Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-12-28
.Nsap,IolcollI IN.

r j
noleon Bonaparte as Emperor of France, un-
der the title of Napoleon III. There is no sur,
pr;;se in tho event ITSELF for the steps to it had
been SO plainly paved that all the world waited
for tbe consummaton But take the whole
series Of events, from the commencement OF
ls4s to this time, and the elevation of Louis
Napoleon to the throne of France, as an abso-
lutte sovereign, must be pronounced the most
wonderful chapterin the history OF Chrlsten-
dom. The mere memory OF the Conquerer
and Legislator who closed his career in 1913,
after an interval of nearly forty years, during
which the whole tendency of France seemed
to be to consolidate and multiply the guaran-
fies of constitutional liberty, has been sufficient
to raise. by rapid and unobstructed process,
~ tbe summit of his own absolute authority, a
member of his family having no prestige OF his
own. and whose sole personal notoriety had
been Of a kind to crown him rather with con-
stemnt and ridicule, than with fame and power
Iopis Napoleon is the same individual who, SIX.
teen wears ago, after the ridiculous failure OF
the conspiracy of Strasburg was put III olli-
.neaee bys Louis Philippe, underth charge OF a
police officer, and sent quietly out OF France as
d;sorderIy person, who could not be suffered
10 remain but was too feeble an enemy to merit
the serious attention of Government MS
man is now Emperor by the almost unanimous
choice of the French nation. -,
Modern history affords no parallel to th's
succession. But Roman history presents one
with so many and SO striking points OF rese"-
blance that it could not fail to be recalled, even
before the parallel was complete by Louis Ma
noleon,s assumption of the Imperial power.
No. modern indeed, save Napoleon can well be
sc.onpared. both in his fortunes and his genius,
Inl;ns Cesar. Each Of them in period OF
the highest civilization, triumphed by personal
sbility. and the dazzle Of an unequalled iame'
over tie lone established institutions, and the
ex;st;na fac tious anarchy, ofhis country. Each
distinguished his reign by a,splender OF states
manship scarcely inferior to that OF his Wariihe
achievements. Each was cnt short IN MS ca
reer by his violence. The reign OF each was
followed by the establishment OF an oraer OF
things that seemed to cut off all hope OF the
restoration Of the demolished throne. why
sbonld the family Of Cesar reign in Rome!
II was d fanily that save in the person OF the
GREAT julius, was among the least dlstln-
gp;sbed ofthat cloud of noble names that have
3 cconsecrated TO undying fame the history OF the
Eternal City. Why should the family oil the
Bonapartes reign in Frances A family that
never rose to the level of historatc notice: till
Nauoleon enlblazonedi it in the light Of his own
extraordinary career.
We must measure the grandeur of those two
men by the ascendeney they exercised over the
minds oftwo great nations after they were gone
and after, apparently, all the elements OF their
power had been. dissippated. In either case, a
q nephew. man without a shred OF positive
power, without even conspicuousness by good
luck. without a name in arms; orsthe rtPuta-
ton of a single quality of superiority, has been
horne. by the imposing ascendancy OF the'r
names. into position from whence, o. sure
and rapid stages, they reached that very sum-
NIT Of power which the conquerors only won
by the course Of time, and the rarest combIna'
tions Of genins and fortune.
Perhaps as close parallel might be run be-
tween the fortunes and character OF octavius
Cesar Augustus and Louis Napoleon, as be.
tween their illustrious antecedents Both start
ed with a nnaryelous small stock of reputation.
They were thought to be harmless persons,
worth nothing in themselves, but worth Guilt
waiting, on account of the great names which
they recalled order, to be used against the fac
tioas leaders who were threatening the exis-
tence Of the Republic. Both were very willing
to be used for so benign purpose; both ac-
cepted a share Of power, with the same spe.
cious modesty; both clung to it, once acquired,
with The same combination Of policy and force;
and both marched, with the same sure and spe.
cions gait, towards the final .consummation OF
their ambition.
It will remain for after times to complete the
parallel, or to mark the distinction. But even
now we may prophesythat unless Napoleon LII
shall follow the peaceful policy of Augustus,
he is much more likely to share the fate OF the
uncle, than to transmit the imperial power un-
disputed like the nephew.
The comments OF the English press show
that there is some uneasiness about the policy
of the new Emperor. 1t is observed that his
studious defence of the dynastic title of :" Ma
poleon III" seems like an intimation of his in
tention to discard all that has been done by in
teryening governments; and especially, that
his assumption of something real and legitimate
ii, the reign of " Napoleon ii, )" who is at least
as imaginary monarch as Louis XVII; is de-
claration Of hostility against all that the pow
ers of Europe ordained and established at the
conclusion Of the wars of the French Revolu-
q. .on,orLod that fbo nY.