The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-01-11

IrlenQS TO observe the same rcStrlc-
ton regarding his title on threat of
being sent to Cape If Good Hope,
bereft of funds to return to Europe.
Napoleon, on his part, claimed
that he was as much entitled to be
called Emperor" as General" as
the same power viz: the suffrage
of the French People had made him
both; besides the British Ministry
had acknowledged his title of EN-
peror, while on the throne of France
and had treated with him as such.
But the Ministry did not recognize
the suffrage of the people. Napo-
leon offered to assume an incogni-
to but the Ministry would not per-
NIT this on the ground that it might
be construed into an admission that
a monarch might assume such
privilege.
This same question came up with
the English Ministry during our
own war of the Revolution. They
refused to recognize the right of the
people to select George Washington
as their General in Chief, and they
addressed him as George Washing
ton. Esquire, Washington refused to
receive any such letters, and return
ed them unopened. As he was not a
captive in their power, and as they
found it necessary to communicate
!; with him, they we're compelled to
address him as "General-in- Chief
before they could do business with
him.
j However, Napoleon, although in
his omb b, has triumphed, and it
would be amusing now to hear the
, successors of Bathurst. Castlereagh,
ct al, speaking of General Bona
parte.' And the world today
knows him as the Emperor Napo-
leen.n
4 Sir Charles Reade, Sir Hudson's
worthy assistant, who no doubt
!, must have tished in the Pond of
Reasons for a Title for a long
time without getting bite, insisted
that the proper thing to do with
!, Napoleon was to put the Rascal in
irons until he should give in" How
, little either one understood Napo-
leon. Tie little couplet that both
:. him and his Superior, Sir Hudson,
, occupy in history, is the accident of
. having been Napoleon's jailers.
. Napoleon gave them all their prom
i inence in history.
/ 1t is scarcely to be wondered at
} that Napoleon was often peevish and
[ obstinate under this treatment, or
, that frequently. when he allowed
! himself to discuss the Governors
, policy with the members of his suite.
his temper rose to a fury. His sit
! uation was made more miserable
, and wretched by his Ill health. His
/ promenades were so guarded by
sentinels, and restricted to such linn
it's, that he finally refused to take
s exercise. and after that his disease
made more rapid progress. His
(; fretfullness and resentment at Sii
Hudson loves conduct have given
= the impression that he spent most Of
a his time in Tuning and fretting
q But if we take into consideration
r the work that he did in his exile
!, we will have quite different view
!, of the way he spent his life there.
0 He was at ST. Helena from Octo.
/ Der 1915 to May 1921. and during
q this period of five and one-half years
s he wrote or dictated enough to fiji
s four large volumes which were pub.
: lished by the order of Napoleon III
0 And he also furnished the great col
lection of conversations, in the me.
s moirs published by b companions
e This means grees amount Of
s thinking and planning, for they
were not slovenly in arrangement
d or loose in style, on the contrary
9 they are concise, logical and fire.
gently vivid; (see his account Of the
' burning of Moscow). Perhaps they
: may have errors, but Napoleon hao
IS no official documents at hand fol
e making history, aud he was forced
i. to rely wholly on his memory, ant
n even at that, they are fully as reli
i able as many of the histories writer
g by prejudiced men who had full &C
IS cess to the public archives.
. 1t must be remembered too, tina
e his work was done under great ply
8 steal difficulties. He was sufferin.