New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-26

PIP 263. Charles sc:ibner's sons.
The conduct of Marie Louise after returning TO
Austria during Napolcon's exile at Elba, and
through the Hundred Days, certainly presents OPP
pOrtunity enough for untriendly criticism, and NJ
de Saint-Amand avails himself Of these openings
not always in the most consistent and logical way
1t is indeed quite necessary 20 take broad view
Of the whole circumstances in order 70 avoid doing
injustice to the lady 1t must not be left out OF
consideration that her marriage with Napoleon
was purely state arrangement in which no cues
ton of love entered. Nor IL be overlooked
that Marie Louise was admittedly woman OF
infirm character and feeble purpose, whose whole
education had been such to lncapacltatc her
for playing heroic part. When once separated
from the masterful presence of Napoleon and sur
rounded by Austrian influences aimed with sys-
TEN at her French connections and sympathics, it
is credible that much stronger women might have
yielded as she did VI. dc Saint-Amand finally
admits that all her inideties arose from the fact
that she never loved Napoleon; but he deals with
her, in the meantime, as severely as though this
had not been the Napoleon himself seems
10 have been more just. He at least dld not re-
proach her. even on St. Helena. 1t is true that
it scarcely lay in his mouth to do so; he, who
had so cruelty flung away the one deep ana
abiding woman's love vouchsafed TO him; he, upon
whose conscience the memories of Josephine lay
heavy to the last, and who knew with what
fidelity she would have chung to him, no matter
what his fortunes.
Marie Louise did for a short time think OF JOIN
ing him at Elba, but the brutal statecraft of the
Austrian Court vetoed the proposal, then intercept
ed her private correspondence, anon overcame her
reluctance 10 visit Vienna during the sessions OF
the Congress- and finally threw her into the arms
Of Count Neipperg, who had been appointed with
the express purpose of detaching her from her
husband. OF this transaction NJ de Saint-Amand
may be thought to say less than enough. In MS
eaaerness to censure Marie Louise he fails to estl-
mate rightly the moral significance OF this piece
of statecraft In the defence OF dynasues ana lor
the confusion of enemies, governments nave uh'
happily committed 50 many cnOrmtleS lhal III con
parison with some of them this mission oil COuhU
Neipperg really appears a very petty ahar' 1eC
it was assuredly an affair in which no man oi
honor could possibly have taken part, for 1t was
neither more nor less than conspiracy TO de-
grade a weak and helpless woman. Base ana
cowardlv are epithets which may jusufabY be
annlicd 10 il and it was even worse than TINS
II the Emperor of Austria rc2sincd his daughter
through the odious plot, he reSaincd her s0lel
and debased. As to the poor creature herself IL
is but too evident that her intellectual cal'Die
was small Though she did not love Napoeoh'
woman of any pride would have shrunk from tde
descent TO a Neipperg. Hut she lacked po'h
imagination and selfrespect In spite oil her quar-
terinrs. and only once twice does she eAhlolI
the least feeling of shame over her lsnoole COURSE
Nor was there one dgnifed sentiment in her
at this time Apparently her whole soul WAS neht
nnon the Duchy of Parma. and rather than forfeit
that miniature government she even consented 10
permanent separation from her child. The con-
cention of this proposition was indeed infinitely
moro dspraceful TO the House of Iapsburg than to
her. but her acceptance Of it gees far to show !
that she had not in her the capacity even Tor
maternal love. For the case was peculiar and us
peculiarties heightened the claims of the King OF
Rome upon her protecting tenderness. The little
hoy was REGARDED with mingled hate and terror
BY the Austrian Government. He was only Tour
years old it is but was he not the son oil the
Corsican Ogre? There was no saying what he
might not grow to if he lived, and 1t Is decpheraoe
between the lines that the plan TO separate him
from his mother rested upon the hope that IN the
new conditions he might possibly cease to live.
Marie Louise must have known of the dark hopes |
Of her family and their minister's must have |
known that her child would suffer many things II !
removed from her: must have penetrated the full |
meaning of the measure Yet she consented to
the separaton in order make sure of Parma, and
in so doing she probably sealed the fate OF the
Duke Of Reichstadt. Ii is melancholy ana
notifying chapter in history to look back upon,
for 1t illustrates of the most dcspIcabe traits
of human nature seen in full acton
NJ. de SaintAmand represents Napoleon at Elba
as being much disappointed because Marie Louise
and the boy did not join him Probably he cared
more for his son than for his wife. The fact that
he sent for the Countess Walcwslla when he saw
that they would not come to him may be taken as
of biS liS \
this time moreover, he was occupied with mighty
thoughts He never had any intention of remain
ing at Elba and the Allies. in violating their treaty
engagements with him, had already furnished a
plausible excuse for his projected action. These
PAGES afford lively sketch of the life at Ella and
the return to France, with the march 10 Paris.
But Napoleon did not re-enter the Tuiiercs the
man he had left il. His star had set. From this
time onward his whole bearing changed Ills
t0rians cannot refrain from Welding 10 the strong
temptation 10 represent the Waterloo campaign rs
the last link in a long chain. Yet this, though !
the truth, is not the whole truth. France was not
so hopccssly exhausted in 1915 as has been
asserted. Had Napoleon there been the man ha
was at Austcrliz il is far from being certain that
the collapse would have come rs il did. In truth
he in the grip Of mortal disease when he
planned his last campaign, when lie fought his
last battle NJ &c Sant-Amand refers once or
twice 10 his complaint" but does not seem 10
rclizc the part it PLAYED in his downfall. II really
drugged his mind and body together lie became
incapable of thinking ont his combinations. A con-
slant physical depression took the form of drowsi-
ness affecting him at all times In the very crisis
Of the battle Of Waterloo he sat on his horse half
asleep, and would give no orders After the defeat
and flight at the Tuileries he was under the same
benumbing influence. His abdicaton was due to
that. Again at Malmaison his mind refused to
work In these days his whole nature seemed
changed and in effect ii was changed. The disease
which killed him had already sap.ed his energy,
destroyed or paralyzed his most brilliant gifts,
robbed him of his generaslip, and reduced him