The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-18

Emperor's life by one Orsini, who had concocted
bis plans in England in connection with Dr.
Bernard, a Frenchman residing in London
Lord Palmerston, therefore, attempted to amend
the English criminal code so that 1t would ap-
ply effectively to such conspiracies, and his de-
feat in Parliament led to a temporary suspension
of the cordial relations between the two coun-
tries. But these were soon restored, although
Dr. Bernard was acquitted by an English jury.
In 1S59-60, the Emperor espoused the cause
of Victor Emanuel against Austria, and iu per-
son led army to his assistance, defeating the
enemy on several decisive fields, and terminal
ing the war by the victory of Solferino, June "a,
1860. By the peace of Villa Franco, July II,
Austria ceded Lombardy to Victor Emanual,
whose territory was further increased by the
annexation of the duchies, Napoleon being re-
compensed by the cession of Savoy and some
neutral Swiss territory to France. In 1861,
he became party with England and
Spain in the outrageous assault upon the Mexi-
can republic. When his allies discovered that
he had ulterior objects in view, and was intent
upon something more than the mere vindication
of the rights of foreigners, they abandoned him;
but Napoleon caused his troops to remain and
persisted in an effort at setting up the Archduke
Maximilian of Austria as Emperor. The whole
project was a wretched failure, not less for
France than for Maximilan, and great dissatis-
faction was expressed at home because of the
Emperors interference. Finally he abandoned
Mexico, leaving the unfortunate Archduke to
bis fate, in answer to the repeated protests of
the Government of the United States, the last
detachment of the French troops evacuatng the
country early in 1867.
Once after his ascent of the throne the Empe-
ror returned to his literary labors, publishing in
1865 the first volume of an elaborate work en-
1,,1o 40 T,,Iaa
and historical merits of this work were unques-
toned as its imperial author enjoyed unusual
facilities in its preparation. 1t was printed at
the Imperial Printing Office, aud the preface
bore the date of March 20, 1862. English and
French editions oft were soon brought out both
in this country and England.
His General Policy,
from the outset of his reign until within o year
past, has been one of absoutism Freedom of
speech and of the press were unknown, the
! Senate was a mere instrument of his will, and
the elections of delegates to the Corps Legsla-
tiff were so manipulated as to render that body
almost equally subservient. But the vote polled
by the opposition in May, 1862 showed such an
alarming increase that Napoleon at once
became alarmed, and proclaimed in the Sen a
tus Consultum of September, certain reforms
| in answer to the demands of the people. Still
further warned by the boldness of the Liberal
party in the Corps Legislatif, he finally pro-
fessed to apandon the system of personal
| government and an irresponsible min
nistry, which had been inaugurated
by the coup detat of 1851, and on the I'd of
January of the present year, NJ. Emile Olivier,
| the leader of the more moderate Liberals, was
| called to the head of the ministry. But this
concession did not serve to satisfy the people,
and in the disturbances which followed, the
| md nnnfn nf phafo fhn adj
| tor of La MdrseiUaise, in January last,
formidable uprising in Paris was only averted
| by the presence of veteran army of 100 900
men. When Rochefort was safely disposed of
for six months, another appeal to the people
was made, and the plebiscitun of May, which
received about 1850, 900 affirmative to about
1885, 900 negative votes, nominally ratified the
so-called reforms in the Constitution which had
been inaugurated by the Emperor at various
times, Simultaneous with this came an alleged
conspiracy against his life, and numerous
arrests, especially of men connected with the
workingmen's organizations, were made.
The TroubfS With Prussia.
Before all the implicated parties could be
brought to trial. and while the question of a
possible encounter with Prussia was being
broached in the Corps Legislatif, during the
debate on the army contingent, the candidacy
of Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern for the
throne of Spain fully aroused the great maj jority
of the French people, not less than the EN-
peror himself. Napoleon demanded of the King
of Prussia the withdrawal of Prince Leopold.
This demand was acceded to, Prince Leopold
Withdrawing unconditonally soon as the
peace of Europe was threatened. Napoleon
then demanded that William 1, as King of
| Prussia, as well as the head of the House of
| Hohenzollern, should renounce forever all pre-
tensions to the throne of Spain on the part of
any member of the Hohenzollern family. To
this demand King William in dignifed man
ner responded that he had had nothing to do
with the canddature of Prince Leopold, and
on the 14th finally declined to hold any further
communication with the French Ambassador on
the subject.
1t was evident from the start that the candida
ture of the Prince of HohenZollern was mere
pretext that Napoleon, remembering how he
was outwitted in 1867 on the Luxembourg ques-
ton, jealous of the growing power of Prussia,
and longing for an occasion to humble King
William, and at the same time push the boun-
daries of France to the Rhine, was determined
upon going to war. So, at 2 o'clock on the
afternoon of the 18th, the Corps Legislatif for
mally declared war against Prussia and the
preparations for the impending struggle which
were already in progress were at once pushed
forward with all possible ceerity, the French
people responding to the cry of ''On to the
| Rhine !" with quite as much unanimity and en-
thusiasm as those of Prussia.
CITY ITEMS.