The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-06
Tho Empress Eu9enie In a European Cri
sis-Tho SemiraMis OF the West.


spectsd Queen of England, who rules an em-
| pire more extensive than any on the globe or
| that ever existed, and who is the only female
monarch of the time governing great nation,
| is not 80 prom inent person In the eyes of the
world as the wife of Napoleon the Third. Her
position as the French Empress, as the wife Of
| the great man who rules France and controls
| in measure tho destinies Of Europe, and as
/ the mother of the heir to the French throne,
would, under any circumstances, give her
great prominence; but she has acquired such
fame and influence through her own character
and conduct that her power and the role she
| performs are to some exteut Independent Of
the Emperor, though supplemental to and in
| connection with his government Whether we
| regard her present position or that she will
occupy, probably, in the future, she may be
called the Semramis of the West and of mod
ern times.
| The parallel between the famous Queen of
Assyria and the Empress Eugene, though not
| perfect, is nearer perhaps, than could be
drawn between any other prominent historical
| women. Making allowance for the difference
of the times in which Semiramis lived and the
present age, there is similarity in the
position and history of the Assyrian Queen
and tho Empress Eugenie. The history of
Semlramis dates far back In the womb of
time, to two thousand years before Christ, or,
as some say, to twelve hundred and fifty years
before, and is involved in fables and some
mystery, though there Is no doubt about the
existence of this Queen and the prominent
facts recorded Of her. AS regards Eugene,
there is no difficulty in this respect. We
know her history. We know that the
Emperor Napoleon, who could have COM
manded the hand Of almost any Princess In
Europe, chose the charming and beautiful
! Spanish Countess Montijo for his wife. As
| circumstances havo proved, Napoleon showed
| his taste and Judgment in this as
in go many other things. Semiramis
Eugene. The Assyrian became the wife of
general and friend of Minus, King of Assy-
ria. She showed so much tact and ability on
critical occasion in the war against Bactra
that the King took notice of her. Admiring
her beauty and courage he married her, and on
account of this her former husband, Menones,
destroyed himself. BY King Minus Semiramis
had son named Ninyas. She made extern
sive G5nquests built numerous cities and
erected magnificent works all over her king
dom. She built and adorned Babylon, carried
on numerous wars and subdued Egypt and
~ If o6o
her sovereignty to her son Ninyas, for whom
1t seems all her labors and conquests were
made.
The modern Semiramis Of Franco appears
to have similar object in view. Though she
does not make conquests in war, she makes
them nevertheless In peaceful way, and
greater ones than the Assyrian Queen did.
Have not all the monarchs of Europe, great
and small, been at her feet2 Have not the
Emperor Alexander of Russa, the Emperor
Of Austria the King of Prussia, the King of
Italy, the Queen Of Great Britain and numer-
Gus other potentates and the heirs of
thrones been to Paris to pay their devotions
to this remarkable womani Did not the
Sultan Of Turkey, the Mohammedan Pope, 90
In great splendor TO the beautiful capital Of
Europe to honor herr And have not the
Pacha Of Egypt Abdel Kader and the princes
and chiefs of nearly all parts Of the world done
the same9 Do not even the unfortunate
refugee monarchs, like Isabella Of Spain, seek
her sympathy and protection9 Then, wher-
ever she goes the most gorgeous pageants are
prepared for her reception, and millions Of
money are spent to entertain her. The
mighty rulers of the earth rival each other In
extraordinary efforts to honor her. The mag
nifcent entertainments of tho Sultan OF Tur-
key have been almost fabulous and seem more
like the gorgeous creations Of an Oriental
Imagination than reality. Nothing In his
tory approaches the hoaors paid to Eugene.
Everywhere, except at Rome, 1t has been 80.
II seems strange that this devoted daughter of
the Church should neither have been visited
nor received by the Pope though 1t is UNDER
stood she expressed the desire some time ago
to 60 TO Rome. Evidently the Pope and
cardinals were afraid Of petticoats though
they are known to be ardent admirers Of
female beauty. We think the Pope made a
| great mistake, for this charming Empress is
the truest representative of the Catholic reli-
gion, as well as the orthodox representative OF
fashion and taste. The Mohammedan Pope at
Constantinople has displayed more Judgment
and tact, and IL altogether ahead Of the Pope
of Rome in compromising and adapting him
self to the spirit Of the age.
And, now, what does all this hobnobbing
with the potentates and representatives Of the
Catholic, Protestant and Mohammedan world
portsnda What may result from all these
entertainments and journeyings over the world
and to the classic soil Of Judea, Egypt and
the Qal4sa HeEaf \! - sgtsia thas pay