The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-11-14
AN INTERVIEW wsTz1 NAPOLEON.
Appearance ana Meath Of the Empe.
ror~ HIS views ora is.c Press and Re.
pubitcanISsss IN France and Ame-
r,ca-Tnc Charges OF Trcmson-The
Dynasty Succession. &c.

The telegraph Wednesday furnished some
bret extracts from the report of special
interview with the Emperor Napoleon at
Nilhcimshohe by n New York Herald cor
respondent. The interview was granted rs
II special favor, obtained through VI. Pietri,
the Empcror's private secretary. In re-
ceiving the reporter, Napoleon said he was
always glad TO meet citizens of this " great
and prosperous country" The Emperor
WAS in Il small room, seated at desk before
the fire, and arose as his visitor entered.
The correspondent says:
NAroLEoN's APPEARANcE.
All that you have already heard and read
about Napoleon's failing health, palld COM
plcXion, sllnken eyes, anG dccrcpid condi-
ton in general, found 10 be The veriest
idle 'bosh." The Emperor is stout,
portly gentleman, setting forth ali the indi-
cations OF the enjoyment of robust health in
his person. His hair shows very slight
tn@c of gray. He wears Il fine mouStache and
g0atcc. His face has Il rudGy color. His
eyes. though small, appear to he smiling
with good humor and henevoleHce. He has
liVcllncss and grace in every III otion. In
deed, may say that be presents an exceed
in@lf handsome, pleasant exterior, which
indicates IN age rather Of torty-two than
sixty-two years. This is perfectly true OF
his appearance as it impressed me during
the interview. ] saw such discrepancy
between the picture ofthe Emperor, as had
previously imagined from spurious reports
what 1t might he, that it could have almost
caused me to doubt whether this was really
Napoleon the Third. who WAS sitting oppo-
>i;e and within few yards distance of me,
had not been reassured by the surround
ing objects near the writing-deSks, such as
Ni.tt,I = ,..,.e of
golden frame, painted and engraved and set
III diamonds, the monogr am "L. N" on
the boxes, and the seals and rings which
were either lying about or worn bv his Ma
icsty. Napoleon was dressed in 4 plain suit
OF citizens clothing, wearing on his breast
the ribbon OF the Grand Cross Of the Legion
OF Honor.
TIE CONVERSATION
turned naturally upon the press of
France and the United States, during which
NAPOLEON ascribed the present state of
things iii the southern departments of
France 10 the seditious arguments advanced
hy the press in the hands of pretended re-
formers, who easily inflalned the untutorcd
minds Of the people. lie said;
- suppose that Americans would natu-
rally sympathizc with republican iustitu-
tionS. hut all conditions requisite to Il true
lulcv wanting in France. Those who
boldly craSpcd the reins of power have
already discovered their utter inability to
establish such Government. That for
which they blamed mc most they have
been compelled 10 do themselves, and in Il
form sill more obnoxious. The restraint
imposed upon the press, ter instance, WAS
the constant theme Of most violent attacks
Oh my Government. hut while made but
moderate Use Of the law, while fines and
punishment were rare, and preceded a mild
system OF dCertiSscmcnts, they have sup
pressed Il number 0t Journals because they
did not chime in with their fantastic idc;s
Of republican sentiments, prcsuppOSing Il
vital interest OF 4 majority ot the people in
what concerns The country, and 4 willing.
ness to put their shoulder TO the wheel,
which does not exist in France"
This political indifference on the p;lt of
masses he illustrated, and added, 1.-The
icpUlliC Of America and the Republic Of
France are as different As White sfr0m hllck,
Your country submits to the law. Pub
lie sentiment and public spirit. based upon
general intelligence and morality, dictate
the control of society. Are not your thea
tres in New York and Boston allowed to per-
form such plays rs they deem tit
suppose they should treat the pebble to
performances Of impure and offensive
pieces, what would be the consequences ?
The press would denounce them. Nobody
would 70 TO see them. They would be cou-
dcmncd by the verdict Of the public. But
in France. Just ovcrthe way, the greater the
departure from morality and dcCorum the
greater will be the crowd llocking to delight
in it. 1t is no easy work to curb such an
cXtravagant and depraved spirit in a coun-
try so often, unhappily, shaken by rrvoll-
ton. 1t requires the utmost energy to build
up anything, any form OF State govern
ment.'
ACCOUNTING FOR THE DISASTER.
In accounting for the causes of the disas-
ter which has betalcn the Imperial Govern