The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-03-25

that | am alone, chained to this rock,
who fights and wins empires for me?
Who bestirs himself for me in
Europe? Who remains faithful to
me? Where are my friends? Yes,
two or three of you, who are immor-
talized by your fidelity; ye share, ye
alleviate my exile. Yes. my
life once shone with all the brilliance
of the diadem and the throne; and
yours, Bertrand, reflected that bril-
lance, as the dome Of the, Invalides,'
gilded by me, reflects the rays of the
sun. But disasters came, the gold
gradually became dim, and now all
the brightness is effaced by the rain
of misfortune and outrage with
which | am continually pelted. We
are mere lead now, General Bertrand,
and soon l shall be in my grave.
"Such is the fate of great men.
So it was with Caesar and Alexander,
and L, too, am forgotten, and the
name of conqueror and an emperor
is college theme: our exploits are
tasks given to pupils by their tutor
who sits in judgment upon US, award
ing us censure or praise. How diff
ferent the opinions formed Of the
great Louis XIV! Scarcely dead, the
great king was left alone in his soli-
tary chamber at Versailles neglect
ed by his courtiers, and perhaps the
object Of their ridicule. He was no
more their master. He was a dead
body, in his coffin the prey of a loath-
some putrefaction.
"Such is soon to be the fate of the
great Napoleon. What wide abyss be
tween my deep misery and the eter-
nal kingdom of Christ. which is pro-
claimed, loved, adored and which is
extending all over the earth? Is this
death? Is it not life rather? The
death of Christ is the death of a
God"
The Emperor paused, and as Gen.
eral Bertrand did not answer, the
Emperor resumed:
"You do not perceive that Jesus
Christ is God? Then | did wrong to
appoint you general!'
The above is translated from q
French tract, printed at Paris in 1859,
with the title, Napoleon" The mar
rative is confirmed by a letter from
the Rev. G. de Felice, professor
in the Theological Seminary at Mon
tauban, France, who states that the
Rev. David Rogue sent Napoleon,
while at St. Helena, a copy Of his
Essay on the Divine Authority of the
New Testament, which eyewitness
es attest that he read with interest
and satisfaction. He also read much
in the Bible, and spoke of it with
profound respect. And, ,further,it is
stated that there was a religious re-
vival among the inhabitants Of St.
Helena, which extended to the SOL
diers, who prayed much for the con-
version and salvation of the noble
prisoner.
A French journal gives the follow
ing conversation related by Count de
Montholon, the faithful friend Of
the Emperor:
Il know man, "said Napoleon, land
I tell you that Jesus is not a man!
The religion of Christ is a mystery
which subsists by its own force, and
proceeds from mind which is not a
human mind. We find it in a marked
individuality which originated train
of words and maxims unknown be-
fore. Jesus borrowed nothing from
oar knowledge. He exhibited in Him
sell the perfect example of his pre-
cepts. Jesus is not a philosopher;
for His proofs are miricles, and from
the first His disciples adored Him. In
fact, learning and philosophy are OF
no use for salvation; and Jesus came
into the world to reveal the myster-
les of Heaven and the laws OF the
| Spirit.
Alexander, Caesar, Charlelnagne
and myself founded empires; but
upon what did rest the creations OF
our genius? Upon force. Jesus
Christ alone founded His empire up.
on love; and at this hour millions OF
men would die for Him. 1t was not
one day, or one victory which achiev
ed the triumph of the Christian reli
gion in the world. No; it was a Ions
war, contest for three centuries
begun by the apostles, then continu
ed by the blood Of Christian genera
ticns. In this war all the kings ant
potentates of earth were on one side
on the other | see no army, but
mysterious force-some men scatter
ed here and there in all parts OF tn
world, and who have no other rally
ing point than a common faith IN tn
mysteries Of the Cross.
Il die before my time, and m,