The world has deplored the results of this expedition, but there is a great lesson for us in the firmness of decision of its leaders.

Such firmness would keep to its course and retain its purpose unshaken amidst the ruins of the world.
At the battle of Marengo the French army was supposed to be defeated; but, while Bonaparte and his staff were considering their next move, Dessaix suggested that there was yet time to retrieve their disaster, as it was only about the middle of the afternoon.

Napoleon rallied his men, renewed the fight, and won a great victory over the Austrians, though the unfortunate Dessaix lost his own life on that field.
What has chance ever done in the world?
Has it built any cities?
Has it invented any telephones, any telegraphs?
Has it built any steamships, established any universities, any asylums, any hospitals?
Was there any chance in Caesar's crossing the Rubicon?
What had chance to do with Napoleon's career, with Wellington's, or Grant's, or Von Moltke's?
Every battle was won before it was begun.

What had luck to do with Thermopylae, Trafalgar, Gettysburg?
Our successes we ascribe to ourselves; our failures to destiny.
A vacillating man, no matter what his abilities, is invariably pushed to the wall in the race of life by a determined will.

It is he who resolves to succeed, and who at every fresh rebuff begins resolutely again, that reaches the goal.