The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-08-20
THE LAST NAPOLEON.
A NEW VIEW OF THE FRENCH
RULER, WHO WAS AN ENIGMA.


No story among the scores imbedded in
that remarkable book, IAN Englishman In
Paris" book now admitted to contain
the "reminiscences of Sir Richard Wallace,
has interested us like his description OF
his first interview with Napoleon III. The
future emperor was then only a candidate
for the presidency, and the men present
Cavaignac, Theirs, Lamartine and Victor
Hugo-deceived by his weary manner and
fmpenetrable look, and perhaps also by an
instructive dread or distaste, set him down
either for an imbecile or a secret drunk
ard, an impression which spread fast and
far through the diplomatists of Europe
Sir Richard, a keen observer who, though
liable to dislikes weighed the great per-
sonages of France in n careful balance,
shared for n moment in his friends impress
sion, but after n few minutes watchful-
ness decided that they were wrong. 'that
Louis Napoleon was himself the drug, and
that every one who came In contact with
him was bound to yield to It's influence"
So strong was his impression that he evil
IDENTIFY regretted In after life his failure to
warn his political acquaintances; but at
the time he was restrained by the dread of
ridicule. Many years afterward, when
Napoleon was firm upon his throne, min
inttt uiplOHlablSb aItef
diplomatist, after months, or 1t might be
years, Of intercourse with the new ruler Of
France, came to Sir Richards opinion.
Louis Napoleon was not only a very able
man in certain directions-he was no ad-
ministrator and a bad Judge Of men-but
| be was to a certain extent an original one,
with occasional flashes of insight but he
| had in high degree a quality which In q
| lower degree we believe to be common
among men of certain kinds of ability, but
which is seldom either described or dis
cussed His presence positively lowered
the intellectual force of those to whom he
spoke, SO that they talked and advised
and above all planned, with less capacity
than they naturally possessed. That seems
a strange thing to shy, but every one who
is at all observant will admit its converse
namely, that they know OF men and
women whose presence in room, even if
they are comparatively silent, definitely
| and perccptibly increases the intellectual
brightness Of all who are congregated
there. The latter may hardly know the
possessor of the influence, they may not be
interested in his particular range of sub
jects, but they feel that they are Mt their
| best, and that 1t is somehow because of
him, and this although they do not, it may
be, attribute to him genius or any excep-
tiOnal mental power.
This force, for it amounts in some men
to force. is said to have been possessed to
an amazing extent by the Marquis of Vel
lesley, and the writer has heard it attrib-
uted, among men more recently deceased,
to Professor Palmer, whom, however, he
did not personally know. 1t is, we believe,
the secret of much success in life and OF
many promotions which seem incxplicable
4 L. =
Tended by all in personal contact with the
promoted man, including those whom he
has superseded AS between individual
and individual its strength is frequently
quite amazing, and is commented on in the
constant remark that So-and-so is nothing
comparatively unless Such-a-onc is by his
side, Su-and-so being all the while much
the greater man. We do not believe in
deed that the fact will be denied. nor is it
usually wondered at, the usual eXplnna
ton, personal sympathy, being accepted Us
sufficiently is not sufficient by any means
but that is not our subject just now-and
il this exhilarating influence exists, why
not its opposite2
The opposite is, however, rarely admitted
frankly, except as regards the reation OF
individuals. The man is lucky who has
never had friend or kinsman whose
though he might respect him or like him
or use him, he felt 10 be the source OF som,
influence which depressed his own energy
or keenness OF perception, who was ir
fact, Sir RichaFd Wallace's "opate" incar
nate in the flesh. A man OF that kind
whose influence extends to every one with
whom he is brought in contact, is oil
course more seldom met with; but We art
convinced, as every intimate of Loui.
Napoleon was, that he exists, and to ex
plain him is n most difficult intellectual
problem. Universal fear will of course ex
plain him, and does explain him in Primo
Bsmarck's chse, whose colleagues, wheI
: he was in power, always seemed stupide
in his presence; but these men do not al
ways excite fear.
Louis Napoleon frightened nobody, ant
was in no degree oyerbeaFing. The maj
! in ancient history who must have born
mentally the closest resemblance to him
, Tiberius Cesar, scattered death wholesal
for inadequate reasons; but Louis Napc
leon was essentially kindly to all but sus
pected assassns, pardoned grave error
with too much readiness, and was as COR
!. pIetely without his great uncle's iiablit
:. to outhursts Of ungentlemanly violence q
!. he WINS without his fascination. He ha
Z. not even forbdding manner in the sens
!. that Sir Robert Peel had forbidding mar
ner, nor in the long array of charges fun
: in memoirs at his head can we reinembe
I one of want Of politeness.
, The dreary man, or rather, to coin
l. necessary word, the drearyfying man,
s generally polite, and indeed, were he mo-
I would in most men awaken instead {
REFRESHING intellectual power. Ango
misdrects force, but docs not make it tor
" pid and 1t is torpifying influence whic
O we are discussing now. To allege want {
4 sympathy" Is no explanation at al
: Nobody Of the group assembled around s
l Richard Wallace WAS seeking sympath
V from the expectant president, or con
, planned in any way of its absence, and b
sides, If we comprehend the memoir
= which refer to him, Louis Napoleon W,
n not entirely unsympathctic, but usual
lought from his interlocutors the light
lid not get.
Extreme cunning, when perceptible, u
, doubtedly slightly stupefies those wi
watch il because it throws them into IL
self defensive attitude which Is nome
tary form of egotisn; but Louis NapoleC
= WAS not more cunning than II great mar
men who did not exercise his especial /
fuence. Cardinal Iazarin did not stup
Ie fy people, or Louis Xl, the embodiment
q that quality. Nor Ia extreme sellshne
any sufficient clew, for the most perfect
selfish human being described in histor
l.. Louis xiv, Is allowed by enemies as We
U, IA friends to have had avivifyfng influen
at on all who could approach him close. v
~ DO not believe in fact that any explanati
is meets the facts, that Huy is necessa
except the plain one-that there are NJ
q whose minds, 10 to speak, exude ment
opiate.-London Spectator.
- The Locomotive Engineers
G. TORONTO, Aug. 2l.-The annual me
M ing of the Brotherhood of boconoti
;, Engineers opened with nearly 800 de
D. gates from all parts of Canada and t
ia United States. The greater part of I
'it session was taken up with discussion