The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-09-09
Napoleon III.

Napoleon III.
:: All The prophecies that have been
made respecting the length of Napo-
leon Ills ascendancy, have failed of
justification by the event. Many in
genious men, who had noted that mo
government had lasted long in France
since the meeting of the States-Gcne-
raj, in 17S9, were convinced, says the
Boston TI'acelc,, that the present EN-
peror's power would afford no exccp-
tion to the rule, and they gave their
speculations and predictions to the
world; but, thus far, both as 'specu-
lators-and prophets, they have failed
slgnaNy. There were several govern
ments in France between the spring
of 1889 and the autumn of 1893, and
Bonaparte came into power in less
than eleven years after the meeting of
the States-G General. His rule, as Con-
sui and Emperor, and including the
Hundred Days, lasted for about six
teen years.
The Orleans monarchy fell in it's
eighteenth year. What could be more
logical than to infer that the Third
Napoleon was to have brief career?
Accordingly, he was Sentenced to fall
soon; but the sentence has not been
carfied into execution. It will be
seventeen years, come next December,
since Napoleon III placed himself at
the head Of France, .and fourteen
years since the coup d'etat which made
him Emperor. He has already ruled
longer than his uncle ruled, or than
the old Bourbons managed to hold the
throne of France. Louis Philippe is
yet ahead of him; but if the Emperor
should continue to keep up n year
longer, he will have distancel the
Citizen King.
From present appearances, and sup
posing his life to be spared, he will
break the spell that is supposed to
doom French mcnarchs to short
reigns. He is so prudent that he does
not encourage men to attempt his
overthrow. His uncle was one of
these gentlemen who could not bear
good fortune we'll, and whose offen-
siveness of demeanor sets everybody
in arms against them; and this AFRO
gancc of his had more to do with
working his fall than his Spanish po-
hey, his continental system and his
Russian war. He tramplcd on every
body, from a Russian Emperor to a
Portuguese peasant; and he was hated
. us heartily by Jacobins as by German
mobiles. Napoleon LII is very differ
ent man. Hgis as avaricious ofIpow-
er as Napoleon in his most despotic
days, but he is content with the sub
stance of it, and does not snap at the
shadow. The most remarkable thing
about his quarrel with Prince Napo
leon is, that it involves something of a
departure from his System of modera
tion in language, as appears from the
imperial letter. That letter has more
of the First Napolcon's style in it thar
anything else that ever has come from
the Third Napoleon; and could the
truth be known, probably it would be
seen that the writer regrets that he
ever exchanged the cautious style fol
the rasping style of the founder of the
imperial dynasty.
Those persons who will have it that
the French Emperor must fall-that,
unlike Louis XVIII, he is to form nc
exception to the fate of almost every
man who has reigned IN France fo1
more than ninety years-may feel
sanguine over the. political defeat:
which he has sustained of late, on the
occurrence of elections for members o.
the legislative body. 80 long a.
these debates took place In Paris