New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-04
BISMARCK AND NAPOLEON.
Lecture by Bishop SimpsOn-A Review OF
the War-lfs Characters and Heroes
Views ON the German Triumph.


The Baltimore american of the twenty
eighth ultimo, contains the following report:
Professor Lowell incidentally remarked.
in the course OF one of his lectures at the
Peabody Institute, that Bismarck, as be was
known in this country, was creature of the
imagination, sort Of ideal hero, which fan
cy had invested with every heroic attribute
physical and intellectual. The real man
would scarcely be recognized, he is so I'M
like our ideal conception. Bishop Simpson.
who has seen the great man and talked with
him face to face, in his lecture at the Charles
street Methodist Episcopal church, last
night did but little to disenchant his audi
ence from whatever exalted ideas they may
have previously entertained about Bismarck.
Every one went away with a higher CON
ception of the man who has been the leading
character in the great historical drama
which has just been enacted.
Bishop Simpson pretaced his lecture by
saving that when men have accomplished
any great achievement, there is natural
curiosity to know by what steps they have
assembled the ladder OF fame
The two men who have acted the leading
parts in the greatest event of our generation
are Louis Napoleon and Bismarck. The
former. born i'll a palace, atterward pris-
Oner. then AN exile, Il president OF Tree re
public an emperor, and then a prisoner in
the hands Of "a king who mad once almost
trelnbled bcfOr. his power.
The other. man born in a comparative
obscurity. of parents not distinguished. who.
by his own talents and genius, has raised
himself to the highest position-at once
the friend of his king and the friend of his
country.
We are not able to disassOciate men from
the struggle in which they are engaged
ana our sympathies with the calse often
give color to our estimate of the individual
actor He desired to do justice to both
France and Germany. France was our
earliest ally. and the memory of Lafayette
is precious to every American heart. On
the other hand many of us are descended
from the Germans, which naturally draws
us toward our fatherland besides this.
Prussia was our firmest friend during the
war for the Union. We have friends in
both countries, and we have sympathies for
both.
The results of this contest are to reach
far out into the future to modify the map
of nations, and to shape the doctrines OF
the world Nothing therefore, is to be
said in partisan spirit but with proper
respect for both contestants, the great end
attained is to be calmly discussed.
Bishop Simpson then graphically traced
the life of Louis Napoleon from his boy
hood up, giving many incidents in his event
tul history: showing what an adventu,er
he had been, what vicissitudes he came
through how he attained the throne
through treachery and blood; and that,
after attaining it through the best blood in
the land, he set about working for the glory
of France, and yet he did very little for
her. considering his opportunity. He al
ways talked about the glory Of France,
while he worked for the glory Of Louis
Napoleon and his family. He was always
opposed to the unity Of Germany, and
sought unjustly, the present war; to break
her power among the nations, and. st the
same time. to aggrandize himself: but God
put sudden check upon his designs.
When the star of Napoleon went down
Queen HOrtense went to Switzerland, and
there reared her children. Louis first en-
terpri-e was an attempt at revolution
against the papal power. which was an in
significant failure. His next was the
uuixotic affair at Strasburg. where he I'M
iurled the NapOleOnic banner. but the PEG
pie did not rally around it. Louis Philippe
was SO little disturbed by this attempt
against his sovereignty that the only pun
ishment inflicted on the offender WAS
Punishment to the United States-not a
very severe punishment most persons would
imagine. While in this country he spent
some time in New York, but the greater
part of the time he passed in this city BAL
timOre). He then went. back to Switzer-
land. After the death of his mother. he
went to London and engaged in literary
pursuits. and, it is said. that for short
period he was on the London detective
police.
When the bones Of the first Napoleon were
brought back to France, Louis crossed the
Channel. and set up the standard Of revolt
At BOulOgne. For this he was sentenced to
perpetual imprisonment. The lecturer then
detailed Louis Napoleon's subsequent
career his election to the Chamber Of Depu-
ties, and then his election as president of
the republic, receiving five and a half mil
lions out of seven millions of votes; the oath
he took. and the solemn declaration he made,
that hencefOrth the enemies OF the republic
should be his enemies; his pertidiOus treach-
ery to his oath and the republic, and the
grand coup d'etat by which ne first pro
claimed himself president for ten years. and
then Emperor Of France.
His whole life being one OF deep-dyed
treachery, he was man who always wore q
mask to hide his deep designs upon the lib
critics OF his people, and that, through his
whole career. up to his capture at SEDAN,
he was nothing but base imitatOr of his
uncle, and to that as much as to anything
else he might attribute his unexpected
| downfall. Tue bishop earnestly urged the
.yolln. listeners of his audience to inltAt c
none. but to be original in all their thoughts
and actions.
AS illustrating Napoleon's character,
Bishop Simpson related the story which
| the late Emperor himself told to FennimOre
Cooper. 'This world is but a stage" said
Napoleon. land all men wear masks. l be-