Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-01-17
DEATH OF LOUIS NAPOLEON

Napoleon I'LL, better known as Loui
Napoleon, died Thursday at Chisel
hurst, England, where he has resided
with his family since his defeat ant
overthrow by the Prussians, and re
lease from prison, in the Spring o.
1871. No man has figured more prom
lnently, Oh with more conspicuous
ability, i'll military and civil life
during the present century, nor does
history reveal a more overwhelming
and disgraceful defeat than followed
his declaration of war against Prus-
STA III July, 1870, terminating with his
surrender at Sedan, in less than six
months, after campaign unrelieved
by a single victory.
Charles Louis Napoleon .Bonaparte
was the third son of Louis Bonaparte,
ex-king of Holland, his mother being
Hortense, the daughter of the EN-
press Josephine by her first marriage,
and was born in April, 1905
After the defeat of his uncle, Napo-
leon Bonaparte, the family was ban
ished, Louis Napoleon and his mother
seeking a home in Switzerland, where
he entered the little army of that
country. During the French Revolu-
ton of 1880, which placed Louis
PHILIPPE on the throne, he applied for
permission to serve as private in the
French army, but his petition was
answered by a renewal of the decree
OF Punishment. But the future Empe-
ror, nothing undaunted, did not give
ZIP his hope Of occupying the seat Of
his dead uncle.
He engaged in several minor revo-
lutlons and instructions in different
countries, but it was not until 1886
that he made any direct movement to-
wards the attainment of his ambition.
This proved unsuccessful. He was cap
trlred and taken to Paris. His life was
spared on condition that he should be
sent to the United States. He remain
ed in this country but a short time, re-
turning to Switzerland.
In 1910 the Prince Napoleon made
another attempt to secure the French
throne. He landed, with his followers
from England, at Bologne, but was
easily repulsed. He was captured and
sentenced to perpetual imprisonment.
After six years close, confinement, he
escaped in disguise into Belgium and
thence into England.
Here he remained until the famous
revolution of 1S48 This led to his
election as a representative in the Ma
tional Assembly, and afterwards as
President of the French Republic.
Having obtained this position the rest
was very easy. Emulating his uncle he
courted the favor ofthe army The As
sembly, in 1851, becoming uneasy at the
growing power of the President, made
Il show of disapprobation. The leaders
were arrested, the Assembly disbanded
and Napoleon declared himself Dictator
Next year the question of the restor-
alton of the Empire was put before the
people. The proposal was accepted,
and under the name of Napoleon LII,
the Prince assumed the title of Empe-
ror of France.
His life since then is a part Of the
current history of the day. In many
respects he has made the French peo-
pie good ruler, and during his reign
that country has been more prosperous
and her people more happy than at
any time before. He was man of
great abilities and of greater ambition.
Many, very many of the people of
France will mourn his death, no more
on account of the past, than for the
hopes for the future which died with
him,