for the second overthrow OF
his dynasty in the person Of his pinchbeck
nephew. From the time OF the great Frederick
down to the first NapoleOnic empire France ex-
erted paramount influence in Central Europe BY
virtue Of the division of Germany. The multi
tude Of minor States were divided in inclination
between Austria and Prussia. and in such state
of affairs it was easy for French influences to
hold the balance OF power Napoleon did not
leave Well enough alone, He sought to make
French influence stiu stronger. first by eliminat-
ing Austria from the German system. next By
crushing and despouing Prussia and finally by
creating new States tributary to himself. The
scheme would have worked on battlefield. In
statecraft it was a colossal failure.
The lessons he had taught the Germans we've
practised by them to his own overthroE. BY
arbitrarily destroying the lines OF petty faudaI
States and forcibIy combining many commune
ties into one, he had taught the Germans The
lesson Of national union which they never for
got He made them regard themselves not a.
HanoVerIans or Brunswickers or Hessians or
Luneburgers. or what not but as Germans
That was the essential principle of the German
political renaissance. which meant inevitably the
death Of French control in Central Europe He
taught them, moreover, the constitutional and
administrative principles which were essential 10
the development of great national institutions.
and thus himself laid the foundation of the Ger
many Of to-day. ~he very State which he most
savagely oppressed. Prussia, was. because OF
that very oppression. nerved to rise again and
take the foremost part in throwing OF the yoke
OF the conqueror. More than that. Prussia most
OF all the states learned the military and civil
lessons which he had taught, and in the fulness
OF time took the initiative in destroying the
French influence in Central Europe. which the
Third Napoleon had developed amid the bick-
erings OF the Confederation. Austria forced out
OF the German system by Napoleon. never COM
pletely Tegained her place in il, but had 70 yield
the leadership and dominance to Prussia And
hnaIy Prussia led a new made empire OF the
very states winch mad been reformed by Ma
poleon BOnaparte for the glory OF France in q
successful campaign for the humiliation OF
France and the deposition Of Louis Napoleon
There is in the whole complex cycle Of Ma
poleonic literature no more suggestive and in
structive passage than that which tells The story
OF the great Emperors craftsmanship in Ger
many, with its brilliant benedcence on the one
hand and its fatuOUs fOllies and ultimate diSas-
ter on the other There is no passage more TO
mantle, either, than that which tells Of the
rise. elimination decline and fan Of those short
lived NapOleOnic dynaSties on German soil. and
OF the resolute manner in which the yanqulSned
peoples turned the victOr'S weapons back upon
himself With this fascinating portion OF Ma
poleon's history. Mr.. Fisher has dealt in a man
ner worthy Of the theme Learned and pro-
found. yet brilliant and vivaciOuS. palnstaAlnS
in quest OF materials and artistic in his arrange
ment and display of them. he has given US a
work OF marked authority and charm Clad
stone held Napoleon to have been the greatest
administrator in history. II any one could per-
suade US OF that fact more strongly than dia
Gladstone with his rhetoric, il would be MI
Fisher with this lucid narrative.