MAXIMS OF NAPOLEON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 116, 17 May 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

MAXIMS OF NAPOLEON.

A voice from the past, this; an echo from the days when a great wrong was perpetrated; apathetic document that the book-hunter's good luck enables us to present in a selection of utterances. The whole is a pamphlet published in 1820 by one L'Huillier-Lebrane, Rue Serpente, Paris, under the title "Maximes e-t pensees dv prisonnier de Ste. Helene," and is said to be a reprint from an original English edition seized at the time by the Government. The French edition had shared the same fate, to a large extent, evidently, since rare copies of it are to be found yet. Tradition has it that the title is Napoleon's own, that the manuscript consisted of a number of loose sheets, and that these were' allowed, somehow, to fall into the hands of Las Cases, when, after the death of the Emperor, all his papers were seized and sent to England. In the selection which follows a grouping of aphorisms is attempted—a pardonable licence, we think, in cases of thoughts consignee to writing at the hazard of a mood. Let us take the personal note first:— I have been extravagantly praised, like all sovereigns who achieve extraordinary feats, but I always knew what my intrinsic value was. I have been compared to many celebrated men, both modern and ancient; in point of fact, I resemble none. Had I wished to be merely chief of the Revolution my part would have soon been played; I became its master oecause I had a sword. When I had done with the Revolution I made public opinion, and succeeded, to the intense astonishment of the revolutionists. From the moment I became Chief of the Government I looked to myself for advice and did well. My mistakes date from the moment I began to listen to advisers. , Kings never lack cavillers "about them.. I never allowed criticisms. You ask a physician to cure a fever, not to satirise it. Have you remedies? Administer them. You have not. Hold your tongue. Europe copies my laws, my institutions are imitated, my works bought, one apes my politics, and even the itone of my Court. My Government has not then been as absurd and as bad as was given out. The word liberal that has so much charm for ears of idealogues has been invented by myself. If I am a usurper,' they are plagiarists. I hate illusions; that is why the world meant for me always the fact and not the right. I have three great days in my life— Marengo, Austerlitz, and Jena—unless I would add as fourth that on which I gave audience to the Emperor of Austria in a ditch. I made a great blunder in not erasing Prussia from the map of Europe. After my fall the voice of fortune bade me die; honour compelled me to live. There is no future for me, except when I shall be no more. Calumny can 'reach me only so long as I live. The following- unpleasant series is concerning ourselves:— My Continental system was devised to ruin the commerce of England, and secure peace for the world. The only defect it had was in the difficulty of rigorous execution; few have understood that system. My plan of invasion of England was gigantic. I had to build ports and a fleet. Bruix was well worthy to help me in the enterprise. He had a soul of fire In a frail body. I made a good many blunders in my life; the greatest was to have delivered my person to the English; I had faith in their loyalty . The Government of England has cover--ed itself with opprobrium for seizing my person. I was very much astonished to read in newspapers that I had been made a prisoner. I came of my own free will on board the Bellerophon. There is an act of violence that will never be effaced from the memory of generations—my exile to St.' Helena. Sir Hudson Lowe is a rude gaoler; it is his business. One would say, from the manner in which he treats me, that lie knows my worth. The London journalists have broidered at their own sweet will on the theme of my health and my mode of life here. They have a poetical imagination. "We must all live; even the insects. A few maxims now:— Your inferiors are of real help to you only when they know you are inflexible. When the masses are corrupted in a State laws are useless without despotism. In revolutions there are two kinds of men—those who make them and those who profit by them. When nations cease to complain they cease to think. The first impulse of a people is precious; one must know how to use it to advantage. One can stop in rising, never in declining. Solon was right; one cannot judge of a man's merit until after his death. Ten who speak make more noise than .te nthousand who keep silence. That is the secret of howlers in the Tribune.