West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-09
plon-Plon.

Prince Napoleon, the second son of
Jerome Bonaparte by his second wife,
the Princess Frederick of Wurtemburg,
is the senior living representative of
his family. lie Is now fifty-seven
years of age. lie has been noted for
years as an extreme democrat, although
more recently he was qualified sup
porter of the empire, and may now be
described as a conservative republican
After the revolution of 1913 he was the
leader of the "Mountain," fact for
ever held up against him by the
DeMorny's, the Persigny's and the
Rouher's, who wrought and waxed fat
on the subsequent coup d'etdt. Prince
Napoleon does not like to fight. 1t is
true that he has commanded an in
fantry reserve at Alma and Inkerman.
But he threw up his command I'm great
haste, saying he was ILL., and for this
the nickname of "Plon-plon" was be-
slowed upon him by his admiring coun-
trymen. But Ii he did not attack the
Russians he attacked the Orleans FAM
lily with great spirit in the French Sem
ate In 1861. A fiery debate ensued. and
the Duke d'Aumale sent Prince Napo-
leon challenge. The invitation was
declined, and since then the Prince can
scarcely be said TO have been favorite
with the French army. There may be
two opinions about his co rage or about
the construction TO be placed on his
conduct in the cases described; but
there can be no doubt that he is the
kind of man to whom Napoleon the
First would have written insulting let
tiers, and whom he would have assigned
TO humiliating offices. He Is scarcely
the man, in other words, to stir up the
military enthusiasm of the French
people. Prince Napoleon has been cor
daily detested by the party of the en-
pire. The late Emperor always thought
him half-hearted, although he was re-
conciled to him after more than one
season of alienation. A memorable in
stance OF this followed the delivery by
the Prince of speech on the unwilling
OF statue of Napoleon the First in
Corsica, In 1855. These things are of
course remembered But 1t NAV be
possible, IL not to forget, to put them
aside. Stranger things have happened
even in the history of this strange dy-
nasty. Time was when the first Ma
poleon was as wild republican as the
best or the worst of them. Each of his
steps toward the throne was insidious
and plausible. 1t always appeared that
he, like Richard the Third, had great
ness thrust upon him. 1t was, as Haz-
lit says, the repeated attempts made
against the life OF the First Consul
which gave handle "for following up
the design which hsd been for some
time agitated of raising him To the i'm
perial throne and making the dignity
hereditary in his family. Not that in
deed this would secure him from per-
sonal danger, though it is true that
there's divinity doth hedge a king
but il lessened the temptation to the en-
terprise and allayed a part of the
public disquietude by providing sue
cessor." The democratic stains on the
escutcheon eff "Plon-plon" may then
be effaced. "The interests of France"
may obliterate as often again as before
what 1t is convenient to have forgotten.
Even the dislike of the army might
be softened or dissipated. A brilliant
military stroke carefully planned and
unattended by personal risk, has before
now at the right moment made hero
out of poorer stuff than even Prince
"Plon-plOn." But even waving these
expedients an eligible Bonaparte might
nope to be President of the Republic In
1880 no less than in 1913. Admitting
the differences of the situations. in
Guiding the sharpest of the lessons of
experience, the more democratic Bon
aparte candidate the better the chance
OF his election. Again, when glory is
not even mentioned by French Chief
Magistrate in his inaugural address,
military success or popularity is plainly
OF less consequence than usual, and
herein further hopes are suggested for
the future of Prince Napoleon. IC.
however, afrer all said and done is to
be put aside, the Imperialists have a
manifest alternative. IN his son, and
the grandson of Victor Napoleon, now
seventeen years of age, there remains
Napoleon the Fifth, quite as available
as Henry the Fifth for the Bourbons.
and who, in default of his father. could
be worked into an effective substitute.