Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-06-05

HORACE GREELEY UPON LOUIS NAPOLEON.
AIR. Greeley, writing from Paris under date of
the y inst, while still condehning the mode by
which Louis Napoleon attained to power, and the
severe absoluteism Of bis rule, says some very
handsome things of him. 81 cannot doubt" he
remsrks, ssthat he anxiously endeavors to recon
Gle his subjects to the Imperial regime, and to
improve their material and social condition.
could not name another living monarch who would
be likely to WELD such absolute power over thirty
Eve millions of people more bene6cently than he
does" Elsewhere, in speaking Of the wonderful
improvements which he has effected in Paris
whole streets Of which have been rebuilt in the
most magnificent style. thus employing large
numbers of the people, and putting money into
the Golfers Of the Government besides,-he says:
f'Despotism is bitter, but the despotism of one
shrewd man has its attractions, such as are un-
known to the rule of shoulder hitters,' or the
Empire Club" red, e rBhsgul &C.
The question which occurs to every one, ssWi.l
the Empire stend." is thus answered.: s,
81 meet no one who believes it will survive the
present Emperor, but very many who think it will
last as long rs he does. While no one speaks of
his patriotism or dsinterestedness, even by way of
Joke, there is a very general trust in his ability
and confidence in his interchangeable energy. He is
probably the most active, untiring ruler now liv-
ing, an in this respect, at least, reminds the
French Of s'Napo!eon lie Grand" lie has besides,
the undoubtcd courage, inscrutable purpose and
unwaverins faith IN his ''star," which beft the
heir Of the first Bonaparte. lie is moreover the
only focus around which all the anti -Republican
forces and interests in France can for tho present
DC rallied. The priests do not imagine him deyout
nor sincerely attached to their fortunes, but
they say: ''What matter, SO long as he does our
wnrk?o The Lcgitimsts and Orlcansts, (the
former comprising nearly nll that remains of the
wool or land owning arstocracy, the latter inclu-
ding MANY Of the master manufacturers, contrac-
tnr, tl,r,rt tv,J .,,hl
venues generality say: 'This cannot last: but
while it DOES last it protects from Jacobinism,
from Socialism from turbulence, anarchy and the
guilotinc: let it .st so long it will.'' The
more intelligent workmen, the skillful artifcers,
tho observing, aspiring youth who are almost to
last; then why plunge the Nation into intestine
convi5pn and bloodshed when it is already
groaMlg under the load of distant, expensive
and sanguinary foreign war?' And thus the gen.
crtl convict on that the Empire is but state of
transition, serves to protect it from present as
sault and Immediate danger"
But Mr.. G. does not believe in the stability OF
the present order of things. NAPOLEON depends
upon the army for support but ''bayonets think,
and are liable at any moment to be turned upon
their master. s'Ioday the Imperial crown is
borne proudly alOft on the point Of sword; YOU
see bayonets every where, faith in ideas apparent
ly nowhere. The Atheist, anxious that ''God is
on the Sldc OF the heaviest artllery,> app airs TO
be accepted unqucstiona5le truth; but wait
and see.''
Mr.. Greeley arrived in Paris on the day of the
attempted assassination of Louis Napoleon, and
is surprised that the event created SO little scnsa-
tion
81 saw no crowds in the streets and heard of
none; and if any cried Vive PEmpereur! it was
where they felt pretty sure the Emperor would
hear, at least hear Of, their enthusiasm. The
attempt to kill the Emperor has not created one
half the feeling here that the shooting Of Bill
Poole did in New York. nor as an ineffective at
tempt to take the life Of any one of the two-hun-
dred Of the best known citizens of our emporium
would in luce. Except in Official military
quarters, the whole affair has been taken very
coolly. l heard one anecdote of the outrage,
which my informant related as n literal fact,
and which is at least characteristic enough to be
A Frenchman walking in the Place de la Con-
corde, was met by another who exclaimed in deep
agitaton--''Ilave you heard the news? The En-
pcror has Just been shot-he is killed. ''Serve ed
him right" responded the other, "Vire la Repub-
ique!' ''No,'' cried another runner from the
Avenue Champs Elysccs, che has been fired at
but not killed-he is unhurt.'' 81 am delighted
to hear it,, instantly responded the Republican of
ten seconds nrevinns; ''Virc rEamperenr!' So
WIGS the world.