The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-05-18
NAPOLEON, A. Seen
by His Associates
HIS TALKS ABOUT HIMSELF
Y His ASSOc1ateS
copyright. 1904. by C. 1. KilmerI

the best intentions and as guide for
their own conduct, what point l was
driving at. and always answered that
l did not know. They were surprised,
probably dissatisfied, and yet ! spoke
the truth.
subsequently, during the empire.
when there was less familiarity. many
faces seemed to put the same question
to Inc, and | might still have given the
Same reply.
Il surrounded myself with that halo
Of mystery which pleases and interests
the multitude, gives birth to specula-
tons, which occupy the public mind,
and finally affords opportunities for
those sudden and brilliant disclosures
which exercise such important infu-
ence. 1t was this very principle that
| accelerated my unfortunate march to
Moscow. Had I been more deliberate
| might have averted every evil, but l
could not delay and afford time for
comment. With my career already
traced out, with my ideas formed for
the future, it was necessary that my
movement and my success should
seem, as it were, supernatural"
He pictured himself as a crowned
Washington.
"NVhen | acquired the supreme direc
ton of affairs it was wished that l
might become Washington. Words
cost nothing, and no doubt those who
were 50 ready to express the wish did
so without any knowledge of times,
places. persons or things. Had | been
in America / would willingly have
been Il Washington, and | should have
had little merit in SO being, for l do
not see how | could reasonably have
acted otherwise. But had Washington
been in France, exposed to disco"d
within and invasion from without. |
would have dciiCd him to have been
what he was in Amcrica-at least lie
would have been fool to attempt !:
and would only have prolonged the ex-
istence OF evil For my own part,
could only have been Il crowned WASH
! ingtOn. 1t was only in Il .on=rcss of
kings, in the midst of king; yie,din" or
subdued, that l could become 50. Then
and there alone | could successfully
display Washington's moderation Dis,
interestedness and WISDOM | rou.u
not rea sonably attain to this but by
|, means of the universal Dictatorship
TO this l aspred. Can that Er tLou2i.;
a crime"
He recalled the campaign OF Water
loo and the fate which overlook him
there with the calmnesS OF :. man dis
coursing upon the event., OF c,her
| times.
The opening OF my campaign WIS
well managed and provc, most sue
pessful. | should have surprised! lie
enemy i'll detail but that :: dcSorter
from among our generals gave liEl
timely notice OF my plans.
Il gained the brilliant victory of
| Ligny, but my lieutenant robbed NE OF
its fruits. Finally l triumpl.cd even 1T
Waterloo and was Immediately hurled
| into the abyss. Yet | must confess
| that all these strokes of fate distressed
| me more than they surprised me
| felt the presentiment of in unfortu-
| nate result. Not that this in any way
Influenced my determinations and
measures. but the fOrebOding certainly
haunted mind.
There il L great difference of opin-
iOn,' continued the emperor. 'as to
what | ought to have done. Many
were of opinion that | ought to have
| fought to the last. Others said that
| fortune had abandoned me: that Wa
| terloO had closed my career of arms
| forever. My own opinion is that |
| ought to have died at Waterloo. per-
haps little earlier Had | died at
| Moscow l should probably have had
| the reputation of the greatest conquer
or ever known. But the smiles of for
| tune were at an end | experienced
little but reyerSeS afterward: hitherto
| had been uncOnQuercd. | ought to
have died at Waterloo. The misfor-
| tune Is that when man seeks the
most for death he cannot find it. Men
were killed around nle, before. behind.
| everywhere, but no bullet for me-"
During the retreat from Waterloo
Napoleon was prevented from throw
ing himself upon the English bayouets
by Marshal Soult. And this was but
one of his many attempts at self de-
| struction. GEORGE l.. kILMER.