The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-04-04
The Cost of an Emperor.
[From the New York Post.l


A pamphlet just Published in Paris with a
great flourish of trumpets asserts in a some
what misty way the "elaims of the Napoleonic
dynasty" and tries to persuade Frenchmen
that they are happy and free. Since Napoleon
became Emperor he has, this pamphlet boasts
blessed the French people with the following
great measures"
"Q) The act which has made public in the
papers the debates of the Senate, and has per-
mitted the reproduction IN ertenso by short
% hand OF the discussions in the two Chambers;
w the sending of Ministers to the Chambers
by special delegation; (3) the extension to the
Corps Legisiatlf of the right of amendment;
az the power attributed to the Senate to send
back to the Corps Legislatif, for fresh examina-
ton bills, which appear to it to be detective:
(5) the voting Of the budget by large sections;
(6) the abandonment by the Emperor of the
power of opening, in the absence of the Cham
bers, supplementary or extraordinary credits;
~ the law on the liberty of the press; (S) the
law on conditions and (9) finally the bill which
is now before the Legislature, and whose OBJ
ject is the right of meeting"
In plain English, Napoleon, when he made
Himself master of the State, robbed the people
OF all their liberties; few rags and scraps he
has since returned, with grudging hand. and
because he did not dare refuse and these are
the great measures'-which still leave the
press shackled, prohibit freedom of speech
and keep the people enslayed.
1t Is an unlucky circumstance that lust as
on'S pdAnphiOS dbtIdCtS attention 10 the cOnQl-
ton OF the Empire, and the fruits of Napo-
ieonlsm, MIR. Horn, one of the ablest and most
accurate statlsticians of Europe should print
another pamphlet, in which he reveals what
ne caiis the balance sheet of the Empire,
and tells Frenchmen what.it costs them to be
ruled by Napoleon. Mr. Horns comparisons
IN the following paragraph, show how waste
ful ruler Napoleon is, and condemn his sys-
tenn as the most costly as well as the most in
efhGlent OF modern civilized governments.
n e -
1852 to 1866, the Imperial government has
spent S65OO,OOO,0OO, or 50, 800, 100000 more than
the july government in the same space of time
1882 to 1916. OF these $6,5O0,OO0,O0O, nearly
three-iourths have been absorbed by expenses,
either partially sterile debt &c, or worse
than sterile (war, MARINE &c., or of question
able utility. Nevertheless, these three-fourths
(S460O, O,OO0,000) represent the total of what has
been drawn from the ordinary resources-the
sure and positive resources of the country.
The results of that disproportion between the
means and the requirements are, the elasticity
OF the imposts broken down under the heavy
weight imposed on the taxpayers, and the con-
se9uent falling off in the revenue, the most le-
&c.) neglected, the calls upon credit more fire.
quent than ever, and the capital of the public
debt more than doubled IN fifteen years; the
continuous augmentation of the floating debt,
which 1t Is In vain attempted to keep under
$200,000000. On the other hand the financial
credit of France and her political credit are
fallen lower than before 1852, and her internal
condition is characterized By general embar-
rassment, which is turning to misery. Such is
what documents of the most unquestionable
authority exhibit to US as the consequence of
personal government during fifteen years. We
need hardly say what conclusion must be
drawn. 1t is obvious to every judicious mind
and it may be described in very few words
that to continue as we are is impossible, and
there remains for France choice between
reform and bankruptcy"
Within, increasing poverty and depression,
the vast public debt doubled in fifteen years,
the national credit sinking the most import
ant needs OF the people neglected.; without
Mexico, Germany, Italy; these make up the
career of the great Cesar who undertook so
proudly to show the world how beneficently
one man could tyrannize over great nation,
and who, but little while ago. thought he
could persuade all the world to cast away free
dom and submit to the yoke of Caesar. 1t be-
gins to look as though Napoleon III. would
take rank in history as the most prodigious
blunderer and incompetent of this or almost
any aoa