The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-09
Napoleon and His Destiny.

Mr. Wikofi, in his Adventures of q Rowing
Diplomatist," just published, throws more light
on the political career of the present Emperor of
the French than any Of the former writers on the
subject. He describes him as he was at London
in exile, and as he was at Paris when President
of the Republic demonstrates that he was indeed
the man for the situation, and that without him
France would infallibly have gone to utter rain
We have reason to believe that SO far as the
Emperor's personal character is concerned, Mr..
Wikoff, 80 far from AatteriDg, has really hardly
done the Emperor justice. The Emperor Napo-
leon is professionally one of the very first minds
of the day. Unlike his uncle in almost every
particular save quickness Of perception, he is
COOL unimpassioned inaccessible to revenge and
other petty faults, capable OF being happy at
rest, unbiased in favor Of his family patient of
injustice, tolerant Of contradiction and at the
same time, clearness and quickness OF political
vision energy in action, courage, AID indomt-
able viii are by no means less marked in him tnan
they were in the first Napoleon. Now, let it b.
well remembered, for man with so rare a com
bination OF qualities as this, the temporary
sovereignty of the French people is not so very
startling reward. Very inferior men, such Us
Louis Philippe, Talleyrand, Robcspictre, Lamar
tine and Cavaignac have done as much as that.
Napoleon Louis deserves something better high
or. What can that something be?
The first impulse Of the Emperor, az would
have been the case with any other man in the
like case at first, was to establish a dynasty.
This is the old, the conventional idea. Anybody
may set up as king and flourish awhile bat it
takes o man Of genius to found dynasty.
Therefore Napoleon would found dynasty.
He got rid Of one old conventional idea--he did
not marry into a reigning houses but 70 the
other-the dynasty-he chung. That is some
time since; it was, perhaps, natural then; but
now, when he reflects calmly over his position,
and the prospects Of this son Of his, what can
he find TO encourage him! In the first place
his own throne, as he knows perfectly, rests not
on the hereditary but the elective principle Tf
the people Of France had not been Disguised
tabished the Empire. lie is supported now,
and reigns smoothly enough; but that is because
he is undoubtedly an able man, and makes q
good ruler. To expect that the French people
viii endorse over their royalty to his son. how
ever he may turn out, Is not reasonable. Again,
there is enough before his eyes at the present
moment to satisfy any rational person that as
soon as ever his iron control Ii removed from
the French, the Empire will not be maintained
peaceably. He is the soul Of IL; him dead,
nothing but anarchy and war. How can
the transition be got over We hear that
he is providing Councils of Regency aud
Lieutenant Generals to be tutors to his son;
but has he read history with so little profit as to
labor under the delusion that these soldiers
would he true 10 him-that the army would be
true TO them--that the people would submit to
The army-the whole for, perhaps, period OF
years? Some of the old Roman Emperors sd
mitted their soDs, legitimate or adopted into
participation in the empire during their lifetime;
this plan might possibly cave the youth; but has
the Emperor twenty-five sure years Of life?
In word to whichever side he looks, be must
meet with prospects inimcal to dynastic ambi-
tion. Even If all were smooth so far as his fami-
" is concerned he must see that dynasties are
not The order Of the day: that all tends, on the
contrary, toward democracy; and that not
throne in Europe Is worth fifty years purchase.
wba, sorry occupation for man Of his genius
70 set about building an ednce, which however
cupninely planned and symmetrically put to-
qe,h,r, must in all probability be broken down
Wv thc force Of esentsl How unwise for him TO
court failure in biz last and greatest scheme!
There is mooe Ny winch -. 1uI cgo. =. ~