The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-21

The death Of NAPOLEON LOUIS
JEAN-JosEPH, x-Prince Imperial Of France
and only son Of the late Emperor. had some
peculiar features about IT, In the British
operations against the Zulus in which he
was engaged, he had been sent forward
with reconnoitring party, consisting Of a
lieutenant, six privates, and a friendly Zulu;
The small body had just dismounted when
they were surprised by volley from n
party OF Zulus anlbushed in the long grass
the lieutenant and four Of his men mounted
their horses and escaped, leaving the Prince
behind them; the Prince failed TO mount
and took to his heels; but the Zulus, who
had not shot him in the volley Of surprise
Tell upon him with those javelins or spears
called assegais, which they use in war;
killed him and two OF the privatcs, and
Wade. 6gr&.@ bis death by thrustng their
teen times. His body was not recovered
I'LL the next day when it was found that
the Iulus had stripped of his uniform, but
had left around his neck the locket and
reliquary which his mother placed there
before his departure from England II will
be "a comfort to his mother that his body
was recovered; had the Zulus known who
their victim was, King CErYwAYo or KETCH-
wAio would have been put in position 10
obtain an immense ransom. What would
have been the result OF the surprise If the
fugitive British Lieutenant and the four
privatcs who accompanied him in his flight
had stood by the Prince 10 the last We can
not tell; but they would at least have de-
served honors that cannot now be awarded
b. them.
This sudden death virtually puts an end
10 imperialism in France, and in so far con-
sdcraby smpltics French politics. It
comes as an additional guarantee that re-
publican Institutions in France will be per-
mancnt. The natural head Of the house Of
BoNAPAHrE is now Prince NAPoLEoN-JE-
ROM, commonly called Plon-Plon, cousin Of
The late Emperor, and one Of the most I'M
popular men in France. He is all the less
likely 10 become the llgurehead Of u new
lmperalist party, as he has always pro-
tossed TO be a Republican in his ideas
and sentiments. True. he has a son. Prince
NAPOLEON VICTOR, II years old, who by his
mothers side, is the grandson Of the late
VICTOR EMANUEL, and consequently cousin
Of the present King of Italy. But the boy
Is utterly unknown 10 the mass Of French
people, and his legal claims upon the impe-
rial inheritance must necessarily appear
slender, even to the most devoted adopts Of
the imperial regime. lie is merely a grand
son OF the youngest brother Of the first Ma
PoLEoN; consequently, unless he has in him
the stun Of the Usurper who restored tho
Imperial throne in 1851, he will have very
little chance to find men willing to do for
him the political lighting Indispensable as a
preliminary TO all similar changes In the
government Of a country
1t Is generally believed that tho original
head OF the house Of BoNAPARTE was prema-
turely born ON piece Of tapestry represent
Ing the events Of the Had, and Homerlc in
deed appears the history Of this family.
There was unquestionably great amount OF
humbug and fraud in the dOngs Of the in
aiyidual members OF the house; but, taken
Is n whole, tho family has certainly done
and seen more in the one hundred and ten
years Of its existence than any other house
on the face of the globe. 1t was in August,
1863, that the first NAPOLEON was born in
an obscure Corsican cottage. He had not
reached his thirtieth year when his name
became the terror Of all Europe and his
deeds, his laws, and the tradition Of his
IDEAS have ever since, one way or other
ruled tho whole " the old Continent
The death Of the heirs apparent Of tho
two NAPOLEOSs has something peculiarly
unhappy about it, The Duke OF REICH-
srADr' son of NAPOLEON l., died an exile at
5chonbrunn, when scarcely twcnty-one
years old. The son Of NAPOLEON III. is
Killed by sayagcs at tho age Of twenty
three, and nearly one-half Of his life was
spent under the ban Of the nation, the dcs-
tlnics Of which he was expected to mould.
While II is natural that there should be
widespread regret over tho death Of the !
young Prince and sympathy with his be-
rcayed mother, it has TO be- conceded that
France is not likely to lose much, either by
the disappearance Of the Imperiaist party
In the Legislature and in journalism, or by
the reduction Of the number of her mo-
narchical pretenders from three TO two.
Ahe oomte DE- CHAMnoRD and tho Comte DE ]