Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-02-06
From the London Times, Jan.I.
Coronation of Louis Napoleon.

- Coronation of Louis Napoleon.
e Those who i've longest," says the proyerb, !" see
most but what .he longest liver tive yeas ago ne
var dreampt of seeing was the installation OF anoth-
a. Nanoleon within the walls of Nortre Dame. At
the moment these lines meet the readers eye there
will be passing in Paris exact repetition OF the
scene which enacted eight and forty years ago
We may reasonably presume that the representation
will be perfect since not only all the conditions
substantially similar but the most studous care will
be exercised to preserve every feature of ceremoni-
al intended to carry much deeper significance than
mere state parade. Like his uncle, Louis Napole-
on assumes to have yanqulshed the elements OF an
archy and disorder" Like his uncle he promises
the rehabilitation of society,"" like his uncle, he has
concliated the army and the Pope; like his uncle
he POUNDS his pretensions on millions OF affirmative
suffrage and like his uncle he is now proceeding
on a cold frosty morning. from the Tuileres to
Nortre Dame, through a dazzled and bewidered
multitude, to celebrate by religious festival his
election to supreme power. 1t IS even possible that
portion of the cortege may be identical with that
of 1904 for the old soldiers of the Consulate and the
Empire are to be collected, are told from all
parts of France and arrayed in their original uni
forms, to give not only novelty to the procession,
but moral to the pomp.
A goodly sprinkling of our eountrymen, we cannot
doubt will have repaired to Paris for the spectacle,
exactly as their forefathers embraced like oppor-
tunity just half a century ago. In 1902 Bonaparte
was placed with kingly power at the head OF ma
tional Republic, and the Peace of Amens had open
ed the capital of France to English sghtseers We
shall soOn probably read remarks very like those OF
Mr. Fox for Mr.. Fox has his followers in those who
conceive that reign of true and genuine liberty has
at length been inaugurated in the absolutism of
single man. This opinion, indeed, appears to be
entertained, though with somewhat different i'm
port in more quarters than one and very interest
ing it is to observe that political question has at
length been found which most liberal con-
temporaries and the Emperor of Russia are precisely
of one mind. His Imperial Ma esty has transmitted
Il. 0.lo. = A,,l, 41oG OF &c
brother autocrat and the organs of the purest Eng
lish Radicalism equally lavish of homage and
applause.
: 1t is certainly wonderful to see how things
round French history has long been characterized
'cyclica' that is to say: reproducing events
) in certain nearly definite circle. We cannot man
age such revivals in England. A Waverly Ball at
the Palace-the mere delusion of night is much
as we can do by way of approximation to the past
We should think it very extraordinary if Wilkes
suddenly turned up in the city, got elected for Mid
dlesex, defed the reformed House of Commons and
) set the nation by the ears again We cannot even
go back far as 1916, and fancy ourselves pay
ing the old tax upon bread. We do not observe eth
er that the Americans make monarchcal revolutions
: or that General Samuel Houston is likely to be
crowned after the style George H. But the French
are perpetually at the work of reproduction. In
1889 they dressed themselves in the costume of Louis
KILL and met in assembly of the old StatesGeneral.
In 1871 they sped the doings of Great Rebellion,
and the next year they borrowed the language and
the apparel of the old Roman Senate. In 1904 Ma
poleon arrayed himself for the ceremony of to-day in
the fashion of Francis |, borrowing a sceptre from
Charlemagne and device from Chidebert. The
y feurs de-lys not ancient enough, and so the
velvets which, the present OCCASION taken
from the Garde Meube for the decoration Of Nortre
Dame, were studded with golden bees after the true
Z Meroyingan pattern. This morning Paris returns
to the times of the Empire red lancers, consular
# guards Chasseurs de la Garde, and Grenadiers-a-
Pied will stalk about the streets in the identical
costume of forty years since Nothing in fact, but
, q genuine Hamlet will be wanting to the represen-
q tation of the play.
To say of the French ruler that he resides in the
TuiIeries and gives thanks at Notre Dame is enough
= to indicate the true nature of his authority. What
it may please Louis Napoleon to style himself is
not many titles at hand. King" would be awk
IS ward, and {: Emperor mis- ht prove misft. 'Pres
ident has been pretty we'll disgraced, and Consul
n is grade too low. Regent" has been talked of
% and the word certainly runs smoothly enough will
= :; Prince" but perhaps France, for turn Euro
n pean styles exhausted, may prefer Orenta
n designation. AS the Grand Signior made grea
difficulty of recognizing Bonaparte's Imperial
ism, it might possible offend Court just very
It popular if the title " Sultan :" were adopted, bu
e Shah" Khan of the French" would have
very striking sound and be by no means inexpensive
s. of the authority exercised. Young France" too
might come out in entirely new guse, and the Who'll
conception, in fact would admit of being very forci
u bly, worked out.
II This mornings coronaon-for coronation it vir
tualy isis the first that has been soemnized with
he out either king Louis Napoleon, however
e knows what he is, and by the grace of what he s.
y became. The salute from the cannon at the Inva
ldes will be about quadruple that assigned TO com
lie Royalty, and each report is to be considered
N expressing the reclamation of 900 voices in ia
vor of the new chief The old cathedral is finish
l. ed just in time but little could King Louis Phillip
n the municipality of Paris have foreseen for wha
to ceremony they were preparing their metropolitan
it church. The painted glass at ST. Denis repre-
sents visit of Napoleon to that famous edifce an
Us the decoration of Notre Dame proceeds perhaps
20 window may be found to commemorate exhibitio
which will certainly be not the least remarkable i
the history of Paris. The Archbishop of the pro
vince it seems, is both disaected and intrepid fc
d, he has been bold enough to condemn the acts b
is which the supreme power seized and to obet
to solemnity in honor of the transaction b.
Louis Napoleon has surpassed his uncle in con
pounding for past misdeeds by practical orthodox,
OF and the simple protest of conscientious preate wi
CHI be lost in the applause of body which knows
he how to render aid for aid.
In the resume of French revolutions contained
!e correspondence of Tuesday, there is point
NY which the readers attention may be serviceably
- rected. The sketch referred to included the
ic sive replies of the French people to the appeals
riodically made by authorities in power. Sometime
it was Convention which appeared appellan
m sometimes Directory, sometimes Senate, som
at times Consul sometimes Emperor. At OF
on period the people were asked to confirm republi
dr at another empire, at another monarchy at a.
,lv other charter. The vote required might be of
arlstocratlc, democratic republican tendency
but there is this remarkable feature in every cha
ter of the history, that whatever the proposio