The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-05-12
The Empcr)r's Letter Criticised,

mo bnpCf)rS Letter UrltlOlseu.
The Emperor Napocon's recent let
ter to the Minister Of State regarding tho
preparations for commcmorating the
hundredth anniversary Of Napoleon l.,
the text Of Which was published in tho
Herald few days back, has attracted
considerable attention in political cir
cles in Paris. The somi.oflicial press
have little to say on the subject, but the
two independent papers, the Temps and
Arentr, make up for The reticencc of
the other Journals. The Aucnir is es
pecally bitter, MS may be Judged from
the tone OF the following savage at,
tack
II The coming elections did not explain
the Letter it would he incomprchcnsiblr,
the Emperor being fully aware Of the
controversy it would give rise to. Since
Napoleon was born "many ruins Of the
empire have accumulated" Yes, many
ruins; first. the ruins Of the old regime,
over which the genius of tho revolution
,oarcd gloriouslv, and next the ruins CT
the moral and material conquesis Of the
revolution and it Is on those that tho
figure of Napoleon stands out. ut is
still the figure Of Nnpocon." says the
Emperor (which guides and projects us,
and which from nothing mace mo what
| am On this last point tho Emperor
is right: at all events he has a right to
Judge himself rs he likes--that is his
affair and not ours. Bat when he says
Napoleon still guides and protects us he
makes singular mistake. When Ma
poleon guided us to Spain and Moscow
that Is to say to those catastropheS
which have diminished the prestige O.
our arms and caused France to undergo
hnmlllations after having fel, all the
favors Of fortune. And since Tie En-
ptror says that Napoleon still guides MS,
the Mexican disaster is easily under
stood But IT the SOUVENIR Of Napo-
leon guides, us it does not protect u.s.
When Napoleon, forgetting his oa,hs,
erected his throne over the fallen rcpub-
lie, the France Of the rcvontion bright
with tho glory Of the republican arms,
possessed as frontiers tho Alps, the
Rhine and the Schc!dt Prussia was
associated with our policy by interest
Russia by Amour Propre; and, with
out being too much engaged in German
affairs, wo had in our hands the balance
Of German interests. Yes, were pro-
tccled; projected by the sympathy, al.
m'rat'on and respect OF peoples; protect.
cd by our natural frontiers and we had
peace, which had inaly descended on
revolutionary France heroically defend.
ed by liberty. 1t was in that admirable
situation that Napoleon took France
and threw her into war which was to
list ten years and end in double inva-
aon. This is the way in which tile re-
mcmbrance Of Napoleon guides and pro.
tects ns. "Napoleon, says the Empc-
ror, "callcd France the great nation"
lie was right, for thanks to the fcvolu.
ton, she was indeed the great nation.
But when the Emperor adds that Ma
poleon developed tho manly virtues
which fonnd empires" he forge,s the
best known but saddsst part Of the histo
ry Of his uncle. He forgets 1914, Fon,
ta'nebleau and the Senate-all those
vhlefs who deceived and cowardly aban.
doncd their mastcr--all those dignita-
rles who, by the baseness Of their ~ graft.
.nde, make The shame of their scrvility
forgotten. lle forge,s, above all, tia, Ma.
poleon reaped what hs sowed; he did not
like free men or Independent characters ;
at the supreme moment he only found
'ackcvs, and his empire at the end re.
srmbled that OF which Montcsquicu SAID
That it could neither live with soldiers
nor without them. II desire, says the
Emperor, "that from Inc 18th of Au-
gust next all soldiers Of the republic and
the first empire should receive an annual
pension OF $50 francs" If as is not
likely, there still exist soldiers Of the
republic, this passage Of tho Emperor's
letter will recall many sad things. It
will make them remember the time
when, recognizing no longer Bona.
parte surrounded by monarchial pomp-
neither the general Of Italy. nor. above
all, the victor Of royalism at Toulon and
Of the 18th Vcndemaire--when they
asked themselves what had become of
so mary fine speeches, glorious exploits,
oaths. VOWS and hopes We are said
they to themselves no more than re,
voted slaves, who are made to reforge
she chains they have broken. But