The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-21
NJ 0 sd, Va,


NAPOLEON GoIsc TO THE waRs The Pa
ris correspondent of the London Economist
says that all the remonstrances of the EN-.
peror's councillors, and all the representa-.
tions of England and France, have not been
sufficient to induce Louis Napoleon to relin-
quish his purpose of going to the Crimea.-
lie has given orders, it is said, to prepare
everything for his departure, waiting for the
next report from the seat of war, before Ia.
king decisive resolution
We trust that the next report may induce
him to carry out his purpose. The cleverest
men have often weak point in their char
aoter, and we should not be surprised if
Louis was about to console his enemies by
proving that he is no exception to the gene
raj rule. Distinguished soldiers may be
found, who would prefer great reputation
as civilians, to the highest military honors.
aud we all know that sensible civilians often
pine for military buttons. We saw this Illus
trated in this country in the Mexican war,
when so many estimable professional men
threw law and physic TO the dogs, and array.
lng themselves in warike harness, astonish-
ed the world, and gained no small amount Of
popular favor, by their patriotism and PROV.
ess.
1t may be. however, something more than
mere desire to play soldier, that induces
Louis Napoleon to prepare for the wars. The
Russian contest has placed him in perplex.
ing position. II he commit the entire con.
troll of operations in the field to one Of his
Generals. the defeat Of the enemy might
prove the signal of his own downfall. The
idolatry among the French of military glory,
would place the new hero at once on the Pc
destal of the popular heart; and from that
pedestal to the throne would be but a single
step. A French General, who would re
trievethe disasters of the allies in the East
and carry on victorious campaign against
the Russians, could not be prevented, by any
thing on earth, from seizing the imperial pur
pie, except his own disinterested patriotism,
commodity which is not SO common among
military Frenchmen, as to enter into the cal
culations of as shrewd man as Louis Ma
poleon. lie has no alternative, then, if he
would secure the power he has so adroitly
gained, but to lead his armies in person, and
make the French people believe that he is
Napoleon in war as well as in peace. Have
they not seen him already at the mock bat
ties at Boulogne, leading one division of the
French army, and utterly routing another, led
by one of the best Generals of France? 1t
is true his Russian adversary might not be as
courteous as the polite French General; but
Louis could have, in his nominal subordi
mates, the ablest military men of his Empire,
Just as our volunteer generals in the Mexican
war, who gained such great battles, and be-
came all at once such famous soldiers, had
among their aids one or two regular officers,
who gave them "the points" but of whom
nobody ever heard. 1t is obviously Napole-
on's policy to go to the Crimea, and he al
| ways follows his policy. It's true, he will
have t6hdmbug on grand scale, to accom-
| plish his object; but there can be no scruples
about humbugging i'll man who once trained
| an eagle to eat beefsteak out of his hat, so
that when he landed in France, the French
people might be carried away with the sus-
picious wonder of an eagle descending up
on the head of Napoleon. Next to Barnum,
LOUIS Napoleon is probably the greatest hum
bug of modern times.