Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1873-01-18
Death of the EX-ElnpcrOr
Napoleon third.

Since the tidings came from st. He
lena, more than half n century ago,
that the great Napoleon had died
there in exile, there has been no news
that has created more sensation than
that which was telegraphed through
out the nations on Thursday, that his
nephew, Napoleon the Third, died,
that morning, at Chiselhurst, in Eng
land. One cannot help establishing a
parallel between the fates of the two
men, each of whom, after attaining
the very height of human power, fell
and died in exile. But the first Ma
poleon was mourned by all France,
while his successor is mourned only by
his family and few faithful adhe-
rents.
Less than three years ago, he held
the loftiest position of any man in
Europe. That he lost that position
was due to his own want Of judgment,
his surrounding himself with corrupt
men, whose spoils he shared, and his
over-weening desire to be an absolute
despot at home and the supreme ar
bitter in the affairs of other nations.
The fury into which he wrought him
self and all France, in the summer Of
1870, when a Prussian prince was
nominated for the throne of Spain,
and the precipitation with which he
rushed into a war with Germany,
hurried him to his downfall. The de-
grading defeat and surrender at Sedan
alienated the French people from him,
and from having been very submls-
sive and apparently very faithful
subjects, they instantly turned against
him, and on the hatred then ostab-
lishel the foundations were laid for
the republic that is now the govern
ment OF France.
The sudden departure of this great
historical character from the scene of
life will, of course create an infinite
amount Of discussion, and perhaps the
present generation is no. capable Of
considering his character and career
with dispasslonate cooIness. They
are both too near 10 Us to be regarded
with what the historian calls philo-
sophie Judgment But the very near
ness and freshness in the memory OF
al the facts of his career during the
7 last twenty-five years, make his CO.
temporaries anxious to pronounce OPT
Mons upon him, and give them autho-
rity for doing SO.
The first great crime Of Napoleon
was the Coup dc Etat Of 1881, That
crime consisted Of perjury, usnrpation
and deliberate slaughter, and consld-
ering it, one can hardly regret that g
punishment came at last on the day OF
Sedan. But for years after the ConI'
d Eiat, Napoleon had series Of sue
cesses, political and military, that
dazzlel people and made many forget
! the mode by which he became possess
ed Of supreme power. His first serious
mistake, which was also, in certain
sense, a crime, was the expedition to
Mexico, made with the ulterior design
of becoming the controller Of affairs
on the American continent as well as
in Europe. The calamities attending
that fatal enterprise opened the eyes
of the French people. Maximllian S
fall, and the vain appeals Of his wife
to the Emperor to save him, made ev-
cry one look upon him as the author
of that misery, to say nothing Of the
misery Of thousands Of others, and of
the terrible cost Of the experiment to
France. From the time of the recall
Of the French troops from Mexico
there was an organized opposition TO
| Napoleon in France, and this grow
quietly but steadily, and when the
disasters Of the war Of 1870 came, the
whole French nation become the oppo-
sition. The mistake Of Mexico was
not go great as the mistake Of under
taking a war without an army fit to
check the first advance Of Prussian
troops on the frontiec.
The character Of Napoleon Third
will always be a subject of difference
of opinions. His ambition WILL OF
course, be acknowledged by all. His
sehshncss cannot be disputed. His
immortality is beyond q doubt. His
devotion to France may be questioned;
bu. ihat he added to her glory, her
greatness and her prosperity, and de-
veloped commercial strength previous
ly unknown, must be admitted. But
those who have known him best de-
clare that he was problem to them.
He was cold, undemonstrativc, phleg-
matte and his real motives, in the
most conspicuous moments of his life
We're either concealed or 30 disguised
as TO be incomprehensiblo, lie neith-
er looked nor acted like the great Ma
poleon, which confirmed many in the
idea that not q drop Of Bonaparte
blood ran in his veins.
While many will condemn the con
duct and the character of the dead
prince, there are none who will not
feel sincere sympathy for his bereaved
widow and orphaned son. Eugenie
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