The sun., 1894-02-20
The Revival OF NapoleonIsm In France.

The Revival OF NapoleonIsm In France.
In the letter which we published yester-
day from N. z. MAssERAs, our Paris cor
respondent, there was a striking passage
on the recent popular reaction In France
toward Napolsonism. and the possible
political outcome of 1t.
Three years ago the Napoleonic legend
was supposed to be defunct. To all appear
snces the shameful collapse Of the second
empire had not only tarnished. but OBJ
liberated the glory Of the first NAPOLEON.
Remembering the triumphal entry OF the
Prussians into Paris In 1871 and the loss
OF Alsace and part OF Lorraine. French
men. II seemed. had entirely forgotten what
had been the frontiers Of their country In
the eliminating hour OF the first empire.
and that the Napoleonic eagles had flown
victorious over Lisbon and Madrid: over
Naples. Rome. Turin. Milan. and Venice:
over Brussels and the Hague; over Munich
and Dresden; over Berlin. Vienna, and
Moscow; in short. over almost every capital
In Europe. 1t looked. too. as IL people had
forgotten the absolute peace. security, and
order which prevailed within French terri
tory under the strong arm Of the man who
had himself witnessed the Reign OF Terror.
and who gazed back upon its scenes of
anarchy. violence. and bloodshed rs upon
an evil dream. But, inasmuch as history is
history. and cannot be rewritten TO suit
the vagaries OF the day. 1t was inevitable
that the Indifference to the services and
splendors OF the Napoleonic regime would
pass away. and that the ardor OF re-
awakened sympathy would In time become
proportionate to the virulence and injus-
tice OF preceding detraction and neglect.
n. MAssERAs tells US that tho reaction
began in 1899 with the publication OF the
memoirs OF Count MARBoT." the success
OF which caused the appearance OF a series
Of narratives and discussions OF the men
and the events Of the first empire. The
revulslon In public opinion has gone on.
until it has produced an invasion OF Napo-
leonic literature. which. moreover. is not
confined to books and articles In news
papers or magazines. but is SELLING upon
the theatre. every aspect OF NAPoLEoN's
character. and every notable event In his
career. being depicted on the Partisan stage.
At the same time. the appalling activity Of
the Anarchsts. an activity seemingly ire
pressible by the existing authorities. is
rapidly impelling the masses Of middle
class Frenchmen to the state OF mind. which
characterized the generation paralyzed by
the terrorism Of 1793.95. and which saw In
Gen. BosAPARTE a savior of society. who
would give France peace and security at
home as well as glory abroad.
Who is likely to profit by the reAnimated
yearniug OF the French middle class for a
strong government Manifestly the bour-
geoisie would rather have man Of the Ma
poleonic type than the Napoleonic system:
but. II they cannot get the man. they may
accept the system. Should war break out.
q successful General would. no doubt. be In
the most favorable position for undertaking
the role Of BoSAPARTE. But. in the absence
OF a war. the French people might look with
hope and confidence upon a member OF the
Eapoleonic family. provided there were no
nagrant and fatal objections to his candi-
dacy. Is there such a member There is,
OF course. NO chance ioi the notorious gam
bier and debauehee. Prince VICTOR, the
elder OF the two sons OF the late Prince Ma
PoLEOS. who was himself the son OF JEROME
BoSAPARTE. King OF Westphalia. and young
est OF the great Emperor's brothers. But
II. MAssKRAs directs attention to the fact
that Prince VICroR's younger brother.
Prince Louis. is q man OF . very different
mould. a soldier by profession. who some
years ago entered the Russian service as a
subaltern ofieer. and has risen TO the rank
OF Colonel.
Perhaps We shall hear more OF this
Prince LOUIS before long. 1t may be. OF
course. a mere coincidence that he has re-
Gently applied for an unlimited leave OF
absence. But in the existing condition OF
the French public mind. it is probable that
not only the army. but large part Of the
people would look with favor on a repre-
sentative OF the NapolsOnie dynasty. who
is by education ana experience soldier.
and who has earned his grades in the ser
vice Of the one European power which has
EhnUn itself a friand IN Eranaa