The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-04-28
The Second Empire in France.

The Second Empire in France.
The following is translated from a let.
ter in the Courier des Etae Unis, dat.
ed at Paris, March 25:
l fully believe that fortnight viii
not pass before the Empiresi, proclaim
ed. There were in former times many
modes of making a nomin alton for Pope
there was the regular election by The con
stituted bodies, also the popular scela-
nation. By which Of these modes will
the Emperor Of France be named Is
it the Senate or the Legislative Corr.
which. upon the day OF their insugura,
tion, will offer 10 Louis Napoleon the
crown or will it be carried To the Tuil-
cries upon a military shield. after a re-
yiewi The manner Is Of no conse-
quence; but the TACT itself appears TO me
10 be inevitable, and more and more lm-
minent.
When in history or in science, phi,
osophers or psychologists wish TO prove
the existence of axed idea they can take
the example of Louis Napoleon. The
extr aordinary destiny of this man is. in
fine, one Of the most striking proofs Of
what obstinacy can do. Most certainly,
as has many times been said. Louis Ma
polcon is not his uncle and yet, it has
happened that he has acquired. here in
France, a power more absolute even
than any which the uncle ever assumed.
The eyes of Louis Napoleon, from the
day they were first opened, have been
fixed upon the imperial crown. Even
when that brilliant object had disappear
ed from the world, SO that il could not
be seen in the distance by the most pro-
found observers. he has never ceased TO
see il, and 10 march straight towards il,
crossing every obstacle which might lie
in his path. Aud how has his conf
dence in his destiny been increased, and
his faialsm been encouraged and con-
frmed. by his seeing his greatest en-
irsvagancies become the FIRST reasons
for his success. That which would have
sufficed 10 ruin forever any reasonable
man. has been the very cause oi his
good fortune. Suasboarg and Boulogne,
those two leaps which would naturally
have broken his neck ,onlv served to put
him upon his feet.
I, is in respect TO his remarkable sue
cess that Louis Napoleon differs from bis
uncle. His history will not be so grand,
but il will perhaps be more astonishing.
The fret Napoleon probably never had,
from the outset, any conception Of the
destiny which awaited him. That des-
tiny led him on from day TO day. from
period TO period, from transformation to
transformation, as in the the case Of o.
ther mortals only he Was the greatest
Of mortals. The nephew, however, be-
lieves that he was born an emperor he
has an intuilive knowledge Of fis des-
tiny, aud he awaits il with an iInpertur>
able and phlegma,ic security. There is
in his character mixture Of tenerity
aud inertness, of breakneck impetuosl>
,y and sulIen patience. which makes him
a perlec, original. lie has always the
air Of yielding to the prayers and re-
monslrances Of others. while in poin, Of
fac, he never yields his own opinions or
purposes. When there was a council Of
Ministers who believed themselves re-
sponsible, his custom was 10 listen pa
lienily to their advice but he never re,
piled to their Suggestions. simply be-
cause he did moi aim al discussion.
These traits OF character make il
easy N believe that Louis Napoleon is
preparing the resurrection Of the Em-
pre- in France. Ibelievs the day is no,
far distant when il will be accomplished
Il is true. the President is as much EN-
peror to-day as he will be when he as
sumes the robes and title, Blu, he looks
TO the fulfilment Of tradition. He re-
CARDS himself as the heir and successor
Of the Empire. lie wishes TO be called
Napoleon H., and TO continue the dy-
nasty. I..s.