The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-10-25
ROuher In AiacciO.

Donapartists naturally turn to Aiaccio
with much the same feelings as those which
Americans sometimes persuade themselves
they experience in thinking of Mt. Vernon.
The Corsicans cherish the memory of the
first Napoleon as does no other part of
France, and are proud that their little island
was the place of his birth. During his reign
they felt little of the rigor of his rule, and
much of the benefit. He delighted to heap
honors upon the islanders, and his most
trusted servants were drawn from their
ranks. The third Napoleon had little love
perhaps for the island, certainly was bound
to its inhabitants by no strong personal ties !;
but he steadily pursued toward it and them
the policy entertained by the founder CT his
race. Benefits were lavished upon the Cor
sicans, and the confidential posts under the
second empire swarmed with them. Natu-
rally enough their attachment to the fallen
regime is strong and enthusiastic.
1t is understood that at the Arenen-
berg conference the Imperialists adopted
plan of campaign, and that it was
determined to at once begin an active
movement for the restoration of the en-
pire. The recent speech of M. Rouher,
leader of the party, and premier that is to be
in case of its return to power, delivered at
Ajaccio, confirms these reports. In the very
cradle of the Bonapartist race where move
ment for the third empire would naturally
have its strongest support and could make its
most advantageous start, he proclaimed his
devotion to the young prince whom they call
Napoleon " and announced his intention
and the intention of his party to actively
work for the restoration of the imperial fami-
ly. A final breach with the republic was pro-
claimed and an appeal made to the French
people to welcome once more the heir to the
traditions and the policy of the empire.
The speech means evidently that the Bona
partists now feel strong enough to go into the
elections as fast as vacancies occur and to
contest the Assembly. Their confidence is
not without subst antal basis it must be con-
fessed, for the drift is all in their favor.
M. Rouher is accused of rashness, as he has
been many times before. But certainly since
Sedan he has made few il any mistakes, and
his utterances, bold as they seem, have been
justified by events and have materially
strengthened bis position. The majority of
Frenchmen to-day are not Republicans, and in
deciding between the rival claimants to the
throne of re-es.ablshed monarchy the I'm
.periaists have stronger claims upon their
suffrages than have either Legitimists or Or
leanists. The Bonapartists see that thev have
little time to lose. The Mcmahon rule is
making Ffenchmen familiar with republican
forms. and the republican sentiment is grow
ing every day. Several years of uninter-
rupted material prosperity will firmly estab.
lish the republic in the affections of the peo
pie. The BoIapartists must strike soon if at
all, and their apparent rashness is the high
est wisdom. They can wait, it is true, like
the American Democrats, for some great
calamity, or long continued business depres-
sion to excite discomfort in the minds of the
people and disgust them with the govern
ment. But financial ptnics and destructive
floods are not to be depended upon. The
wiser course is to seize the passing opportu-
pltU