Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-08-10
NAPOLEONS DEFEAT.

there has been no such excitement In Eu-
rope as blazes there at the present time in
consequence of the defeat of Napoleon III
by the Prussians. Even Waterloo is
dwarfed by the tremendous results which
seem to depend upon the passing hours.
The Emperor of France has met with
crushing and apparently irretrievablc dis
aster in the recent battles. The splendid
army with which he advanced to the Rhine
has been hurled back, shattered, disor-
ganized and dishcartened, while the vic
torious Prussians with full ranks and the
courage and enthusiasm inspired by sue
cess are pressing vigorously upon the re-
treating foe, and fixing their eyes upon
the gates of Paris. The extremity to which
the Emperor is reduced is plainly enough
indicated by the appeals made to his sol
ders and people to defend the capital of
his empire, and the efforts used to
strengthen it by Notifications and men.
Even Eugene comes to the rescue with an
imploring proclamation, while Prime Min
lister Olivier and his fellows struggle to
keep back the tide of long-repressed pop
ular enmity to the government. The
omens are against Napoleon. They indi-
cate that his hour has struck. In a few
days Paris may be again at the feet OF
foreign conqueror, and what then?
In his adverse fortunes Napoleon has
few to sympathize with him except those
whose fayors he has purchased and who
are conspirators with him against the lib
erty of France and the world. Gaining
the throne by fraud and force, all his steps
have been directed for the qualification OF
his personal and family ambition, and have
been in keeping with the measures by
which he acquired power. His words
have been in favor of liberty, but his acts
have always tended to despotism. With
promises upon his lips to enlarge the free
dom of the people of France, he has COW
cred the kingdom with his spies and Sc
cret emissaries, until personal freedom is
unknown within its boundaries, and the
press is forbidden to utter only what
pleases his ear. When the United States
was struggling to preserve republican
form of government, he pushed himself
into Mexico to give aid and comfort to the
rebels and plant the seeds OF future des-
potisms upon this continent. Not content
with driving freedom from France he fol-
lowed his game across the Atlantic at I'M
mense expense, but with result OF which
he has no reason to be proud. OF all
swindlers he has been the most gigantic
and successful. Not only has France been
duped into chains, but his audacity has
impressed the world and given him lnflu-
ence far beyond his deserts. The great
nations have trembled at his nod, and
stopped to catch his funniest whisper as
though it were oracular.
But the tidngs from the Rhine denote
that he has something more to do now
than, as Kinglake says, Ito strangle ma
ton in the nighttime with thing he call
ed Plebiscite. The day of shams Is
over. and ne must depend at last upon
downright hardihood and absolute strength |
in men, guns and money, and skill in
welding them. If we mistake not the
Crown Prince of Prussia has already torn
away large share of the gliding that
covered the counterfeit Napoleon, and
promises to drive him from the throne
which he has seized. Let Prussia continue
successful and plant her standard in Paris,
and the Napoleonic dynasty vanlshes Tor
the present What other changes may
come are not SO readily seen, but if Prince
Frederick William reaches Paris victori-
Gus, Louis Napoleon goes out an exile.
The accounts which we have indicate that
the Prussian advance will be seconded by
strong risings in France against the En-
peror. If this is SO his fate is surely seal
ed. With triumphant foe in his rear,
and rebellious people in his front ready
to welcome national dishonor so that they
may have revenge upon and be rid of the
tyrant that has made liberty a byword in
France, the world may bid adieu to Louis
Napoleon in the kingly role. The issue
of the war thus far is startling. Few i'm
agined at the commencement of hostilities
that the throne of Napoleon would at this
early day be in peril and the Prussians
about to enact again the march upon Paris
of 1915, after Butcher had overthrow
the First Napoleon. Events travel faster
than imagination. At this moment Europe
is considering Napoleon's overthrow and
its consequences, which must be grave
and embarrassing even to those powers
which bear him no good will. If Napo-
Icons sun goes down in the conflict, that
of Prince Frederick William of Prussia
must ascend and shine with the greatest
brilliancy among the crowned heads of
Europe when he succeeds to the throne of