Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-11-03
Prince Napoleon

Americans are sufficiently far away FROM
the scene Of European politics to view them
more dispassionately than Englishmen.
Hence the former have rendered more JUS
tice than the latter to one of the most
striking personalities of the Old World.
Napoleon Joseph Charles Paul, the head of
the imperial branch of the House of Bon
aparte, has often, but incorrectly, been
styled Prince Jerome Napoleon. For this
triflng error he has himself to thank.
During his cousins reign it was obviously
impossible for him to sign by his first
Christian name alone. 1t might have led
to confusion, and would have been Gls-
courteous to the sovereign. He accord
ingly adopted the signature of Napoleon
(Jerome)," the latter having been his
father name, though not his own. When
the republic seemed 10 be definitely estab-
isheu, at least for a while, he assumed the
more splendid signature Of Napoleon
Bonaparie." Since the death of the Prince
Imperial he has dropped the %Bonaparte, "
and otherwise given the plaiuest lndica-
tons that, If France ever returns to tue
C@Sarist form of government, he means to
be Caesar. They httle know the Prince
who cream that he Will ahd cate, in favor
of one OF his sons, Ur any olhsr human
being. de has an ambition which is
bounded only by prudential considerations,
anu desire 10 have the substance rather
than the shadow Of power. The 1ates
alone can tell whether we shall ever see
that face, so like the tace of the conqueror
of AusterlltZ, On French coins and postage
stamps. Enough TO say that the chances
or Napoleon '. are not worse than those OF
Napoleon Ill, when, for,y years ago, the
future Emperor lay In the fortress oI Ham,
prisoner under a life sentence, ana, what
seemed worse, covered with meriIed TiuI-
cule The French character has not mate
rally changed since 700, ,000 of French
meu ratified the coup d'etat What II e
nation mates and uesplses to-day it may
love tomorrow. And yet there was in the
temperament of LOUIS Napoleon an ele-
ment OF success which is wanting TO the
present chief of his line. The mystic and
fatalist Louis had a genuine belief IN his
mission as the heir OF the great Emperor.
Prince Napoleon has no such belief, and
the lack of faith il but poorly supplied by
the confidence he entertains III his own
abilities, though these are of no mean order.
Another circumstance, damaging TO the
PIince's prospects, is TOO notorious TO be
overlooked. Very unjustly, as there is
every reason to believe, he has incurred
the reproach most fatal to a soldier and
man who asplres to rule over his brother
men, Why persons not blinded by party
passion should have stigmatized the Prince
as a coward It is difficult To see. He re-
turned from the Crimea before the war
was over, but so did the Duke of Cam
bridge without losing his reputation for
courage. Both Highnesses were, in fact, re-
called for the same reason, that they
showed a disposition TO set their wills
above that of their commanders. Prince
Napoleon. again, refused TO fight the Duke
of Aumale. With only chlld's life be-
tween him and the French throne he was
bound, as a good citizen, to refuse the
challenge, which, in truth, was never
meant to be accepted. Who can conceive
of duel between the Crown Prince OF
Germany and the Duke of Cumberland?
For all that, it is to be regretted, in Prince
Nspoleon's interests, that he did not cross
swords with the Duke of Aumale. The
fatal mark Is now indelibly branded, as
though with hot iron.