Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-19
pRoPHEsIES OF BoNAPARTE.
Remarkable Manuscripts Found at
Elba.

Remarkable Manuscripts Found at
Elba.
That the first Napoleon was exceed
ingly superstitious Is we'll known.
He was a devout believer in dream
warnings, and he was patron OF
palmists, clairvoyants, and astrologers.
Like many another great man, the fa-
nous emperor sometimes was prone
to indulge in prophetic utterances
himself.
One of the most interesting of the
compositions of Napoleon is remark
able prophecy which, in the emperors
own handwriting, was found In his
desk on the island Of Elba. The docu-
ment was discovered by Captain Camp
bell, in 1915. 1t is as follows:
The foundation Of our political So
ciety Is so defective and tottering that
II threatens ruin; the fall will be ter
rible, and all the nations on the con-
tinent will be involved in it; no human
force can arrest the course Of events.
All civilized Europe will find itself
in the position in which part Of Italy
once was under the Caesars.
The storm Of the Revolution, some
clouds of which will extend over
France, will soon cover all that portion
of the globe which we inhabit, with a
frightful darkness.
The world can be saved only by
shedding torrents Of blood; terrible
and violent hurricane can alone purge
the poisonous air which envelops Eu-
rope.
l only could have saved the world,
and no other.
would have given 1t the chalice
of suffering to empty at single draft;
instead of which it must now drink 1t
drop by drop.
That which Is now fermenting In
Spain and at Rome will soon cause
general commotion. Then the crisis
will be terrible.
1 know men and the age; 1 would
have hastened the advent Of happiness
on earth If those with whom l had to
deal had not been villains. They accuse
me of having despised and enslaved
them; their own groveling spirit and
thirst for gold and distinction brought
them to my feet. Could 1 take one
step without crushing them? l did
not need to spread snares In their path;
It sufficed to present to them the cup
Of worldly riches and honors. Then,
like a swarm of hungry flies, they pre-
cipitated themselves fiercely on their
prey. The slaves needed a master, but
l had no need Of slaves.
What shall we think Of forty millions
Of people who complain bitterly Of the
Oppression Of a single individual
Cupidity, envy, vanity, false glory,
pursue them like furies through this
stormy life; they talk incessantly OF
virtue, generosity, and love, while, like
an incurable cancer, envy, interest, and
ambition are gnawing the inner folds
of their hearts. They carefully conceal
their wickedness, and feign a virtue
which they do not possess; they re-
ciprocally lavish batteries on one an
other. Though no one Of them be-
liCves in the honor Of the rest, never
theless, through weakness, they play
together the parts they have learned,
for want of courage to show them
selves such as they are.
The best among them are those who
are most condemned, because they do
not know how to feign, and the false
virtue of the rest gives more eclat to
their crimes.
Nothing is more revolving to me
than this mania for falsehood, to which
have sometimes been myself obliged
to make sacrifices, that l might not
expose others.
Their private life is but a constant
series of boasting, a disconnected con-
versation, the repetition Of a part
carefully studied.
AS / saw everywhere that ambition
and interest prevailed (taking from all
and giving to none), that all wished
to command and no one wished to
obey, l resolved to terminate this in
sensate dispute, by taking from all
what they desired so eagerly and could
not possess thus, the men who loudly
demanded liberty were compelled to
learn to know it, and appreciate 1t by
a blind obedience.
1t was in this manner that by VOL
untary reciprocity each one recovered
his due.
Renouncing all these frivolous man
ners, all these theatrical caricatures Of
our times, let us be more sincere, less
of courtiers, more serious, more re-
Elective, and less apish. This is sure
method. if there is one, of renewing
the Golden Age.
For myself, l care very little what
may be said, thought, or written OF
me. I have been accused Of having
done, and suffered to be done, much
evil
When the storm hovers over the sur
face Of the earth, to purify the air, and
fertiiize the mountains, ought we to
complain if in it's course, it carries
away roofs and loose tiles, or shakes
off the fruits Of trees? Even the sun,
when he sheds his benefcient light
upon the Arctic pole, kills and scorches
all vital plants beneath his meridian.
With the amiable popularity of a
Caesar and of Henry w, I might
not have found. it is true, a single
Brutus. but hundred Ravillacs.
Although l care little for the peo-
pie. because they are tickle, flattering,
cruel, and capricious as children (for
they are always such) and trample be-
meath their feet today those they idol
lied yesterday, nevertheless l would
have promoted their welfare, more
than those who have so basely betray-
ed them.
ELEPHANT HUNT IN CEYDoN.-A
Ceylon planter tells the following
elephant story to a London Telegraph
correspondent: "On one occasion I
wapt Of hard Of al wild o1a