The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-29
THURSDAY, JULY 80, 1869.
GRANT AND NAPOLEON.


a. ITritod States. The brevity of this cor
respondenoe brings into prominence tne ON
cial title used by Napoleon. initiating houiS
Philippe, he is not called Emperor OF france
MS other European monarchs are called Kings,
Queens. Cars, or Emperors of their respec-
tive dominions, but stylesh himself 1.-The Empe-
ror of the French, in consonance wlthth eldea
that this phrase implies recognition OF the fact
that he derives authority from the consent OF
the people, instead of the divine right
,,non which other thrones are theoretically
based. Frenchmen, in losing the substance
of self lf-government, are 10th to part with the
shadow; and Napoleon can well afford to
amuse them with a name indicating that he
ia merely the embodiment of their will,
at a moment when, after exercising absolute
nersopal authority for years, he is devising
plans to surrender, in compliance with the
late demand for reform the least possible
amount of this authority consistent with the
maintenance of his dynasty. Our Ulysses,
following the example of his predecessors,
calls himself 'the President of the United
States" The fact that Presidential power
does emanate from the people is 80 palpable
that nobody has ever seriously proposed the
imitation of the French tlummery which
would be involved in a change of the official
title of our Executive to the President of the
TTnionists. or the Americans, or the citizens
of the United States. Having the reality here
of creating, deposing controlling, checking,
and impeaching Presidents at will, we do not
care for an empty and false verbal acknow-
ledgment, which is valuable only as specl-
men of Executive pohteness.
The Emperor gracefully transmits the ex-
preston of his 'good wishes for the Presi-
dent and for ''the prosperity of the United
States" The depth and sincerity of this
feeling may we'll be doubted. The English
Journals allege that in the most troublous
period of our national difficulties Napoleon
zealously urged the British Government to
unite with him in the formal and complete
recognition of the Confederacy as an inde-
pendent power, and he was as prompt as our
English cousins in granting to the Rebels
belligerent rights. His involvement in the
visionary scheme of establishing a new empire
in Mexico strengthened his desire to promote
the disseveration of the Union, and the great de-
feat of his imperial life followed close upon the
heels of the suppression of the Rebellion.
1t is part of the history of the country that
Grant, after crushing treason in the South
was resolutely determined to put forth his
best exertions to drive imperialism from our
sister republic. He fully shared Sheridan 5
opinion that the invasion of Mexico grew out
of, and formed part of, the secession move
ment, and that the work of the Union
armies would not be completed
until this extreme southwestern wing of the
grand conspiracy against republican institu-
tions was demolished. Napoleon can scarcely
have forgotten Grants influence in the agita-
tion which compelled him to beat an igno-
minious retreat, and if it has been forgiven.
the Emperor deserves more credit for capacity
to ignore old injuries than he generally re-
ceives. 1t is his apparent inte-
rest, however, to cultivate friendly rea-
tions with this country, and
he has perhaps made up his mind to adopt
this policy. America is one of the best pur.
chasers of French fashions, Wines and bran.
dies, and American tourists are the most libe
raj patrons of the Partisan hotels, restaurants
theatres and stores. Napoleons subjects
can easily grow rich by trading with us; ant
they have nothing to gain and everything tc
lose by passage at arms. If he regards
America from this point of view, he may
after all, desire our prosperity, in the conf
dent expectation that a large percentage OF
the surplus cash Of this country will find its
way into French pockets
The answer of the President is appropriate
and diplomatic. Good wishes are recipro
Gated, an allusion is made to the friendship
displayed by Bourbon monarch in the Revo
lutionary era; but the delicate point raised b,
the construction of the new cable is pressed
directly upon the attention of the Emperor
by the expression of the hope that 9Th,
liberal policy of the United States, pursuan
to which this cable has been landed, ma,
result in many such means of communication
between this country and France. AS tn
matter now stands, the United States hav
been completely outwitted in the ocean cabl
business, and placed entirely at the mercy c
rival foreign nations. France has followe
the example of Great Britai
in securing the control of bot
ends of the line of the new cable. A
obscure island seems to have been left as
solitary relic of the French possessions c
the North Atlantic coast for the express pu
pose of giving France advantages similar
those now enjoyed by her neighbor across IL
channel America can use both lin
just SO long as foreign natio
wish her to do so, but not one insta
longer. Nor is this the worst of the arrane
ment In case of war France and Englal