The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-07-27
NAPOLEON'S PROPHECY.

During the last years of the illuslrious exile
at ST. Helena his mind seemed to turn often to
the future scenes to be enacted upon the stage
ofEuropean affairs where Kings were TO be the
actors, and where he had so long been the
"bright particular star" Who can fathom the
profound meditations of such man in such a
place-where, like the clipt eagle, he fretted
his life away in hopeless captivity, strugg Cling
with chain that none but death could sever. Ii
was shortly before dsath that the patrarchs
and wise men of ancient times were wont to
utter their oracular predictions. Napoleon,
according to DR.. OMeara's "Voice from ST.
Helena" deemed himself inspired to utter. the
following prophetic sayings, which have
caused much speculation among the thinkers
of Europe
SIN the course of afew years Russia will have Con,
stantinople, the greatest part of Turkey and ell
Greece This hold to be certain as if 1t hsd al
ready taken place. Almost all the csoling and fat
terng which Alexander practised towards me, was TO
gain my consent to effect this object l would not
consent seeing that the equilibrium OF Europe would
be destroyed In the natural course OF things Turkey
must fall TO Russia. The greater part OF her popua-
ton are Greeks who you may say are Russians. The
Powers it would injure and who could oppose IT. are
England, France, Prussia and Austria Now as Ito to
assistance by giving her Servia and other provinces
bordering upon the Austrian dominiens reaching near
to Constentinope. The only hypothesis that France
and England may ever be allied with sincerity will
be in order prevent this. But even this alliance
would not avail; France England and Prussia united
cannot prevent IL. Russia and Austria can at any
time effect it. In fifty years Europe will be either
Republican or Cossack"
Had the inventive powers of mankind slum-
bered, and the energies of steam and electrici-
~ never been evoked, there is little doubt that
long ere this the predictions of the exiled EN-
peror might have been literally verified. In.
deed, in certain sense, they may be said al
ready to have been fulfilled to considerable
extent. Europe is far more republican than
in 1890, and the Democratic influence is felt
and acknowledged by most of the European
Governments. We consider that the question
of mere forms and names has very little to do
in deciding the real character of governments.
So long as the masses, the steers etat," are in
any manner directly or indirectly felt, and their
wishes and interests consulted, just so far does
government psrrake Of the nature of repub-
lie. Within certain limits, this is the fact,
with regard TO England and Germany. They
are, in many respects, virtually republics, in
which Queens and Emperors ere as much sub.
ject to the laws and the scrutiny and censure
public opinion as the Executive in our own
country. Even in France republicanism is
only smothered by temporary compression
The spirit of republicanism is abroad through.
out Europe, and even in the midst of despotic
countries, exists an invisible, yet all-pervading
spirit, "with fear of change perplexing mon
archs," and hiding its time to stand confessed
as the mortal foe of every form of tyranny. =
There remain yet some seventeen years Tor the
fulhlment OF Napoleon's prediction, and, JUG
ing from the events ofthe past IL years. may
we not reasonably expect that similar period
ofcoming time will witness mighty and sue
cesstul struggles for the freedom of the race
A complete fuiflmen, of the prophecy is vel
to come.
The invention of steam vessels introduced
faoicai change in the whole art OF war
ahu o'.hef broke up, or essentially modified al
the ola relations between the States OF Europe
nc maritime nations are now relatively more
powerful, and the inland States weaker than il
.ie uays OF Napoleon. Austria and Russia
from their position, are the losers by tn
change, while Great Britain and France hav
received vast accession Of power. Hene
'ne idea Of Europe ever becoming I" Cossack
mas become simply absurd. Russia is su,
rounded on all sides by enemies who would
sure to thsart her at all points in case 81
were to commence an aggressive war. Eve
u she were to win Turkey (which she seen
now likely to under.ake,) she would be
nearer to general European conquest tb
she is now. The times are gone by when
lew thousand Goths, vandals, Huns or c.
sacks could take country by coup de mai
The steam war vessel and the telegraph ali
aerbid. Europe will not become Cossack. b
may yetbe Republican. in good season 10 &
nj the Emperor's prediction.
But the Emperor of Russia, who has
doubt long pondered upon Napolson,s prop