The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-07

Passing from the initial success OF Louis
Napoleon In his canvass for tho Presidency to
the coup deta. Of Dec. 2, 1851. We find that our
author deems historians mistaken In attribut-
ing the principal role In the latter performance
to the Comte de Morny. He asserts that Morny
did comparatively nothing as far rs the con-
ception Of the coup ddtat was concerned. Not
only in the authors opinion was Persigny tho
prime mover. but 1t Is pronounced Quostiona-
BILE whether. but for him. the coup dstdt would
have been conceived at all. In Persigny's
mind the whole scheme was worked out before
Louis Napoleon's election to the Presidency.
though. OF course. the success Of 1t depended
on that election He did not want a republic
cven with Louis Napoleon as President for
lifo. he wanted an empire. The author seems
to think that Prince Louis might have been
content with a life Presidency: 1t was
Persigny who put down his foot. OK
claiming, "A,A Caesar. dt nulls !" There Ia.
indeed, no doubt that tho sentence fell upon
willing ears. but had the Prince President been
left to himself no would probably. whom he
had his foot upon the first rung OF the ladder.
have tried to rush to the top at once. roGard-
less Of the fact that there was no one to steady
the ladder at the bottom. Persigny held him
back whilo he busted himself In finding the
right persons to hold the ladder. and troops to
prevent the crowd from interfering with the
ladder holders. 1t was he who preached tho
recall OF Saint Arnaud from Africa: 1t was he
who drew attention to M. de Maupas. then
only an obscure Project: 1t was ho who was
wise enough to see that somo OF tho ladder
holders would have to be sought for IN Eng
land. Tho English" he told Napoleon. "owe
you a good turn for tho harm they did your
uncle. They are sufficiently generous. or suf-
flcienty sensible. to do that good turn II 1t is
their interest to do SO: look for part OF your
support among the English"
In short, II Persigny were to be painted NOR
ally and mentally In a line. the author Of these
notes would describe him as the John the
baptist Of tho revived Napolconic legend.
There can be no doubt about his energy. his
activity. his intelligence: in respect OF tho two
former qualities he was much superior to
Louis Napoleon. but in his case oil tiree quail
tiles would only espond to the bidding Of one
voice. that OF the first Napoleon from the
grave. which he felt sure had appointed him
the chief instrument for the restoration OF the
empire. This was the dream which haunted
Persignys sleep and that pursued him when
awake. We are cautioned. however. against
imagining that to Louis Napoleon he had
originally appealed as the one selected by
Providence to realize the dream. Loyal and
faithful as he was to him. he would have been
SO deeply attached. to Jerome. the ex-King Of
Wcstphalia. to whom he first addressed him.
self. But the youngest OF the erent Napoleon's
brothers had no relish for adventures and
turned II deaf ear to Persignys proposals. as
he did also to those OF N. Theirs. who wished
him to become candidate for the Presidency
OF the second republic.
We are told by the author OF these notes that
he was talking ono day on the subject Of the
eX-kiug OF Westphalia's refusal to Persigny.
several years after the advent Of the empire.
and commencing Jerome for his self-abnega-
tion and his fealty to his nephew. There was
n sncer on Persigny's face such as his inter-
locutor Ind never before seen. at all events
when such subjects were discussed. for though
he was by no means good tempered. and fire.
qucntly vary violent. he generally left the
members Of the imperial family alone. 1t is
very evident" he said to the author. that you
do not know Jerome. nor did until few
years ago. There was not single one Of the
great Napoleon's brothers that really had his
glory at heart: 1t meant money and position
to them. that was all. DO you know why
Jerome did not fall in sVith my views. or with
those OF NJ. Thiers2 Well. will toll you. He
was afraid that his nephew Louis and the rest
OF the family would be a burden on Linn: he
preforred that others should take the chest
nuts out of the fire and that he should have
the eating OF them. That is what his SELF
abreGation meant. nothing more" 1t Is GER
tain that alter his nephew had succeeded. the
cx-King Of Westphalia was Unsuitable in his
demands for money. In fact. with the excep-
ton of Princesse Mathilde. the whole OF the
Emperor's family was thorn In his side.