The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-22
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1870.
WASHINGTON AND NAPOLEON Ill.,

and the truth of the remark could not 10
better exemplifed than the suggestion made
by the Paris La Pdtrie, that the Americans
in that city will best show their gratitude to
France for assistance rendered during the
War of Independence, by placing at their
public meetings to-day in honor of Washing
tons birthday, side by side, the busts of
Washington and Napoleon I'LL There is a
certain impudence in such proposition as
this that lifts it to the regions of the sublime.
We can imagine the scorn with which large
portion of the French people would look
upon such an exhibition, if there are
any Americans in Paris who have so little
respect for the greatest name in their coun-
try's history as to carry out the proposition,
but the juxtaposition of the busts of the first
American President and the last French en-
peror would also be considered as grim joke
at the expense of the man whom Victor Hugo
designated as Napoleon the Little, and would
give rise to some unavoidable comparisons
not altogether to the advantage of the hero
who Topped about in the water at Boulogne
with tame eagle on his shoulder some years
ago. when he was not so highly thought of by
eager partisans as he is at the present move
ment.
There is something ludicrous in the idea of
instituting o comparison between such men
as George Washington and Louis Napoleon
Bonaparte, that would furnish Rochefort with
q text upon which he could dilate with satis-
faction to himself and to an immense number
of the faithful subjects of the Emperor. But
unfortunately Rochefort is at this moment
- Sc fho
between the two men whose busts La PatTie
desires the Americans in Paris to place side
by side in their celebration of their national
anniversary; and Napoleonism has, for the pre-
sent, at least, effectually interfered with that
free expression of opinion on such deli
cate matters that Rochefort considers
the most charming feature of Ameri-
can republicanism. Napoleon iii gained
the throne he occupied by fraud, and by
slaughtering without mercy all who endea-
vored to oppose him in his efforts to over
turn the liberties of his country. He has
ruled by force and by crushing out every effort
that has been made to enlarge the bounds of
liberty in France, and when compelled by fear
of another revolution to adopt an appearance
of liberality in his policy, he took the earliest
opportunity to show that in reality he had
not yielded, and did not intend to yield, an
iota of his despotic power. The great idea of
his life has been to establish himself and his
family upon the throne of France, and to per-
petuate the empire founded by his uncle. He
has hesitated at nothing to accomplish his
objects, and the interests of France, consid-
erations of humanity, and every noSler emo
tion, have been subordinated to his ambitious
designs.
George Washington, on the other hand,
found himself at the close of the American
Revolution in position that was almost un-
precedented. The personal attachment to
him was unbounded, and he stood as the ore
most man of his times, having compelled
even the admiration of his English opponents
by his stern integrity and lofty patriotism.
The American people looked to him as the
only proper head of the new nation that he
had done so much to bring into being, and a
crown was rendered him that he might have
accepted with credit to himself and without
disparagement to his patriotic motives He
declined to receive the title of king, and
declared in favor of republic and govern
ment founded upon the perfect equality of
all men and the largest liberty that was pos
sible consistent with the necessities of human
society. 1t was with reluctance that he even
consented to fill the Office of President, to
which he was called by the unanimous voice
of his countrymen, and after serving two
terms of Office and assisting in establishing
the new nation fairly on its feet, he declined
positively any further honors andretired to his
farm at Mount Vernon to end his days as
plain citizen of the United States. bu
covered with honors such as had never beer
showered upon mortal man before. Hi
name became the exemplifcation of tn,
loftiest and purest patriotism, and his stain
less moral and political character extorted tn
admiration even of the most despotic ruler
of Europe, who looked upon the experiment
of the American republic with dread least
should be foreshadowing of their ow
downfall.
These are the two men between whom an in
pudent French imperial journal wishes to II
stitute comparison, and it may be that ther
are Americans now in Paris who may be s
wanting in propriety that they will carry OF
the suggestion of La Patrie and place tn
bust of George Washington beside that {
Napoleon in the place of honor at the festivf
to-day.
TIE municipal expenditures of the city an
sounty of New York during recent yei
reached tho enormous sum of $23, ,920, 1858:
which is much more than twice the amour
of the annual expenditures of Philadelphia