The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-12-18
THE FRENCH EMPIRE.

Two ontcasts and wanderers. whose lives
are as chcquered as the fortunes of the French
nation, have, within few wears, risen to sl-
preme power there-Louls Philippe and
Louis Napoleon TRUTH" we are told, is
strange, stranger than felton," and whoever
becomes familiar with the biographies of these
sovcreigns, and the history of the French ma
rion will not deny the force of the ada"c.
LOU, PHILIPPE began political life a
curly headed bov, as tickct-taker at the door
Of the Jacobin Club, in '92, and ended 1t in
1s4s, hv fleeing from the Tuilleries at mid
npht. through fear of mob. He escaped tC
England. and there died. Aug, 1850. These
two circumstances are the commencement and
conclusion of one Of the most remarkable bl
opraphies of which the world has knowledge
1t has all the detail and completeness of 70
nance, and vet every word is in accordance
with truth He tasted the bitterness of pov
ertv, and knew what it was to have no HON,
on earth to which he dared approach and
again, had untold wealth at his disposal. and
svas King of the French, The poor house
less, homeless, refugee SchoOlmastcr became
sovereign of mighty empire and upon an
other change of the scene, is fleeing before
the bayonettcd soldiery Of the French CAPT
tai, never to return
The biography of LorIs NAPOLEON has
not tithe of the interest of that of Louis
Philippe There is, indeed, up to within
six years, more that is ridiculous than roman
tic in the career of Louis Napoleon. He was
born in 1908 and is the rcputed son of Louis
Bonaparte, whom Napoleon the Great made
King of Holland In mature years, he wrote
some books-amongst them treatise upon
artillery practice; made a visit to the United
States; was known here as vicious and dis
solute sprig of Napo!eonic nobility; returned
TO Europe; resided in Switzerland with his
mother llortense Beauharnais, until her de-
cease undertook to upset the French gov
ernment by the affairs of Strasbourg and Bou-
.losne; failed in the attempt, and became a
prisoner of State in the Castle of Ham. Next
he is the Elect of three millions of Voters
and now, Emperor of the French and Pro-
tector of the Holy Places" Truth is indeed
as strange as fiction
Both Louis Philippe and Louis Napoleon
were born N tha lap of noblity-the former
the s,a "f the Duke of Orleans, whose .Jaco-
hlnl>m and whose vote for the death of Louis
ANl did not save him from the guillotine
and the latter was born in the Tuilleries. the
'on of the King of Holland. 1t is their inter
mediate history particularly that of Louis
IhIIppe-whlch creates the deeper interest.
both, however, came up to power after expe-
nencc OF strange. unlocked for and extremely
painful vlcissltudes, and reached imperial
authority after protracted discipline in the
school of adversely. The lesson. if put to
right uses, cannot but confer benefit upon
mankind.
Louis Napoleon. We perceive BY late for.
f'sh news accepts" the empire-that is
"kes 1t with the relish famishcd wavfarer
'oes sumPtuo4s dinner. To give matters a
POPu'ar SANCTION he accepts" the Empire as
q ''Fe"''on formed by the people, and with
""ich ne mad nothing to do, Like his uncle
ne believes IN "dcstiny," and in his course is
tu''eo ov It's bright, particular star. Thus
"e accepts the Empire. that is. becomes
- ''o"C''ed TO this new decree of the people
''a' rance shall be as she was in 1904. and
VIZ Nephew of his Uncle" the ruler of forty
millions of people.
ELL who can say but the Empire is bes:
lot this people? ? In sixty wears they have
passed through vicissitudes as stranoa a, the
'of these Sovereigns have been cheoucred
i''! tasted most forms of government known
amongst men, and with such experience they
."'u'd De the judges of what is best for them
lucy ., nave IN sixty years had The Monarchy
y, LOUIS ANl, the Republic, period of Jac-
yum anarchy the Directory, the Consulate
anu T The Empire of Napoleon the lst-
"en there was the Restoration of the Bour-
W., cY"S' and the rule of Louis XVIII. and
""''es A. succeeded by the Revolution Of
.''' and the coronation of Louis Pb;I;nne as
N'ns Q: the French. Then come. .,a D.
'on ~,bo p: OF ls4s-the he flight of Louis Philippe
Tue Provisional Government of J,m.,t;r
r. Tue Republic, and now again the Emn;ra
mutations of the government and tho -;
rsa. s,'aaes of the two last sover.igns are in
we n'shestdegree interesting and ;nx,,uo,;ra ="
y H. Statesman ~ '''e''Ve