The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-01
FRANCE.
Napoleon's Letter to the Army-British Opin-
ion df the Gone NIan' Rule.
from the London Times, August 20. !


ion df the Como NIan'' Rule.
Iron the London Times, August 20.l
In q letter addressed by the Emperor Napoleon to
the French army, now in camp at Chalons, his Ma
esty expresses his disappointment that ne Is unable
spend the 10Th OF August In the mdstof the great
military family and announces that she has de-
rewards to the troopsn We are told that the young
Prince acquitted himself Of his task with success;
that the soldiers were pleased with his
sion and with his good seat In the saddle" and on
the other hand we learn from the order Of the day
of General BOurbaki, the commanding officer In the
camp that ''the Prince Imperial had declared him.
SELF well satisfied with the appearance OF the troops
at the review" Here we have, therefore, for the
first time, this Prince little more than thirteen years
old, dlscharging one certainly not OF the most ardu
ous but the least important functions OF royalty.
There Is no reason why we should doubt that the
life OF the Emperor Napoleon may yet be spared
many years-as many, at all events as may be ne.
cessary TO enable his son, In conformity with the
provisions OF the imperial constitution, to ascend
the throne in the regular and immediate course Of
what seems to us worthy Of note in this otherwise
commonplace occurrence Is its recognition OF the
TACT that az there Is the substance there 10 also
the mere pageantry OF royalty. There are solid in
trinsic qualities essential TO tine office Of personal
served even by q sOveregnwhO 'reigns but does not
govern" The founder OF dynasty Is well aware
how infinitely easier Is TO bequeata nus estate than
himself exut in the consciousness OF his ability to
rule alone but he cannot dismiss misgivlng ~ to
his heir being equal to the task OF welding un.
divided power; and II partnership In the government
OF the future sovereign Is unavoidable, 1t surely
ought to be desirable that this partial abdicaon OF
rather than In favor OF 0 Minister. nation cannot
serve two masters. 1t must either govern itself or
obey the man whom the nations own choice or It's
necessity has placed at its head. Seventeen years
ago France had loudly proclaimed her inability to
control ner own destiniss she was Mgn tea 81
one for any one, who could save her from herself.
She found the man she wanted; man who took
all abe had to offer, who took more, per.
haps, than sne intended to give; man who Ielt
within him all the instincts all the faculties OF
ruler and who carried his rule TO the full extent
ton Mus iustiaea. fns Emperor Napoleon, however
did not impose himself as o God Terminus on the
but enlightened and indefinitely progressive govern
ment. He had q firm faith In himself, but no over
weening cOnceit about his own judgment He
not only never dreaded, but openly courted tenn.
perate opposition. He accepted the advice, though
not the control, OF public opinion. The extreme
caution and obvious reluctance with which ne
proceeded In the way OF concessions, his declara-
tons that every step he took should be the last.
and ought to be looked upon as the "crownlng
OF the imperial edihCe," must be taken partly
a. the results of his own deliberate and by
no means sangune disposition, but partly also as q
proof OF his Difference 10 the opinion OF party by
which his own worst f0reb0dings were exaggerated,
and for which Imperialism was never sufficiently I'M
peria Could the Emperor have reckOned on I'M
mortality, or had he been Indifferent to the deuge
winch might come after MIN, his trresOlutOn might
have nampered MIN 20 the end OF his reign, and MS
largesses to the French nation might never have
gone DeyOno SUCH act5 as The ueCree5 Ol NOvemoet,
1860 the letter Of January. 1866. But the Emperor
had TO think OF mis- son. Even IN the quletest tunes,
and with power based on the most solid material
and moral foundations, kings seldom look on
Crown Princes without mistrust and misgving.
independently OF the disorders usually attendant
upon q regency-a contingency which the lapse OF
every year tended to remOve-the Emperor had to
provide against the other lar more probable contn
gency OF the burden to which all the strength OF his
own mature age had not been more than sufficient
falling upon the shoulders OF q youth barely out o.
his minority. 1t was evident that Napoleon w., Il
In the regular course Of time he to the throne
would find 1t the less dificult to govern France thu
more France had been allowed to govern herself
Were the Emperor able before the hour came TO-
the final transfer OF his authority so to diminish tn
responsibility OF that authority as to render III
weight more tolerable, he might feel less uneasy
| to It's effects on his sons experience