Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-01-15
LAST OF NAPOLEON Ill.,

ne funeral rites OF LOUIS NapoIeOH VIII
take place to-day at Chiselhurst. All that
his friends and followers can do TO testify
their respect for the dead emperor will be
done. There will be tears and solemn
show as BETTING the burial of monarch
as circumstances will allow, but tie les
son which the woru will read in these
bility Of power and worldly honor<. The
first Napoleon sprang from obscurity into
the first place in rank that France could
bestow upon him, but he died in exile,
and it was not for many years alter his
death that his ashes were allowed to be
deposited within the limits of the country
of which he was once emperor. Napo-
leon III during his early years was wan
dering outcast, poor in purse, only rich in
the hope of some day becoming great.
Through poverty, prisons, exile, and
strange adventures he survived to reach
the throne once filed by his ilustrious
uncle, and while occupying it TO raise
France in the scale Of national power and
acquire influence for himself rs q SOW
ereign not second to that of any potentate
in Europe. But like his uncle, he also
lived to be stripped of his crown and all
the honors of a sovereign, and died in ex-
lie, within the territory OF the same pow
CT that sent his uncle TO ST. Helena to die
in solitude of disappointed ambition and a
broken heart
Whether the remains Of the late Empe
ror will be permitted burial in France is a
question not vet settled. While the poor
est peasant Of France who might die
abroad would not be denied the privilege
OF having his remains returned to his ma
tive country for burial, that privilege TO
Napoleon is in dispute, and perhaps will
not be granted until years have passed
away and some friendly hand undertakes
the task. What the government may do
does not yet appear. For the present the
body viii be deposited at Chiselhurs,,
there to await the decision as to its ulti-
mate and final resting place. In the pres
enee of that small group of mourners, the
only faithful and true among the thousands
that once bent before Napoleon while
welding the kingly power, how hollow
must seem the f1attery OF the world, how
unsubstantial appear worldly honor and
possessions Besides the devoted wife and
only son. there are few real mourners at
his obsequies Of those who surrounded
him while in power Some who gather
about his coffin are there as followers of
the family fortunes politically, bound to it
by past allegiance and hope that the fu-
ture may yet bestow something through
the son and heir. Even in such place,
and at such q solemn moment, the warn
ing of the folly of ambition contained in
the life of the dust before them passes un-
needed, and they plot and scheme how
they may secure power and influence and
rise to rule France.
The little effect which Napoleon's death
had upon affairs in France has been re-
marked. Separated from his crown he
had no more power to move the markets
of the world than any other individual.
BY his death one of the elements of dis
cord in the government of France is re-
moved The empress and the son live it
is true TO be the centre of the Napoleonic
faction, but the brains and skill of the par
ty are gone with the deceased emperor,
and France knows it. Before the boy
reaches an age suitable to engage in ac-
tive intrigue for the throne, the govern
ment of France will have time to become
established so that he connot disturb it.
1t is not probable that another Louis Ma
poleon will be found in the family. The
career which he had is not likely to be re-
peated. Though another may come after
him with all the genius for intrigue and
capacity for executive government that
the deceased possessed, the circumstances
that made success possible may never oc-
cur again, and the failure of either of
these necessary elements, must produce
failure in the main purpose TO be attained.
SPEAKER BLALNES MEDICATION.
We published few days ago an editorial
article from the New York Tribune declaring
that Speaker Blaine's record is s'absolutely
clean" in regard to the Credit Mobilier. We
publish few more extracts from opposition