The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1853-01-28
RUFUS NJ. HERRoN, Publisher.



Europe, is the proclamation of Louis Napoleon
Bonaparte, as Emperor Of France, under the title
Of Napoleon Ill. There is no surprise in The e.
vent ITSELF for the steps il had been so nainly
paved, that all the world waited G1r the cohsum.
nation. Blu, take the whole series Of events, from
the commencement OF lS46, to This time, and the
elevationpf Louis Napoleon 10 the throne oil France
| as s,sp<absolue sovereign, must be pronounced the
most wonderful chapter in the history Of Christen-
/ dom. The mere memory Of the Conqneror and
| Legislator, who CLOSED his career in I645, after
| al nseryai of nearly forty years, duriIg which
the wnoie tendency o Fraace seenaed 70 he 10
clss. lc-e ad riItiipy the 1iarnn;ics of cs:nsfi.
/ atitah liberty, has bceif IlS'eHs lfsiSrs Wy a
rapid and unobstructed protEass, 10 sumasi, 6f
i his own absolute authority, II member oi i,is own
! family having prestige OF his own, md whose
personal notoriety had been Of a kind 10 crown
him rather with contempt and ridicuIe, than with
fame and power. Louis Napoleon is the same in.
divdual, who, sIxteeRsg gears ago, after the rJicu
lous failure of the conspiracy of StrasbuFy, was
put into diligence by Louis PHILIPPE, under the
charge of police officer, and sent quietly out Of
France, dIsordery person, who could notbe
suffered to remain but who was too feeble an enc
my TO meet The serious attention O. Government.
This man is now Emperor, by the almost uuanI
nous voice of the French people.
Modem history affords parallel TO this sue
cession. But Roman history presents with
so many and SO striking points of resemblance.
that it could not fail ta be recalled, even before
the parallel was complete by Louis Napolcon's as
sumption Of the Imperial power. No modern ia-
deed, save Napoleon, can well be compared, both
in his fortune and his genius to JuliusCesar. Each
of them is period of the highest civilization, tri-
umphed by personal ability and the dazzle OF an
unequaled fame over the long esabllsed instiu>
tutions, and the existing factious anarchy ol h's
country. Each distinguished his reign by akplen
dor of craftsmanship scarcely inferior TO that OF
hts warike achievements Each was cut short
in his career by his violence. The reign OF each
was followed by the establishment OF an order of
things that seemed to cut off all hope of the reso
ration Of the demolished throne, Why should the
family oil Caesar reign in Rome? Ii was a family
that save in The person of tho great julius, was
among The least distinguished OF that cloud of no.
Bile names that have coEseeraed to undying fame,
the hstory>o the Eternal City. Why should tbs
family of the BonapRrtes reign in Francel fa-
mily that never rose to the level Of historic notice.
til anGleor emhlazaned i n ihe lghi o his aSa.
y We must measure the grendeur pf those two
>nen by the ascend1ncy they exercised oyer the
and afref, appareffS9 Gta a-Ulea'c1t5 OF rhelr
power had been dssipated. In either case a ne
phew, man without shred of positive power,
without conspcuousness by good luck, with.
out name in arms, the reputation Of single
quality of superiority, has been bUrne, by the i'm
posing ascendancy of their names, into position
from whence, BY sure and rapid stages, they reach.
ed that very summit OF power which the conqus.
rors only won by the course of time, and the ra.
rest combinations of genius and fortune.
Perhaps as close a parallel may be run between
the fortunes and charaler Of Octavus, Caesar, Au-
gusus and Louis Napoleon, as between their IL.
lustrious antecedents. Both started with mar
veous small stock of reputation They were
thought to be harmless persons, worth nothing in
49, Int, N
the great names which they recalled order, 20 be
used against the factous leaders who were threat.
ening the existence of the Republic. Both were
very willing to be used for so benign purpose
both accepted a share of power, with the samo
specous modesty; both cung 10 it, once acquir'
ed with the same combination Of policy and forces
and both marched, with the same sure and spa
cious gait, towards the final consummalon OF their
ambition.
1t will remain for after times 10 complete the
parallel, or 20 mark the distinction. But even
now we may prophesy that unless Napoleon Ill
shall follow the peaceful policy If Augustus, no
is likely to share the fate OF the uncle, than
to transmit the imperial power undisPu'ed like tho
nephew.
The comments of the English press show that
there is some uneasiness about The policy oi tho
new Emperor. IL is observed that his stndious
defence Of the dvnaetic title ct . Napoleon ti 7"
ss a. nc an E{irna.i0n OF his intention 10 discard
all Lat has been done by intervening governments;
and especially, that his assumption OF something
real and legitimate in the reign OF Napoleon il,
who is at least as imaginary monarch as Lotl'
XVII /; is declaration of hostility against all that
the powers of Europe ordained and established at
the conclusion of the wars Of The French Reyo!u-
lion. Moreover, it is remarked that the expires.
sions in favor OF peace arc much less emphatic in
The address Of the new Emperor than 10 previous
public speeches. These things are certainly
worthy Of consideration. There are two diCicul,
ties. The powers Of Europe would readily
knowledge Louis Napoleon as Emperor of Franc.
but it is no, so certain that they will accept him
by the dynastIc title of Napoleon Ill. Napoleon
himself may, and is suspected OF determination
10 restore The Empire 10 the limits il had under
his uncle which would almost certainly involve \
Europe ni the dynastc tte of The new Emperor.
and the restricted bounds Of the Empire, there IL
no assurance OF the continuance of peace, and tho
shadow Of the revived BonaParte will brood ike a
nightmare oYer the rePose of the world.
Charlestan Mercury.