The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-08-23
DESPOT WORSHIP.

We agree with the Chicago Journal
in saying that lit is not easy to discov-
er elements of heroism in the character
or achievements of the young French
man who met his death in Africa.
Hero worship exceeds rational bounds
in permitting a statue to the prince 70
be erected in Westminster Abbey.
Even Dean Stanley's eloquent plea In
defense of his permission will not do.
sHe gave his life for England says
the dean. 1t is true that his life was
lost while in the service of the English,
but there was nothing heroic in the en-
listment or in his tragic death. In the
first place England stood in need Of no
officers. She was carrying on a war Of
oppression and conquest anyway, and
there is certainly nothing heroic In the
act Of a civilized prince volunteering to
render assistance to crush out a savage
people whose sole offense was independ-
ence. Had Napoleon offered his sword
to the oppressed against the powerful,
there would be elements of heroism in
the act.
But there was n q 6hsideratiap of
gratitude or assistance in the mind of
the prince. His was a purely selfish
motive. This much is clearly substan-
tiated by the instructive pamphlet
which some indiscreet Bonapartists
have recently printed. Speaking of this
pamphlet the Journal says:
II contains letters OF the prince. and decia-
ratlons from him regarding his own purposes
and prospects with reference TO French poll
ties, In which he avows his design 10 get pos
session OF the government ofhis country, al
hitting frankly thai he might be Obliged to
do It by force, and intimating the necessity
of a military career as n preliminary. He'd
clares that his mission was TO e~xtinguish tho
revolutionary spirit in France; that. his de-
sire was TO found Institutions that would be
permanent, but that he would first need a
period OF power during which he would be alb
solute. and that he must himself regulate the
duration OF this period. He also avows his
intention to sustain the church "always,
everywhere, and to the full extent OF his
ability"
This being true, all who sympathized
with the ex-empress for the death Of
her son must now congratulate France
that that son is dead. Far rather that
the young officer in the British army
should die from the effects Of a thous-
and assegai wounds than live to obtain
military glory and return as pretender
TO invade France and visit the horrors
of a coup d'etat on the peaceful French
people. Success to Napoleon in Africa
meant oppression, imprisonment, the
guillotine and untold torture and car
mage in France. He would assassinate
the republic and over its PROSTATE body
erect the despotism Of an empire which
should remain as long as pleased his
caprice.
There is nothing Of the hero in such
a character. His mission in Africa did
not make him one; his plans for the fu-
ture could not make him one. de was
a despot in assisting to crush out a
guiltless race; he was a despot in plan
ming for the overthrow of the French
republic and enthralling the people.
| As q despot then must he be regarded,
and as a despot must his statue be
placed in Westminster Abby. But he
was true to the family trait-despotism.
| 1t is only strange that England should
deity despotism Of q NAPOLEON.