Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXVII, August 1852, Vol. VVarious
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXVII, August 1852, Vol. V
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
Napoleon arrived in Paris on the 31st of January. In the mean time,
there had been a new election of members of the Tribunate and of the
Legislative body. All those who had manifested any opposition to the
measures of Napoleon, in the re-establishment of Christianity, and
in the adoption of the new civil code, were left out, and their
places supplied by those who approved of the measures of the First
Consul. Napoleon could now act unembarrassed. In every quarter there
was submission. All the officers of the state, immediately upon his
return, sought an audience, and, in that pomp of language which his
majestic deeds and character inspired, presented to him their
congratulations. He was already a sovereign, in possession of regal
power, such as no other monarch in Europe enjoyed. Upon one object
all the energies of his mighty mind were concentrated. France was
his estate, his diadem, his all. The glory of France was his glory,
the happiness of France his happiness, the riches of France his
wealth. Never did a father with more untiring self-denial and toil
labor for his family, than did Napoleon through days of Herculean
exertion and nights of sleeplessness devote every energy of body and
soul to the greatness of France. He loved not ease, he loved not
personal indulgence, he loved not sensual gratification. The
elevation of France to prosperity, wealth, and power, was a
limitless ambition. The almost supernatural success which had thus
far attended his exertions, did but magnify his desires and
stimulate his hopes. He had no wish to elevate France upon the ruins
of other nations. But he wished to make France the pattern of all
excellence, the illustrious leader, at the head of all nations,
guiding them to intelligence, to opulence, and to happiness. Such,
at this time, was the towering ambition of Napoleon, the most noble
and comprehensive which was ever embraced by the conception of man.
Of course, such ambition was not consistent with the equality of
other nations, for he determined that France should be the first.
But he manifested no disposition to destroy the prosperity of
others; he only wished to give such an impulse to humanity in
France, by the culture of mind, by purity of morals, by domestic
industry, by foreign commerce, by great national works, as to place
France in the advance upon the race course of greatness. In this
race France had but one antagonist--England. France had nearly forty
millions of inhabitants. The island of Great Britain contained but
about fifteen millions. But England, with her colonies, girdled the
globe, and, with her fleets, commanded all seas. "France," said
Napoleon, "must also have her colonies and her fleets." "If we
permit that," the statesmen of England rejoined, "we may become a
secondary power, and may thus be at the mercy of France." It was
undeniably so. Shall history be blind to such fatality as this? Is
man, in the hour of triumphant ambition, so moderate, that we can be
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