The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-16
Nsp0leOntsm-What L. the Future q
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The followers of the House of Bonaparte
will assemble to-day at Chiselhurst What
ever spell may linger in the name of Napoleon
will there find expression. In this little
Kentish town will gather the chiefs of the
Empire, the leaders of party that not long
faithful servants of the Emperor, those who
come to show respect to his memory and their
appreciation of past honors and opportunl-
ties, and, we may feel assured, those also who
see in the strange complications OF the present
political situation the sure hopes OF Third
Empire. To-day the Imperial Prince and heir
to the illustrious name of Napoleon will be
eighteen years old. BY the laws of the En-
pre- he enters upon his majority, and could
tomorrow ascend the throne as Napoleon the
Fourth should reluctant France offer him
welcome.
Nor is the anniversary without observance
from others than the French followers of
Napoleon. Our London correspondent tele-
graphs that the Queen has sent the Windsor
flag and brass plate for the sarcophagus of
the Emperor. These are courtesies that we
can understand. But, in addition, she is re-
ported to have conferred upon the Prince the
Order of the Garter. This, If true, is pro-
ceeding Of grave moment The Order of the
Garter is the highest Order in England and
among the Hottest dignities in the world. 1t
is only conferred upon the greatest noblemen
in the kingdom, the members of the royal fam
lily and reigning princes of other nations The
three exceptions, as at present constituted, ore
the Crown Prince of Germany, the Prince Of
Hesse and the Prince Christian Of Holstein.
These received the honor on the occasions
of their marriage to the daughters of the
Queen. The Prince Napoleon does not
claim to be reigning prince he does not
even claim imperial title. He avows himself
as candidate for empire and not Emperor
''by the grace of God" As a nobleman of
royal house he does not rank as high as the
Count de Paris or the Count de Chambord.
The latter princes are at the head Of the ancient
families of Orleans and Bourbon, whose an
cestors were kings and mighty rulers when
the ancestral Bonapartes were living in Corsi-
can obscurity. More than all, the ruler of
France is q nobleman of high rank, duke and
marshal and quite entitled to the garter under
the laws Of the Order. Why should the Queen
ignore the representatives of the two Oldest
houses in France and the Marshal-Duke who
is President of the Republic to confer the gar
ter upon lad who is simply candidate for
imperial SURFACES. We can only account for
the unusual proceeding by a belief on the
part of the Disraei government that the
Empire is inevitable; and it may be that in
paying the Imperial Prince this conspicuous
and extraordinary and unusual honor the
intention is to give his cause the moral assist
ance of England, and at the same time estab-
lish claim upon the new dynasty that may
result in renewal of the old alliances. If it
means anything it is that we are to have q
beginning of the vigorous policy which
Mr.. Disraeli so much desired in the manage
ment of English foreign affairs 1t does
strike US as a most vigorous proceeding to
ally the English Crown with the cause of a
prince who is only pretender to the throne.
Our correspondence from France shows that
there is great activity among the partisans of
Napoleonism. This is confirmed by the news
we have already printed of the efforts of the
government to prevent any pilgrimage of the
officers of the French army to Chiselhurst.
According to the French official circular it was
held that there could be no improperly in the
desire of military and civil servants of the
Empire to attend his funeral. Accordingly,
leave was granted, to all who cared, to pay the
last honors to their dead master But there is
great difference between burying dead
Napoleon and honoring live one. The first
was an act of respect; the second
is political demonstration, and that,
too against the government established
by the sovereign Assembly. So the pilgrim
age has been placed under ban and the
gathering to-day has the stronger significance
that it is in defiance of the government of
France. We learn that there are anticipated
demonstrations in Paris and that there is
unusual suffering among the poor" We do
not think the demonstrations in Paris will 90
beyond large assemblies, mainly of women, in
the churches to pray for the Prince and an
occasional stroller on the boulevard, with we'll
waxed mustache, wearing the violets in his
coat lapel Napoleonism never "demon-
strated' largely in Paris except when it was
in command Of armed soldiers, nor is the
French metropolis the place where any spon-
taneous affection for the Empire would be apt
to appear. The stories about the distress in
dictate, we presume, that the Bonapartists are
arguing that if Napoleon the Fourth were in
the palace of his ancestors there would be no
poor; that somehow poverty comes from the
Republic and that the workman will never be
sure of his bread and boullon until the imperial
eagles are CHARTERED in the Elysee. We are
familiar with arguments of this character
nearer home. But it should be remembered
that the suffering in Paris-quite exceptional
as it is at the presents among the unhappy