, 1905-02-07
TO CROMWELL
WRITER PLACES HIM ABOVE THE
FIRST NAPOLEON.
Farmer Won Success i.Sainst Greater
Obstacles and With Poorer Mate
rial to His Command-Great Both as
Statesman and Soldier.

Napoleon was a soldier by educa-
ton; Cromwell was a farmer, Jays
Alfred Henry Lewis in Success Mag
azine. Napoleon found trained SOL
diers at ready hand when his career
began; Cromwell must make his peas.
t into soldiers under fire. In the
blaze of battle he forged himself and
them; and later. at odds of a bri-
gade against a %roundhead regiment,
h latter moved down the flower Of
Europe.
Cromwell, in his cold. sullen Eng.
lish, had a more difficult metal to deal
with than did Napoleon. 1t asks no
mighty fire to melt a Frenchman-at
all times half-solved in the heat of his
innate hysteria. Napoleon coaxed,
bribed and daZZled, as well as fought
his way. The somber Cromwell mere.
ly lied and fought.
Napoleon made terms with the
church: Cromwell conquered church
and nation. Napoleon would lose cour.
age and presence of mind; Cromwell's
heart, whatever the occasion and
whether of peril or safety, beat as
steady and measured as a clock.
Cromwell was whatever the moment
asked. He could dissemble like a Tai
leyrand. or he could be as bluff as
Harry the Eighth. He welded eau.
ton to daring; he could follow policy
and intrigue like Louis XI. or he could
charge as recklessly as any Charles
of Burgundy-think in the saddle. and
carry decision on the point of his
word. Cromwell knew humanity in the
herd. and was great in that knowl.
edge. When Thousands greeted his
return from Ireland. one at his elbow
"a courtier, of course-congratulated
him on his popularity and the fervor
of his welcome home.
More would come to see me
hanged quoth the cloudy Cromwell,
who never forgot that it Is curiosity
rather than owe or loyalty that makes
the reason of every popular demon
stIation.
CrnlrNe ell was an expert Of the
mask; he could feisn a feeling or pre-
tend a thought. He calculated coldly,
and never permitted feud or the
knowledge of another's treason, in
esse or accomplished. to prevent use
of that man. He would pillow with the
heifer of his foe-even with the foe
himself, while the blowing plowed ad.
val tage. He would meet folks known
to be false, he would seem to give
them his confidence, he would let the
nose Of venal expectation sniff re-
ward, and he would be the picture OF
unconscious innocence. Those false
ones had been deluded: they were in
invisible irons, and always in sight.
Cromwell, better than Napoleon. knew
men; better than Napoleon he
matched each new hour and dove.
tailed with events as they befell. In
seeming ever frank, he was as close
locked as the grave; apparently pill
ant, he was as bendless as the oak;
W. hearing. he was all ears; never
seeing, he had the eyes of Argus; limo
cent. he was a fox for policy; peace
full. he was as swift to smite as a bolt
, prompt as a flashlight; careless. he
was as accurate as a rapier; of things,
for things and by things political, he
was never where nor when nor what
his enemies anticipated. Military in
his genius. he was always pushing for
military. he held, with Thrasymachus,
that Justice is the interest of the
stronger"