Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-05-19
How Napoleon became President.

There is no character in modern or an
cient history more curious than that of the
present Emperor of the French. Just now
when his relations with Mexico bring
him so prominently to our notice, it may be
of interest to glance at some Of the earlier
events of his career.
Prince Louis Napoleon, as he used to be
calledthe son of Louis Bonaparte, King of
Holland, and IIortense the daughter of the
Empress Josephine-had always been a
schemer He had INDUCED from his boy
hood in dreams of empire. Being according
to statute, the heir of his uncle, the first
great Napoleon, he was driven by the very
exingencies of his inheritance into contri'
vances to obtain the supreme power over
France, which he without doubt persuaded
himself was his right Through long, silent
years he studied, until he became learned in
jurisprudence lie knew well how to veil
his designs 10y high sounding talk about
freedom and honor, and loyalty to the will
of the many. Still for a long time he was
not appreciated or considered parsonage
of much importance. 1t was, indeed, rather
the fashion to laugh at him, and to regard
him as harmless, because OF sheer want OF
capacity to do great things.
| His attempts to rouse the enthusiasm oi
| the French people, in 1886, covered him
! still more with ridicule. He presented him
self before the army wearing the clothes OF
| the first Napoleon, and conscious that in
point of hat, coat and boots he resembled
| perfectly the hero of AusterlitZ, he imagined
! himself secure of welcome from the troops
! He was utterly quenched, however, by a
certain resolute Colonel Taldier, and was
shipped off 10 America by gocd-natureo
King of the French, Louis Philippe.
! In 1910 he made another attempt, this
] time carrying with him tame eagle, which
he had taught to perform some exploit thai
| he trusted the people would resolve as an
omen. The eagle fuiled lsmentahly in it,
programme; and again firm, resolute 9th
Ger forced his way to the theatre OF action
a barrack yard-and disposed of the Prince
his fifty armed followers, his flag, his eagle
and his counterfeit staff, with as much east
as though he had been dealing with banC
of s,roil;ng players. This time the would
be Emperor was tried for treason, anc
sentenced to perpetual Imprisonment in tn,
fortress of Ham, from which he escaped, 81,
wears afterwards, in the garb Of workman
and went to England.
lie took advantage Of the revolution o
1s4s, in which King Louis Philippe wa
depOsod, to return to France. 9Th
third time WINS" says the old proyerb, anC
this third time he found more favor in th
eyes of his country. He was chosen /
deputy to the National Assembly. Lamar
tine, always opposed to the Bonapart
dynasty, endeavored to effect his banishment
but was unsuccessful; and after stormy de
bate, the Prince, at this time forty years old
was found to be the most popular candidate
The election was conducted with periec
fairness the Prince became President, an'
perhaps. as he had already made two at
tempts on the throne of France, be haf
some right to infer that the millions o
citizens who elected him as Presidency wer
willing TO make use of him and his wei
known ambition as a means of restoring .
France an imperial form of government. A
rate he acted upon this ~ ipsfsnSs am
If he oonstitution by his oath of Office, tha
did Jefferson Davis and Robert E, Lee cor
slider themselves bound to tho United State
by theirs,