New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-19


matter. The most amusing part Of the
thing 10 that after ell this fuss the commit
tee has discovered that the man they select
ed is Republican. The four Republicans
stood by Downing because he is Repub-
lican, and Freund was the only other Ne.
publican except NcKeogh, the cOlored man.
A Visit to the Palace Of the Taileries.
Tho following interesting article, by Cen
eral N. P. Banks, the distinguished scholar
and statesman, appeared in the last number
Of the New York Ledger. General Banks
speaks tho French language fluently, and
has travelled much in Europe:
On bright and beautiful morning in De.
cember, 1869. went with the American
minister at Paris to meet, in the palace OF
the Tuileries, the Emperor of France. The
CITY of Paris was never more joyous than
at that moment. Its boulevards were
thropged with the elite of the Partisan
population. Splendid equipaEes were slowly
moving from the different quarters to the
Champs Elysees. The Bots de Bonlogne
was thronged with accomplished and emu
emit visitors from all parts OF the world VINO
shared with the people OF Paris the pleas,
ures of What might have been we'll called
the most brilliant day of the season. 1t
was . period, however, that brought with
it manifold anxieties, and there were few
prominent pereonsges in social or political
circles who had not been touched with soil
citude If not with forebodings for the future
of France.
The empire had apparently recovered from
the industrial and financial Crisis OF the tw9
preceding years. The assaults that mao
been made upon the members Of the Bureau
of Public Instruction in the Chamber OF
Deputies for alleged materialistic and ire
ligious teachings had been answered by
large maiorities for the ministers. Acrlmo,
NOUS and violent debates had occurred
upon various and important financial meas.
ures, made necessary by constant ana
alarming increase of municipal and impe'
rial debts and expenditures, the cosby 70 70
construction of Paris and the collapse OF
the Credit Mobilier and the Credit Foncier,
with occasional examination of high 0fhcers
and denunciations of the Emperor himself:
But the debates terminated with increased
majorities for the government. Inc enc
mics of the empire came to Its AID: Inc
leaders of the opposition were oougoo 10
enter solemn protests against the revoiu-
| tionary doctrines of the socialists OF Pans,
Who denounced religion, the existing priest
| hood. the institution of marriage and had
condemned Gsmbetta ss conservative.
To conciliate public opinion, and to meet.
| in mart at least, the declarations OF NJ. Emile
| Olivier, who began to be recognized as q
| leader Of what seemed to be rising thru
| party in the politics of France, that there
| could be NO permanent peace among lts
people without q reduction OF the army, anu
| the concession of largely extended !lcertles
! to the municipalities, the Emperor had dls-
tinguished the centennial anniversary OF
the birth Of Napoleon l. fifteenth OF Al
gust, 1861, BY establishing the most OF the
refoi ms which had been demanded. The
| Prince Napoleon had made the tour OF
| Nor.',ern and Southern Germany, anu nao
spoken az . democrat and revolatlonist
| The Prince Imperial and his mother mao
| hean rece,ved with disting uished honOrs in
| Corsica. The Empress had been honored
a. the principal parsonage in the imposing
| ceremonies Of the inauguration OF the cana
at Suez, Public meetings were held oy
permlssiOn of the government Tor the OILS
cuesion of important questions connected
with it's administration. The business Of
| the country was more prosperous: the neai'I
| of the Emperor was restored; the1e was
| visible Improvement in financial ana com
mercial affairs. and the organization OF
ministry responsible to the people was look
ed for. when the letter of the Emperor ap
| reared December 90 1862 authorizing M
| Olivier to form . new ministry IN cOnso
| nance with the liberal reforms he had adv0
Gated. The people began to think that thu
rersc nal government initiated by the co"l
detat of December ,, 1851, was at an eao
This impaired the highest degree OF CONF
dence to the industrial Industries OF tn
country, and the friends of the Emperor
were more than ever confident of his Wis
dom and the permanence of his empire
| was not surprised, therefore, when my DIS
! tinpuished companion said, On the way t
the palace: II know not what others ma,
think, but to me it seems that the Emperor
government was never stronger han now.
And this appeared to De the universal opln
ion. ..
Wearied with long continued excitement
had very little desire during my first 90
;ourn in Paris, to visit the places most at
tractive to strangers, or make the acquaInt
ance of public men, and made my first ob
seryations of the renowned capital chief.
from the outside seats of Omnlbuses runnlnI
through the principal thoroughfares ant
suburban villages. Ny time was not alto
pether lost in this primitive method OF re
connoissance. for discovered later that m.
ideas of Paris were essentially dlfferen
from those of my countrymen who had FOL
lowed the usual routes of observation
From the seat l occupied, Paris seemed
FESTIVE and disquieted. There was, in tn
aspect of many Glasses of people, an IN
tensity of feeling that did not wreck ltsel
upon expression" Revelry seemed less !
passion than an occupation. The DEM
monde was Haunting and bold, workingmel
silent and sullen speculation rampant ant
reckless, tradesmen impOrtunate and lmpa
tent, rejecting men apprehenslve and sad
Returning to Paris, after journey o
some weeks in Northern and Southern Eu
rome. and the period of my departure TO
America being very near, l began to feel al
earnest desire to improve an opportunlt'
which might never return, to see some o
the distinguished men who had so Target
contributed to the course Of public events
and the minister of foreign affairs havinl
suopested to q friend that it would be un
wise for me to leave France without seein!
the Emperor, gladly accepted the priv
| lepe of an audience, which the Amerlcal
minister. Mr.. Washburne, requested in M
behalf, and which was promptly granted
had seen the Emperor several times III al
walks with ministers or friends through tn
palace gardens, in his drives to the bois q
| Boulogne, and once in his passage thr0ug
the crowded boulevards of the city, durin,
the political excitements of the summer o
1869.
It is said that he appeared to the best ad
vantage when mounted but in his carriage
though always sad, he certainly looked lik
an emperor. He saw everybody, but salute'
no one. His manner was the same when b.
returned to Paris after the Italian cam
naipns. at the head of the French army
Upon those who especially attracted hi
attention his steady gaze had kind o
fascination which compelled, even from hi
enemies, an involuntary salute. The En-
press, who often accompanied him. receives
and returned the salutations OF all classe
of people with most gracious ana charm
ing manner. In his promenades the En-
peror appeared to less advantage, H
was somewhat corpulent, his body. long
his legs short. His step was heav.