The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-26
Plon-PlOn.


Prince Napoleon, the second son of
Jerome Bonaparte by his second wife,
the Princess Frcderika of Wurtemburg,
Is tho senior living representative of
his family. lie is now tifty-sevcn
years Of age. lie has been noted for
years as an extreme democrat, although
more recently he was a qualified sup
porter Of the empire, and may now be
described as a conservative republican.
After the revolution Of 184S he was tho
leader of the "Mountain," a fact for
over held up against him by tho
DeMorny's, the Persigny's and tho
ROuher's, who wrought and waXcd fat
on the subsequent coup d'etat. Prince
Napoleon does not like to fight. 1t is
true that he has commanded al in
fantry reserve at Alma and Inkerman.
But he threw up his command in great
haste, saying he was i'll; and for this
the nickname Of 'Plon-plon" was be-
slowed upon him by his admiring coun-
trymen. But If 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 tho 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 lot
ters, and whom he would have assigned
to humiliatlng 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 tho em-
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 a speech on the unveillng
Of statue of Napoleon the First in
Corsica, in 1865. These things are of
course remembered But 1t may be
possible, If 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 a 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 had been for somo
time agitated Of raising him to tho I'M
perial throne and making the dignity
hereditary In his family. Not that i'll
deed this would secure him from per-
sonal danger, though it is true that
there's divinity doth hedge king;'
but it lcsscned the temptation to tho en-
terprise and allaycd part Of the
public disquetudo by providing sue
cessor." The democratic stains on the
escutcheon Of "Plon-plon" may then
DO effaood. s"The lntcrosts of Franco"
may obliterate rs 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
hope to be President Of the Republic IN
1880 no less than in 184S. Admitting
the differences Of the situations. in
Guiding the sharpest Of tho lessons of
experience, the moro democratic Bon
apartc candidate tho better the chance
OF his election. Again, when glory Is
not even mentioned by a 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. If,
however, afrer all said and dono Is to
be put aside, the Imperialists have q
manifest alternative. IN his son, and
the grandson of Victor Napoleon, now
seventeen years Of age, there remains a
Napoleon the Fifth, quito as available
rs Henry tho Fifth for the Bourbons,
and who, in default Of his father, could
be worked into All effective substitute.