New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-04
Lou,. Napoleon mt strnsburg.

LOuis Napoleon mt Strnsbnrgs
FROM The LOT don Times.
Nearly sixteen years have passed away
since Louis Napoleon behed, under very different
circumstances, the walls Of Strasburg, and the
lantern spire of that minister which has marked
for nearly two centuries the advanced post OF
France on what was once German soil. lie lett
that city detected consprator and defeated
rebe-thrown for his very life upon the cemency
Of the Sovereign and the nation he had wantonly
attacket-bafiled in his attempt to shake the hdel-
ity Of the army and loaded with an excess OF nd
icue which pleaded more loudly than any other
consideration in his favor. Ii a chilly morn
ing in October, 1896, that Louis Napoleon,
attended by Colonel Vaudrey, and a few OF
the officers he had tempered with and sub
orned, suddenly presented himself before the
barracks Of the FOuth Regiment OF Artll-
lery In strasburg, dressed in mock uniform of the
Emperor Napoleon, bearing, he said the will Of the
Emperor In hand and the sword of Au.tertz in the
other and eager he termed in schooboy language,
"to drive the barbarians from the Capitol" The scene
was III played and lasted no longer than tle lncideat
in panton line for before macy hours mad elapsed the
hero OF the piece was on bis way TO Paris in close custo
dy not 10 meet the fate OF the Due E1ghien which he
had legally Incurred butt be sent out Of the country
dsturber Of the public peace and an enemy OF the
constitutional Monarchy OF France.
To DO the Head Of the French Government justice,
this enterprise must % Considered less senssless
and than appeared 10 be athst time 10 tbs
leading men In France and 10 public opinion throughout
Europe. In forming the lowest possible estimate OF the
fidelity of the trocs and the people 10 the institutions
under which thcs sre ihen living, be had not entirely
niscacuste the disposition OF the race over which b.
sspired to rule 1t IS Cso5aole that, 10 retsr'irs
Straiburg with all the parade OF splendid COu and
the authority Of absolute master, hs derives more
satisfaction from the ultimate realization OF his
designs, than he can feel humiiatioa and IT,
morse at his premature and absurd attempts 10
overthrow the late Government. Never since
ceive the keys OF the conquered imperial city, has
Royal or Imperial progress been conducted with greater
maehifcence Its no longer with the slow and stately
grandeur of a Royal coach, drawn by eight Flemish
mares, that the procession advances Modern science
has given wings to power. Half dozen cities and de-
psrmebts crossed in many hours Champagne,
Lorraine the Vosges and Asata are strung on one con
meeting rcd and every quarter of hour the OcOus
wires of the telegraph made TO pulsate with the en-
thusiasm of the provinces the train which bear the
Ruler of France ratties past the stations WITH
every allowance for the preirrangsd excite
nent aud the official exsggerstiOn OF these
ports we have no doubt that the reception of
Louis Napoleon, by a large portion OF the
population Of Eastern France has been extremely cor
oia Is curious but ii true, hat the very latest
qusOns If the French Monarchy. Lorraine aud Asa.
tia are foremost 10 military aud national enthusiasm,
and that the of the Emperor Napoleon is nowhere
wOrshpped than in tee provinces upon which he
drew down ali tire horrors OF invasion In Strasburg.
indeed, the old Republican eaven has never ceased %
feTment, and II We remember rightly, the Prince mad
Indications If II upon his return from Lyons and
Bessncon in 1880; but there frewJrks and
novelty the railroad and the Illuminated minister,
will do their work, aud the people stl too well
amused with the pleasures ct des2otc government
TO conspire against il, or 10 feel tina. indignant
throb which awakens a nation from the frivolous and
degrading dominion of such power Perhaps, for the
peace of the world, and for the relative progress Of
other nations az compared with France Il ID lot un ie.
srable that this state should be prolonged and Il
could forget what that nation hiss done in better
times for the culture and the freedom OF Europe,
should leave her to the repose che has couted aod
tanned. at present these diversions suffice for h-r
wants. Louis Napoleon il more Of pleasure AID
Of selfndugepce th,n Of ardent ambition aud of Ia
satiable toll HIS life has been Of vicssiudes aud
haTdshps and In his present attitude there is of
the yOupuSry than Olhe TIE sotlerand the
qualities Of arbitrary Governments may be equally
fatal TO public liberty but his policy tends ratbe II
are mistaken, 10 relax the spii of independence
and the msnlier virtues by increasing the arts OF lax.
ury and the prodgaiti Of the State. Such Govern
ment may inict less direct suffering and evil the
present generation than Power addicted to rude
and violent enterprises but IL gins from the dr)wsy
nation rights which its oref4thers would have died 10
dcend and leaves postery too emascuate to regain
what its predecessors hsd forsaken But If remind
us that even thee habits and qualifications may be the
cloak OF other projects learn, with the astonishing
rapidity OF our present communications, TIA, At IL
O'Clock yesterday morning the Prince President crossed
the Rhine bridge thrown by his engineers.
Kehl, aud reviewed the troops Of Baden on the
soil OF the GeImanic Confederation amid the accana.
lions OF the multitude IL would be unwise 10 attach
too much Importance to such inciden. 2 day of
festivty, but passage of the Rhine by French ruler
even la sport lie not without sigfiicance
The event which this journey of Loais Napoleon is
more particularly intended celebrate deserves how
ever, other notice than that which his presence Ia the
walls Of Strssburg and the political condition Of France
are calculated 10 excite. The termination of the great
line of railway between Paris and the extreme point OF
the eastern frontier OF France, communicating with ae
Rhine and with the Swiss frontier Basic IL an
event Of more than national importance la
strategical point of view it enables the French Gov
eminent 10 throw army with great rapldty on the
confines OF the Black Forest the important positions
between the Rhine and the Upper Danube The two
great lines OF railway connecting the heart of France
with the Belgian frontier In the North and the frontier
OF Baden In the Last, have much creased both the
offensive and defensive strength of the couptry
for they are the advanced posts toward the other
Continental States OF system Of railways which WILL
ere long, unite the Atlantic and the Mediterra
mean coasts with the Rhine If the commercial
policy OF France were conducted mora enlarged
principles, Instead OF being closed by preudlces and
restrictions against orei. trade, should anticipate
consequences OF equal importance and greater benefit
from this Railroad 10 the general mercantile ntere.ts
OF Europe for 1t opens another and direct lire
of co nmuricatioD from Sw zerand and Southern Ger
many TO the outports Of France and 10 the whJle |
Western World But at present the Rhensh aud Bel
sian Railways, assisted BY the navigation OF the Rhine
have little 10 fear from this composition The Paris
and Strasburg Railway H. however. a rrea. nadjna
wOrk-the mos. extensive line which has yet been
completed In France we believe, chiefly, II not gu
tfrely by the resources of the country and the nau
gHrsiion Of this undertaking may deservedy be re-
Parded one OF the most auspieOus days on which
toe present French Government has reaped the mar
vests sOwn by other hands.