The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-09-08

I
| Representative Men, as the
Incarnate democracy" Two
memOrialists of Napoleon's court, Nine.
| Remusat and the Duchesse IAbrantes,
| depict the great COrsican as man OF
dual nature and in exact words write
Of 1.-TWO NapoleOns." the one being in
the main an admirable character ac-
| cording to advanced democratic ideals
| and the other just the reverse.
There would seem to have been in
him two different men," says Nine. de
| Remusat. The one, rather gigantic
than great, but nevertheless prompt to
conceive and also prompt to execute,
laid from time to time some Of the
| foundations Of the plan he had formed.
This man, actuated by one single idea,
untouched by any secondary impress
sion likely to interfere with his prof.
| ects had he but taken for his aim the
good Of mankind, would, with such
| abilities as Ike displayed, have become
the one greatest man Of the earth.
| 1.-The other Bonaparte, forming q
kind Of uneasy conscience to the first,
was devoured by anxiety, agitated by
| continual suspicion, q slave to passions
which gave him no rest, distrustful,
/ fearing every rival greatness, even
that which he had himself created. If
the necessity of political institutions
was made plain to him, he was struck
at the same moment by the rights
which they must confer on individuals,
and then, gradually becoming afraid Of
his own handiwOrk, he could not resist
the temptation to destroy it piecemeal.
He has been heard to say, after he had
restored titles Of nobility and given in
| alienable possessions to his marshals,
4 have made these people Independent,
but 1 shall know how to reach them
| and prevent them from being migrate
| full
| after the campaign Of AusterlitZ he
was SO inflated with success and with
the worship which the people, half daZ-
lied and half subjusated, paid to him
that his despOtism became more than
ever intensified. Every citizen felt the
| yoke that was laid on him heavier.
Heads were bowed almost perforce be-
fore his glory but it was discovered
| aftcrward that he had taken means to
| prevent their being lifted again. He
surrounded himself with new splendor
| in ORDER to put Il greater distance be-
| tween himself and other men.
| HE held that uncertainty stimulates
| zeal, and therefore he rarely displayed
satisfaction with either persons or
| things. Admirably served, always
| oh
find fault and keep everybody in the
palace in dread of his displeasure about
some small detail. His service was
the severest of toll. He has been heard
to say. The truly happy man is he who
| hides from NE in the country, and
| when die the world will utter great
"Ouf."''
| BOurrienne. the secretary of Napoleon
| under the consulate. writes as follows
of the friend who became an exacting
| master:
! "Bonaparie had two ruling passions,
glory and war. He was never more
| gay than In the camp and never more
morosc than i'll the inactivity of peace.
He oftener than once said to me: "A
|
| more there is made, the farther off it
is heard. Laws, institutions, monu-
ments. nations all fall, but the noise
continues and resOunds in after ages.
This was one of his favOrite ideas. My
| power he would say at other times,
depends on my glory. and my glory on
my victories. My power would fall
were | not TO support it by new glory
and new victories. Conquest has made
maintain me. \ newly born govern
/ ment must dazzle and astonish. When
| it ceases to do that it falls
Zone OF BOnaparte's greatest misfor-
tunes was that he neither believed in
friendship nor felt the necessity of low
ing. How often have | heard him say:
Friendship is but 4 name. 1 love no
body. | do not even love my brothers.
perhaps Joseph. little. from habit
and because he is my elder. and Du-
roc-I love him too. But why? Be-
cause his character pleases me. He is
stern and rcSolute. and l really believe
the fellow never shed a tear. For my
part. l know very well that l have no
rue friends. AS long as l continue
What | am | may have as many pre-
tended friends as | please. Leave SEN
S.hility to women: it is their business
But men should be firm in heart and
in purpose. or they should have moth
ing IL do with war or government"
Bourriennc also reveals the methods
by which Napoleon cautiously yet
steadily drew the nation under his alb
solute sway. Says he:
by the commencement of the year
1862 the republic had ceased to be any
thing else Than q fiction or historical
| recollection. All that remained of it
was a deceptive inscription OH the
gates of the palace. Even at the time
of his installation at the Tuileries
| Bonaparte had caused the two trees of
liberty which were planted in the
court to be cut down, thus removing
the outward emblems before he de-
stroyed the reality. But the moment
the senatorial decisions Of the I'd and
4th Of August were published it was
evident to the dullest perceptions that
the power Of the First Consul wanted
nSthing but . name. After these con-