Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-01-08
THE LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN.
BLACKBOARD, TOwNLEY & DILLARD
LYNCHBURG. JANUARY 8. 1919.
THE FOREIGN MEN S.

llllca interest," W. regret lidt we are tIldbtu SlNc
than the meagre teegra phc abstract. First IN
importance the result Of the election FIR President b.
the French people Previous accounts had led to ex-
pect pretty confidently the of Louis Nap leon
and vet this expectation has, in degree essened the
Modification. disgust and dependency which the an
nouncement convey all who, in spite Of untoward
events still cherished faith in The capacity Of the French
work me Moderated system of government
They call themselves Republcan-ther representatives,
after long travail, have brought forth form Of govern
ment. Republican and ultra Democratic in many Of
its features and under this Constitution, Just pro-
claimed, and by the almost unlimited suffrage which ii
grants the Of the people have exercised the high
privilege Of choosing the man To preside over the
Republic and guard the infant liberties of France 4
very arge majority of the free and emil hened voters"
of the French Republic, Zone and ndissble," have
spontaneously their votes for Prince Lou Napoleon
"a absolutely of the smallest possible cabr<, and
whose conduct in almost every instance in which he has
attempted emerge from the obsuritv 70 which the fee
beness Of his intellect ought cons.n him, has been
such make him the object of contempt and rdcule
He has the reputation Of the NOR. vulgar quail
lilies of Slder-headlong courage and uncalcu aring
generosity. Hs demonstrations at Srasbourg and Bou
dSuine, unSUttnsu Nv tne Cl>pIly
Of any high personal qualities. They mad. rim the
butt Of the press throughout the civilized world He has
been for years exile from raoce. and knows nothing
% her ual condition and wants. And such The man
seected ny the French Replbc Marguerite their
Constitution, and to in operation and coBpra
ted form Of government al critical period uf the
world, when the authorities, in evev legislative or ex
eculive movement are bound to look 70 its effects
naly, scarcely less than upon the interests Of their
people hat principle did he represent IF what doc
trlnes OF theories, was he the exp uen'? Was he Con
serva'ive. red Republican "a Socialist, Legl-
MS' No one knew-we doubt whelhey he could have
defined hs own psltion,' as ppcians say. H.
went 70. the Prize and ready shape his theories in
any way which might secure it. Policy e9nr.. 9up.
hen he d. parted from this as in his attempt d
address the chamber he made himself rIicuous H.
~tai snsn does he owe his elevation The answer IS
obvious, 10 Inc deep hold which the memory of Napo
le'n has upon the admiration and affections Of the
French people. His spe strength lay n the fac, that he
the NEPHEW of thu great Emperor. ~ one doub's
this. Now. without saying syllable d1ogaory his
capabiy admlnsle, The affairs Of the nation il the
abltst and most saesna like manner admitting. in fact
the possibility of po>oa eIcitng genius and high
qualities suspected before by himS+f o, others
conlend that the very fact of his election is, IN itself
conclusive, against the present capacity of the French
t. self government For. remember, .espect has been
had in the choice Of their first chief magistrate solely to
the prestige Of uslruus name or in other words the
hereditary principle. they voted f ,im not On account
ot his Craftsmanship, Of his sodIershp-or no se,y,
CTS rendered nor for supposed caPacy rende, services
81 would be bitter satire 10 attribute 70 him single per
sona quality calculated 70 inspire respect, admiration or
confidence, or which could, should have obtained hy
votes in France. But stupid, ignorant and foolish as h.
IS admitted 10 be, he was the nephew % Napoleon and
the name and lineage covered all defects and made him
the popular avorlte What is this but prac ica deyel.
ops"ent u he principles Of Legitimacy? What hope can
We reas naby entertain of growth in real republican
principles Is people, who thus have manifested their
and affection for the memory OF ono who wa,
the btlerest and most ecornfu enemy q human rights
who trampIed civil liberty under hi. iron heel. and ID
whose ears the very name Of Freedom wa. hateful
Let us suppose that. in The ds Of the late Pres,
dental in the United States. younq man, in
whose character and aniecedent history folly and rash
ness hal been conspicuous, and Who known only to
be laughed at had suddenly appeared shores and
proclaimed himself candidate tor the Chief NIagsracy
upon the admitted fact that he the nephew Of Wash
ington-tha the friends Of Taylor Cass and Van Buren,
yielding 10 their admiration of the memory of the great
father his try, had generally abandoned their first
ahoce and cast their votes for the foolish venturer
SIMPLY because he was the nephew and bore the name Of
Washington, and thus elected him by majority of two
thirds Of the popular vote. What would The nations Of
Europe have thought Of capacity for government
in such EVENT. Yet people, in this suppositious
case, would have been jnstfabe than the French
in what they have done. Washington was republican
friend OF mankind, benefacor OF his race lover of
liberty and free Institutions. The uncle of Louis Napo
leon whom he is indebted for the votes of republican
France, was Napoleon Bonapare.
But the deed is done, and Louis Napoleon IS Presi
dent Of The Republic Of France-a most ridiculous finale
1t must De consed TO the mighty struggles losses and
sacrifices witnessed in that Country during The past wear
The of S4S have taught us caution il castno the
fashion of future political events. We, therefr.. feel
reluctant hazard speculation as to What lS4o NAV
bring firth. Were we 10 predict that, BY miracle
Louis Napoleon should display The sublime virtues
Of Washington and The genius Of Napoleon. and b.
the wisdom. moderation and patriotism of his aIuinstra
ton consolidate the liberties and promote the prspertv
greatness and true glory ofhis Country and ene him
self TO place among the really grea among men. We
should not De more laughed at than we should have
been tbs time last year, had asserted thai Lonis
Philippe, within sixty days, would be kicked on, If
France that Repubc would b. proclaimed. and ia,
the hero of SRA bpug ard Bpuugne and prisonerof Ham
would brfufe twelve months rolled past, be chosen al
most by acclama lion. It's first President.