The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-09-21
Collapse Of the Empire,


complished yesterday by a vote of 1875
members of tile Legislative body, the
remainder, say us, declining to vote.
These silent members were doubtless
the personal and political friends of
the Emperor. Their attachment to his
government, it may he inferred, would
not allow them to abandon their chief
although they were powerless TO pre-
vent the revolution. THIS determine
| ton of the minority was not inconsis-
tent with conviction that the Emper-
or's ability and usefulness were at an
end even ifhe were not a prisoner in
the hands of the Prussians. 1t las
been evident even to us in America
that for some years hack the Emperor's
intellectual vigor had left him, and that
his physical constitution was gradually
sinking. 1t is thus only we can ac-
count for the dcplorable misfortunes
which have come upon France. When
tile Emperor made these concessions to
the demands of the Liberals and yield
ed up the power he had long so ably,
and successfully, and benefcially ex-
abdication which then became only a
question of time. 1t is not reasonable
to suppose that had the Emperor been
the responsible ruler of France when
the Hohenzollern caRdidature was on
the carpet, the negotiation with Prns-
STA on that subject would have ended
in war. The Emperor has been sins
cerely DESTROYS of peace from the very
beginning of his reign. 1t was his in
| terest as well as his policy to be so. 1t
was only peace that could enable him
to carry out those comprehensive
schemes which looked to. the prospect
ty and happiness Of the French people.
We attribute his downfall primarily to
the decay of his physical and intellect
ual powers, and, secondly, to the inca
pacity-perhaps something worse-of
the Olivier Ministry and the officers
of the War Department. In coming to
| this conclusion, we do not ignore the
malign influence of the Emperor's per-
sonai and political opponents, who
were numerous enough aud talented
enough to undermine any government,
and who We're continually rendering
Intellectual, by tn cir revolutionary
clamor and their seeret man9uvres and
plots with foreign enemies, those
statesmanlike plans which Napoleon
was ever ready to bring forth and to
execute. The Republicans in and out
of the legislative body, Jules Favre,
Gambctta, Simon, Picard and Comra-
ny, are largely responsible for the
crushing defeats which the French
arms have sustained in this war. 1t
was this faction who were perfectualiy
| finding fault with the military and
other expenditures, and obstructing
the. measures OF the Emp which,
generally Were so wise and foreseeing.
We do rot believe that the proclama-
ton Of the Republic is due to the pref
cfence of the French people for that
1 form, of Government, but that it has
been imposed upon them by Prnssian
bayonets. We believe that the revo-
luton has been effected by the secret
friends aud agents of Bismark. They
have so acted-unconsciously perhaps
but still they have done precisely what
Bismarck desired. We should have
thought that c0nceding the inability o!
the Imperialists to carry on the Gov
eminent after these late shocks, the
better plan would have been to post
pone the question of a permanent Gov
: ernment so long as the war continued
putting the direction of affairs in The
meantime in hands of Dictator
The representatives of the people or ;
majority of them, have thought other
,, wise and seem disposed to retain thu
,, power in their own hands. We shall
: now see what use they make of tina
: power and whether there is an organ
izer of victory among them. Their an
. tecedents, it is true, are not of char
acter to enable ms to repose much con
!, fidence in their capacity to govern
: They may have the aid ofTrochu bu
! there is very great difference betwee
y an absolute Dictator and a Genera
+ Commanding under the orders of
Cabinet of unprotessional military mel
!, There are those snlall-minded an
= i'll natured creatures, now that til
Emperor is down who will bespatte
him with mud, and ridicule his cond
ton. For su ch miserable cynici
whose hearts are as hard rs their mind
are narrow, we have nothing but pit!
The Emperor, to all generous minds
:, is greater in his misfortune than h
= ever was in the days of his power. II
7 lis now beyond, the earnings and til
e eyil-speaking of bnth domestic and fo1
- eign enemies. The Emperor's service
TO France are beyond all estimat'
History will perpetuate his fame 6
that of skillful ruler a profoun
;, statesman and an enlightened and hig
= minded sovereign. That is more tina
" :, history will do for some other sove
= eigns, who profess tolook down upo
=, ~ Napoleon, whose devotion to Frame
10 and labors in her behalf, have survive
even the faculties with which God el
. dowcd him. When we think of his RI
- lug from a sick bed bucklmg on b
sword to take his place at the head
> (the army, we see the power OF the mil
.eI over the body. When we rememb.
- how promptly, and how gracefully,
< retired from the chief command of Il
- army and took a subordinate positi'
" ~ nnder commanders, perhaps not sup
~ rior In ability, laboring as al, inspee
:, ing and organizing officer, and encou
~ ~ ageing his men, we see the self-sacl
" ficing disposition of the man. VIII
= we read the words of his message
Ii surrender to the King of Prussia, sc
:. from sick bed, which show that
a. thoughts were all for France, and
" own humiliation as nothing, our a
L. miration of the man is heightened, a.
a' we cxc,aim, "Here is a real King" 9
II cannot die at l III lead OF my army
Us Law NAV sword at the feet of your NJ;