The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-28
LOUIS NAPoLEoN's COUP DETAT.
How Victor Hugo was Warned of 1t, and
Might Have Prevented 1t.

from HugO's The History OF Cr1me.I
On the sixteenth of November, 1851, almost
plot came to head, Victor Hugo was at
home, writing in his study, when q servant
opened the door and askedif he would receive
M. Napoleon Bonaparte Not that the author
names his visitor, but he sufficiently desig-
mates him by reminding US that one kins
man OF the Presidents. who was also at that
date a member of the Legislative Assem-
bly,, had inherited the republican trad-
tions of Lucien Bonaparte. After some dis
course on other subjects, the newcomer turn
is lost-unless you save it." Then he
proceeded to unfold the secret aims
and mannuvres of the President and
his coadjutors, and pointed out that while
were suspecting and studying and assaling
one another, the whole machinery of a coup
detat on the part of the executive authority
was being swiftly organized. From the means
danger to be at hand and that it must be con
jured forthwith, ii at all. you, Mr.. Hugo
he went on, "are one of the Sixteen. You have
full powers to act for the Left. Yon. the As
sembly's commissioner of police, is Repub-
lican- he will obey your signature Here his
visitor looked Hugo in the eye and added,
ARREST the President to-nightr' Then, in
hurried but lucid words. he proceeded to
show the ease of the undertaking, pointing
out that the army was undecided; that the
Generals of Algerian prestige counter
poised the President in their good graces;
| that the National Guard held by the Assem-
bly,, and, as to factions within the Assembly,
by the Left. that Col. Forester would an
the Sixth, and Howyne for the Fifth; that
upon an order Of the Committee Of Sixteen
there would be an instant rush to arms; that
Victor Hugos signature would suffice to
| launch battalion upon the Elysee; that the
Elysee dreamt of no attack, was immersed in
plans of offensive not defensive, action, and
would be captured unawares; that the thing
could be done without blow, the prison Of
Vincennes open and shut while Paris was yet
asleep; and that France would be greeted. on
awaling with this double item of good news ,
'Bonaparte is out of the way, and the repub-
| lie out of danger"
In the silence with which Hugo received
such counsel from such source it was plain
rose, and, leaning against the mantel went on
in hating pensive accents, which Victor
Hugo assures us made upon him, and still
makes, the impression of a loyal nature: Let
save my family and my country. | am a
Bonapaite, but not Bonapartist. l respect
the name and ! Judge it. 1t has one blot
already, the eighteenth Brumaire, but that
his genius Napoleon found absolution.
There he is upon the column Vendome-
the thing is done-let him sleep
leave him alone. Resurrect not his
evil side. Force not France to -recol-
lect too much. That glory of my
uncles was vulnerable; the wound has closed
rcnd not, the scar. Say what they will. |
| know that Napoleon dealt his memory in the
coup detat of the eighteenth Bruritaire a
grevous stroke. The first blow his fame has
survived: a second would extinguish it.
will not have 1t so. | hate the first blot on
my inheritance. | shudder at the conse-
quences of another" He stopped an instant
he was genuinely and deeply moved; then he
resumed: THAT is why come here tonight
you, If the Left shall follow the counsel give
you now, shall save the first Napoleon save
him for if a second crime be grated on his
glory, that glory will melt away and history
will know it no more. | go further, and com
plete my thought. J shall save, too, the pre-
sent Napoleon. for he WHO already has nc
glory. would have for Is dole only shame
Let me save him from The pillory. Arres1
him.
This was strange language from Bona
parte, yet it planted In the auditor an efface
able conviction of the SD. aker's sincerity
But Victor Hugo refused t. VOL Ute the law
In curt, simple words, which formulate witt
supreme felicity the creed Of law-abidine
patriot, he explained why an act which might
have been yenial in old Rome was impossible
to a conscience enlightened by wider
horizon, and anchored by the steadfast bulk
heads of humanity. He could only hinder
by committing one himself, and with this
alternative before him he chose rather to be
the prescribed than the proscriber. This un
paralleled colloquy between a prince more
loval to his country than to his dynasty, ant
a Republican who loved liberty less than law
lasted we'll nigh three hours, and Victor Hugo
wrote it out before he slept.