The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-02-21
A FRENCH ENIGMA.
History Still Puzzled with the Character
of Napoleon III.

History Still Puzzled with the Character
of Napoleon III.
Louis Napoleon fairly took him by sur
prise, says the London Standard, reviewing
De Tocqueville and his memoirs. His
sketch of that remarkable man is of the
highest interest, especially as it depicts
his character at time antecedent to his
great rise and his stupendous fall. Before
he actually came into contact with him,
De Tocqueville. in common with Theirs
and the 'Burgraves, - as they were called,
regarded Louis Napoleon as a dreamer and
a schemer, with great appetite and little
brains. But experience soon convinced
De Tocqueville that the sagacious poll
ticians, who imagined that they could use
Napoleon as tool against the Socialists,
were utterly wrong. He says:
"Louis Napoleon was vastly superior
to the opinions which his previous life
and mad undertakings justified people in
forming OF him. That was the first i'm
preston I gathered from my intercourse
with him; ne deceived his adversaries,
and possibly even more greatly disap-
pointed his friends-if the politicians de-
serve that name who supported his candi-
dature to the presidency of the republic.
They selected him, not 50 much on &C
count of his worth, but on account of his
supposed mediocrity They fancied they
could use him as tool, which they could
easily cast aside after it had served its
purpose, in which they were Woefully
mistaken.
sin private life Louis Napoleon had
very winning qualities-a kindly and easy
temper, humane disposition, and gentle
ax-or, com hot tan1or eo7I
perhaps, without much sensitiveness,
perfect reliability in his dealings with in
dividuals, absolute simplicity, and a GER
tain modest diffidence about himself,
combined with intense pride of the blood
he sprang from, capable de ressentiE
affection, il etait propre a la faire natire
chez ceux qui Papprolaient. His powers
of assembling, deep as might be expected
OF man who had spent his life in con-
spiracies, were materially aided by the
impassiveness of his features and the I'M
meaningless of his eyes, which lacked
luster and recalled those 'dead eyes' on
board ship which give light to cabin,
but through which nothing can be seen
Reckless of danger, nothing could be
finer than his cool courage at critical
times. Yet he was vacilating in his de-
signs. He was often seen to waver.
pause, after his course, and fall back
greatly to his detriment-for the nation
had chosen him to dare all, and what
France required OF him was not prudence,
but boldness."
De Tocqueyille attributes this intellect
ual infirmity of purpose to his overin-
diligence in sensual enjoyment, and thus
sums up picture which strikes you as
true to nature, though certainly not ar
tistically fascinating. Gin general it was
difficult to be in close community with
him for any time without detecting thin
current of madness that forced its way
through an oasis OF common sense, which
recalled the episodes OF his youth and en-
abled one to account for them 1t was
his madness rather than his reason which,
circumstances fa7oring, constituted his
strength and success, for this world is a
strange stage. There are times when the
worst plays are those which succeed the
best upon it. Had Louis Napoleon been a
wise man, or man of genius, he would
never have become president Of the re-
public.''