The Portland daily press., 1875-06-02
A House of Cards.

ry so complete governmental sham as the
second French empire. When Victor Hugo
lkened it to the government of Soulouque
the world smiled and called 1t extravagant
satire. But Hugo was not far from right.
Hayti is poorer than France and the state of
her revenues did not permit so great an out
lay for trarpings of state. In default of gold
she resorted to tinsel. The crown jewels of
France were genuine, but she INDUCED in
tinsel warriors and statesmen. Soulouque's
Duke Of Lemonade was not one whit more
absurd than some of the third Napoleon's
creations. In both empires knot of adven-
turers controlled the revenues and lived mel
rily at the public expense.
The secret papers of the empire, which
have been made public by the French repub-
lican government, form the subject Of an arti-
Gle in Fraser's magazine. 1t appears from
these that corruption prevailed in every de-
partment. All men were purchasable. The
revenue was simply immense, but as it passed
| through many hands, and as some portion of
| 1t stuck to the hands of every official who
| had an opportunity to touch it, but little re-
mained for legitimate use. So it necessarily
came to pass that there were frauds prac-
ticed In contracts and supplies. To these
frauds is owing the ineficiency of the army
| when called into service in 1870.
There was one portion of the revenue, and
one portion. only, which seems to have been
honestly expended. 1t was that portion
which embraced the pensions Of the impe-
| rial family. The emperor was an excellent
"provider." Some foIty members Of the
Bonaparte brood had allowances. The weak
Jerome and his corpulent son absorbed
$s0O,OO0 Pauline Bonaparte's daughter re-
ceived quarter of million. Luclen's
grandchildren had quite as much. The
Murats got $9,OOO,OO0, and others were
served quite as well. The collateral bran
ches were not neglected, and Wyse "born
Bonaparte." and De Mouchy ''born Murat,"
and a host of other kin of the fortunate
family received handsome sums.
In addition to the revenues for which ac-
counts were to be rendered the emperor had
a secret budget of $5,OOO,0O0. THIS was
partly employed in discharging the great
debts which he had contracted while plotting
for the throne. The empire, like some lesser
concerns, seems to have been badly crippled
by back obligations from its very start.
To supply the extravagant demands OF the
crowd of adventures which formed the
count resort was had TO peculation. The
most profitable chance for thieving was IN
the immense supplies furnished to the army.
/ rLo ..;l;+or,, 1aDo ri m ont awiD1lp1 in the
way of munitions of war. of horses, OF pow
der, of uniforms, of camp supplies of every
description. The army grew weaker every
day, and the brummagen dukes and pinch
beck marshals, virtually turning over the
internal administration of the country to the
chief of police, amused themselves by steal
ing, and spending, and boasting OF a coming
triumph over Prussia. There were not want
ing Cassandras. Ducrot. as early as 1866,
wrote ''the Germans are getting ready to fall
upon us while we are talking pompously."
Persigny in the following year gave the
alarm that the empire was crumbling.
"Plon-Plon," who had rather more brains
than the rest of the Bonapartes, complained
that nothing was done, and no one was
listened to. No heed was paid to these
warnings. The imperial officials devoted
their business hours TO stealing, and their
leisure hours to boasting.
When war actually came, the pseudo states
men and soldiers failed to comprehend the stu
alton or to make adequate provision for the
conflict. The Emperor set out for the frontier,
while the pretty Empress remained in the
Tuilleres and attempted to make war OIL her
own accoun: sending out dispatches like these
"There must be powerful diversion made to
attack the Prussian division already exhausted
by numerous battles; !" "the garrison at Stras
burg must sally out, cross the Rhine, burst into
the Baden country, where it will find few to
oppose it,and then recross the river higher uI
and attack the enemy" After all she knew
how to make war quite as well as did the
French generals. Meanwhile kilograms like
these came pouring in from the front: ''Jus
arrived at Belfort but cannot find my brig
ade . "Have received acquisitions for 400 ,00(
rations, and there is not single ration to b.
had;' ''Of the 800 artillery collars 500 are
useless" mot a single map is correct;' :
''no money in the treasury"
Such corruption, inefficiency, incapacit!
were never seen before. Surely Victor Hugo
was too severe on Soulouque and his black
| empire.