The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-05-11
CROMWELL AND NAPOLEON.
Argument that Eng1ishman Was b,
Far the Greater Man.


Argument that EnGlishman Was by
Far the Greater Man.
Napoleon was a soldier by education.
Cromwell was a farmer. Napoleon
found trained soldiers at ready hand
when his career began; Cromwell must
make bis peasants into soldiers under
fire. In the blaze Of battle he forged
himself and them, and, later, at odds
OF brigade against roundhead reg.
iment, the latter moved down the
flower Of Europe.
Cromwell, In his cold, sullen English.
had more difficult metal to deal with
than did Napoleon. 1t asks no mighty
fire to melt 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 sombe- Cromwell merely lied and
fought.
Napoleon made terms with the
church; Cromwell conquered church
and nation. Napoleon would lose cour.
age and presence Of mind; Cromwelps
heart whatever the occasion and
whether Of peril or Of safety, beat as
steady and measured as clock.
Cromwell was whatever the moment
asked He could dissemble like Tai
leyrand or he could be as bluff as Hen
ry VIII. He welded caution to dar
ing; he could follow policy and In.
trigue like Louis XII, or he could
charge as recklessly as any Charles OF
Burgundy-think in the saddle and
carry decision on the point Of his sword.
Cromwell knew humanity In the herd
and was great in that knowledge,
When thousands greeted his return
from Ireland, one at his elbow-a
courtier, Of course-congratulat him
on his popularity and the fervor Of his
welcome home.
More would come to see me hang
ed" Quoth the cloudy Cromwell, who
never forgot that 1t is curiosity rather
than love or loyalty that makes the
reason OF every popular demonstra-
ton.
Cromwell was an expert Of the
mask; he could feign a feeling or pre-
tend a thought. He calculated colby
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 advantage.
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 reward, 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 dovetailed
with events as they befell. In seem
ing ever frank, he was as close locked
as the grave; apparently plant, he was
as bendless as the oak; never hearing
he was all ears; never seeing, herhad
the eyes Of Argus; innocent, he was a
fox Oh policy; peaceful, he was as for.
midable as a bear! slow, he was as
| swift to smite as bolt from above
hesitating, he was as prompt as g
flashlight; careless, he was as accurate
as a ,apier; OF things, for things and
by things political, he was never where
nor when nor what his enemies antici
pated. Military in his genius, he was
always pushing for the high ground
being as selfish as military. he held
with Thrasymachus. that Justice is
the interest Of the stronger Success