, 1879-07-05

THE AMERICAN B0NAPAATE, |
There is nn intimation in some Of tho
cable dispatches that faction among tho
edherents Of tho BoNArARTz party in France
talk Of taking up tho claims Of an American
gentleman as presendor to tho Napoloonic
succession. The dissatisfaction Of tho In,-
t,esialista with tho tosta,nautary succession
prescribed by tho lato Prince, and the fact
shat tho American BosArAnTE is ID more
direct line Of succession thau any Of tho of.
spring Of JEROME 1,oHArAHTE's second family,
furnish tho rason Tetw for tho alleged
movement. As matter Of fact, however,
there is probably no more substance to this
project tilan thero was sonlo months ngo In
an absurd report Of design to mako Con.
GRANT King Of bulgaria. America ia not
good aoil for raising Princes, aud Kings, and
Emperors, and 1t would DO solecsm for
any people or any faction believing in
tho kinglY form Of government to
seok ruler In country md among
nation that haye established tho highest
und most enduring clalms to popular gov
crnment. Tho very same motives which
prompted the great NAPOLEON to annul, no
far as his Jurisdiction oxtonded, the marriage
between hts brother md Miss PATTERSON, of
baltimore, would doter the alherents Of the
DoSArAngE family from adopting one Of that
lnlyB descendants as q protcndcr to tho sue
ceasion. Nor Is thore any ronson to think
TINT tito American grandson OF JEaoME
BonArAnTE will eYor DO tlelulal With the
notion that llo haa claims to an Imperial
throne in France, because, inside from Nine.
PArrEnaoN-DosApAhTE, mono OF tho Ameri-
can tranch Of tho family, SO far as wo know,
has ever manifested any ambition in the In,-
perial way, either directly or collatora'ly.
The nl,surdity Of tho "Divine right" to
blood aucoe:mion to the rule Of nationg was
ncvor moro pointally illustrated than It
is by tha suggestion Of IN obscure Amer-
can gentleman "a tho rightfnl ruler Of
Franco. We know nothing Of the personal
nttainmonts Of this gentleman. To mny be
nnti probably IL an oxcol'out porson autl
reputable c,tizon. But rs private citizen
Of this country, unfamiliar with tue necessi-
tics Of franco, and totally inexperienced In
tho art Of governing, 1t would certainly bo
1nonatroua pieco Of folly, If It wore possible,
to cail him to tho supreme control Of the
destinins Of TINT great nation. A people, at tho
advanced stage Of enlightenment which Is
tho boiAt Of tho present era, who would sub
| init to 10 incougrnons disposition Of their
national concorus would thereby earn tho
contempt Of reasoning mon oil over the
| world. There will bo no exclsso outside Of d
religious bclicf in tho doctrine Of Divine right
for 80 prepoaterous proceeding, md
tho Dyine.rIght theory would ba more
nbBur1 iu thiH caso than usual by roaaon
Of tho humble origin Of tho first NAro1tos,
tho Disregard OF his subsequent decseo
nnnulling his brothers. marriage with Alas
PATTERSON, aud tho latter'a democratic birth
aud connections. All these circumstances
plaoa Divine right in so mnoh confusion TINT
it would bo impossible for any ona to deter
,ulua where It begins or where it ends.
A much 1nprs rational view OF the Napo.
looutc suocossion IL thnt such thing has nc
more existence In aotnality than It has In
thaory. Tho death Of the young Prince I'm.
perial, sal ~ 1t waH from humanitarian
point Of view, was political blessing to Franct
bccauso tue last yestigs Of the Nspolooni.
1tloa probably died with him. The Thlrt
NAPOLEON raytyed TO Bono extent the popn
lnr enthusiasm that his unolo had excited
and something Of this would have responded
to thu protensiops Of bis sou but, with th'
oblitoratiou Of the dirsot line Of succession
the last personal hold at the DonAPArsrI
fantly upon tt,a people Of Franco VIVA ioat
Thors Inns buen marvellous change In th'