Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1873-01-12
Napoleon Ill.

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steps and subdued voices proclaim
that one OF earth's noted ones is dead.
lis true /: q prisoner has regained his
freedom. an ex-Emperor has fallen
Asleep-Louis Napoleon is dead.
Can we, in republican America,
speak justly of this dead sovereigns
His life, with its changes, its lights
and shadows, its glory and its shame,
will forever make him more OF less
the oncer Of posterity." For us,
were it not for his schemes toward
Mexico, and his shameful betrayal Of
the Austrian Prince, We would speak,
above his bier. no words of reproach.
He was born heir to q throne. He
was the nephew Of the man who, by
natural gifts. came nearer being royal
than any one who yer lived before
him or since. This uncle, ty his
genius and valor, for years conquered
every foe that dared oppose him land
for his reward France .i"yfully named
him Emperor. True. through mis-
fortune this diadem was lost; but this
man who has just died was trained
from childhood to believe it was his
by right. He learned. farther, that
after the glory his uncle had shed
around France. in his misfortune he
was betrayed by his W country
men and was by ungenerous foes
chained like an eagle to = rock. tn
beat in despair his proud wings. until
the imperial soul burst indigs antly
away. What q mournful, bitter his
tory for . young child to have M
bued within his heart. Is it a wonder
that the youthful brows, that the
great Emperor had fondly stroked in
childhood, burned ut the thoughts
this history day and night gave rise
to? Is it a wonder il he learned to
look upon the common herd of men
as mere rioters, only to be curbed by
tho strong hand OF power? Is it a
wonder if this man grew up scorning
governments founded by the people,
Of the people, and for the people?"
He fed from his first prison, and in
due time usurped the scepter he all
his life had dreamed was his of right.
II his rule in France was sometimes
severe. it was still most magnificent.
In his grasp, the scepter, which had
fallen lifeless from the palsied hand
Of the Bourbons, seemed a wand of
snchantment and glory to France.
He nursed the arts of peace, fostered
learning, championed and rewarded
valor and genius. France prospered
everywhere at hom,; and from be-
yond the Pyrenees, and from by the
Black Sea her armies cana back vic
torious, until, in a dozen brief years.
she. from the low place she had occu-
pied since Waterloo, stood the first
power in Europe. Napoleon was &C
knowledged the man Of the age, and
something Of the old fear Of the name
of Bonaparte came back to the souls
Of Europe's sovereigns. Then came
our rebellion: and with its close COM
menced the downfall Of this Emperor.
He looked out upon the war raging in
our lands. He said to himself. THE
mob is destroying itself, the bubble
OF free government is broken there
forever" Then he saw the tempting
bait of Mexico, tempting to q ruler
who wished for q fair land for his SUI
plus population, a broader field for
his commerce. Doubtless he feared
his old enemy across the channel
would seize it if he did not. He
stretched out his hands for the prize,
and thus made the mistake Of a life
time. Atlength our people rose from
tho abyss in which they had fallen.
Though hearts were bleeding and sor-
rowful; though the land was covered
with graves and debt. still, behold.
above tho clouds q brighter dawn was
a fairer promise hung in u
heavens.
Then Napoleon the Third fell. 1t
10 useless to talk of the war with
Prussia. Napoleon died before a
cannon-shot of that war was fired.
True, he breathed to become the pris-
oner Of the Prussians-breathsd to
hear of tbs sacking Of the magnit-
cent capital he had so beautified, and
ceased to live. a prisoner in a foreign
land ceased to live. even before poor
Carlotta. whose heart was broken
and brain crazed with sorrows caused
by him,
He was not, like his uncle, q soldier
by inspiration. . genius Of war, who
through the smoke Of battle, from
itself could grasp upon victory;
who seemed. indeed. fitted to COM
mand and control q world : but he
was . great statesman. a wonderful
adept in the wiles ofdiplomacy, a far
seeing. sagacious man. He did much
for France. and tonight through that
realm there are more tears than
80 R~vI:-- for him