Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-01-28
Prince Napoleon's Coup d'Etat.


Prince Napoleon, feeble person, best
known as the cousin of the late Emperor
of France, plaearded the streets OF Paris
recently with the announcement that he
was quite willing to assume the SOY.
ereignty. The French Republic objected
strenuously to his announcement and
took him to the Prison of the Concier-
perie, under the escort of four officers.
Being interviewed, Prince Napoleon
said that the Republic was played out.
II had not initiated the example of his
cousin in appealing TO the people, II
had not done anything to justify public
confidence. 1t had lost its dictator In
the person of NJ. Gambetta. II had re-
fused to adopt the system Of voting by
general ticket, which would place the
Legislature above local influences. 1t
was, in short, n government living ON
sufferance, which would be overthrow
as soon us France could agree on the
choice Of single leader.
SO far as Prince Napoleon is concerned
there Is no statesman in France to whom
the people of France would less willing
ly give their vote. lie is man of peace,
without traditions, without courage,
WllfDuL tOnNltuouo. otithkth ttoto
on his lineage. His mother was Prin
cess Of Wurtemburg; his wife was a
Princess OF Savoy. Through both he Is
connected with the reigning families Of
Russia, Austria, Wurtemberg, Holland,
and even, in more remote degree, with
that OF England. In the way Of ances-
try he is the strongest man in Republi.
can France-stronger even than the
Count of Chambord. But ancestry
counts for little in a coup detat.
Personal influence counts for much,
and of personal influence Prince Napo.
leon has little. There was time when
the Bonapartist faction bent the knee to
him, That was in the month which
succeeded the death of tho Prince lmpe-
rial When that gallant youth died in
Zululand the party reeled like drunken
man. There were qualities in the third
Napoleon's son which might have led
him to greatness. He was loyal, sincere,
and absolutely honest. The tribute just
paid to his memory by the soldiers of
England was merited. He died, as the
Prince of Wales said, with his face to
the foe. He went to South Africa less for
the love of adventure than to give his
small aid to those who had befriended
his family. Had he lived he might have
fought his way to the throne acclaimed
my many voices in England, and in
several other nations, too. He gave
promise Of being better man than his
father, who was very fair Emperor, al
Emperors went.
When he died the party dissolved. AL
the old functionaries, over whose meet
ings NJ. Rouher used to preside in {
dressing gown, turned instinctively tc
the head of the family. Prince Napo
leon received them affably. His demo-
cratic pretensions were all forgotten.
Putting aside that worthy newspaper,
the Ordre, which had served his family
80 faithfully, he founded new journal
the Napoleon, which he placed in the
charge of his friend, M. Philes, He soor
learned, however, that his personal pop.
ularity was gone. The Napoleon nevel
gained q thousand subscribers. All its
capital disappeared. Former partisans
fell away as from q losing cause. The
Petit Caporal, on which much reliance
was placed, passed from the hands o.
M. Jules Antiques, to whom M. Rouhel
confded it, and at once proclaimed wal
on Prince Napoleon. Its editor, M
Dichard, a young man with long most
and a gentle manner, said very softl,
that no Bonapartist could accept the rul
of the Jeromist faction; and M. de Mas
sas, a fiery gentleman, rudely replied il
the Combat that nobody but Prince Ma
poleon should ascend the throne o
France. Whereupon M. Dichard, will
the long nose and gentle manner, chal
lenged the fiery M. de Massas to duel
and killed him with neat thrust in tn
breast, and from that hour nobody ha
doubted that Prince Napoleon died will
M. de Massas.
Nevertheless, in all the disorders o
the party there remains dynasty whicl
has not abdcated. There is certain
vitality in the "Idees Napolconiennes
which can not be destroyed by the fol
lies of individuals. There il porto
of the conservative element in bot
Chambers which would rather receiv
Prince Napoleon, or his son, Prince Viz
tor, than the most able and strategic Q
republicans. All over the country tn
Bonapartist propaganda is spread. Their
are thousands and thousands of rura
voters who revere the memory of tn
Little Corporal There are thousands
and thousands OF merchants who sigl
for the prosperity which the secont
Empire brought them. Three time
the dynasty has been laid low-once b,
Sedan, again by the death of Napoleon
ILL.,, third time by the death of tn
Prince Imperial. Yet it still lives
Though the head of the house lies
prisoner in the Concergerie the star o
the Bonapartes is not yet eclipscd,