The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-11-14
LATEST WAR GOSSIP.
IN INTERVIEW FIFTH THE Ex-EM-
PEROR NAPOLEON.. IN,

--
What he Thinks about the Downfall Of
tho Empire-InstabilIty Of the French
Republtc-His Denial of the Possession
r. or Iligotten ;WeaIth-What he Says of
the Charge of Treason-His Hopes and
Expectations for the Future i,.r.
=. e:+; ----sf',..sr:=a -: i- f.i,..
correspondent of the New York Herald, hay-
ing been accorded an: interview with Napoleon at
Wilhelmshohe, telegraphs an:interesttng sketch OF
his conversation with the Imperial captive.G After
relating the mannerin which he.obtained permis-
sion to visit the Emperor, snd.giving an account
OF his prison life and surroundings, he proceeds
as follows: -. " ~ t-t2' ~i-'s ii
His Majesty rose from chair near to thedesk
and welcomed me with very polite bow. BE
motloned to me to be seated In fauteull placed
Napoleon said: II am glad to see you, sir, as
am always whenI meet cltizens Of your great and
prosperous Country ,. r.,
GAPoLEoN's APPEARANCE. go
an that you hsye already heard and read about
Nnpoeon's falling health. palltd complexion,
found TO be the veriest Idle .bosh." The Emperor
Is stout, portly gentleman, setting forth all the
indications OF the enjoyment OF robust heaitn IN
his person. His hair Shows very slight tlnge OF
W. u
His face has q: ruddy color. BIS eyes, though
small, appear to be smiling with good humor and
benepolence. He has llvelness and grace In every
motion. Indeed, may say that ne presents an
indicates an age rather Of forty.two than sixty
two years. Napoleon was dressed In plain suit
of citizens clothing, wearing on his breast the
ribbon OF the Grand Cross Of the Legion of HONOR.
=. .5,.tg Tue CONVERSATIONS. a.!li : 20 /
First having expressed my Acknowledgements
OF the great Kindness displayed by his Majesty 10
receiving me s time WGeq ne So to W
your Majesty please enlighten the American peo-
PIE as to the immediate causes Of the catastrophe
which dethroned your government
sir, produced by the combined action OF hldden
influences In the elements, the existence OF WHICH
we are aware or without being aDle 10 trace tnelr
sudden operations. Ny government has been
those who, sometimes bona fde, imagined they
knew best how to promote the welfare OF me
country. thus consented 10 the reHloVai OF tne
last existing check to the rignt oI Tree ae ;e
privilege was abused to an unlimited extent:
Public meetings no longer discussed po!ltcal or
religious questions In q cool and dignlned man
ner but nt once became S.
alton u apoisonIng - 'rebefion" and all the most
abominable doctrines were, openly preached TO tne
masses, and urged upon them as the Dest anu
only means Of saving the ceSHsry s,rs condition of
affairs does not augur stability for q Republican
governments The views OF your Majesty, VINO Is
such an able Judge, will deeply interest tne Amer
can people.
HIS ALLEGED POPULATIONS.
Napoleon. know them to be frana-hearted,
generous nation, and I cannot believe they ap,
5roye OF the slanderous accusations now preferred
against me. Have you read the vile statements
pIblIshet la the Independence Beige and N otner
Journals, 10 the eject that had appropriated tns
public funds and np @
ly. that the commission tf such breach OF trust
under nv government In France, even II deslred,
Is an utter lmpossioty.. Not q single franc ,bs ls
expended without severe Sis S1sefs fact Is Well
known to every intelligent person 10 france. ,d
could hardly attempt to contradtct gu tnese wig
calunuies, though have denied few OF tnem:
INV own civil list has been expended b! me Tor
the benefit OF the public institutions ofthe coan.
try. YOU may have seen the statement which was
published iby my order, and's.gned 9y! monsieur
Theln my .ne
weuid spy Certainty sna. no blame orreproaeh
ssss Spqsa M
be honestly can during his term OF ONCE. such
recriminations are considered In America unWor.
thy the notice OF respectable peope;
was left to me by my father. Ny wife has prl-
yafe dowry and her jewelry. With these excep-
tlons we have nothing.
Correspondent. Your Majesty Having ploacasu
the TOME will you please say how 1t Is about the
story that you have 5000, 600 f:anCs' worth or
property 10 Broadway, New Yo,kf
Napoleon have noproPerty there Of any KIND
or description. The story Is unfounded-as un:
founded as are all The rest.
-a., -, THE CHARGE OF TREASON. -
Correspondent The accusations with which
the press is teenng are not confined to this point
Treason is charged. and, strange to say, French
soldiers prisoners In Germany, utter the same
words. Their answer to the questions asked
them Is, "Nous sonn1aes trahsM ,,.,,.,, ,r,,o
Napoleon. Poor menl It's their mistaken pride
and ambition. They are naturally 10th to acknoW'
ledge or even believe that they have been con-
quered.
Correspondent. But, your Majesty, you yourself ed
are reported to have said on one occasion OF re.
verse on the field OF battle, "Je SUITS t'aht W 3
Napoleon did not 1t Is pure invention,
like so many others. What may have SAID, ana
what many members OF the government said, was,
probably, awe deceived ourselves as to the
Strength OF our own army as well as that OF the
Prussians.n As for myself, basing my opinion
upon personal conviction. have often cautioned
my ministers against erroneous estimates. wen
drawers In his desk and told me, with conddent
mein, that the army was completely organized
and equipped and ready for every operation. u
WAS NO less the case Will mHISlhl Leoucul. IL
was probably no fault OF their hearts, but OF their
heads that they would not listen to me when
told them that we could. not compete with Prus-
sia's military establishment; that our e1ectlVe
strength, as compared to hers was 1nsuihclent.
This was the deception, the fault Of which must
be shared more or less by all OF US, and which mas
led to the most disastrous results. We were 10
have had ready for service at moments notlce
200, 600 reserves. When they were needed, now:
ever not more than one half the number were 81
hand. and these only after delay OF weeks.
Thus the Prussians got "aheadn OF us, as you
would say. Notwithstanding all this the bravery
OF our troops obliged them TO use double numbers
Of men, &C.. to gain easy victories. What Is the
feeling in BerlnP
Correspondent. Peace Is the general desire OF
the people. Peace by all means.
BIsMARcK,s BIAcTIoNs. -
Napoleon. France, too, needs peace. But tne
Conditions imposed by Count Bismarck are toe
| exacting, extreme, sir. What government 10
France could accept them and at the same Time
maintain itself against the outraged people
France cannot endure so deep humiliation.
Correspondent. AS to the sentinent 10 Berln
cial press that it may be regarded as an mposst
bIlIty for even Bismarck to lower his demand lor
territorial annexation on the largest scale.
Emperor with deep emotion.) France CANNOT
bear this. .,,,-.,,,,
Correspondent. Considering that your Majesty
may be called to the throne, aud france may yet
become prosperous though losing portion OF
her territory. why should your Majesty commit
yourself on o question ol this character -,
noror frnuonolvl YOu NAV be riQlt.