Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-06-28
which it succeeded, had a sword, Of

blood Of kings and princes Is even as
che blood of other men. H.. ~5}
Certain it is that the death Of Enghien
hastened the transformation OF the Con-
| sulate into the Empire. The seat Of the
First Consul was already in everything
but tho name throne. Why not make
it a throne in fact? The facility Of the
French for change rendered easy the
project which the temper Of a heavier
and moro serious race would have re-
jected. Like the Athenian fancy, the
Partisan mind flies quickly to the new.
1t hovers about the brilliant, the ex-
traordinary. It satisfies itself with glory
and enthusiasm. All these qualities in
the soul of the people worked to the adj
vantage and purpose of Bonaparte; but
there was not wanting measure Of op-
position. The Napoleonio desire soon
found expression. Petitions began to be
sent up from all parts of France. These
were couched in suggestive hints to the
First Consul that he should consolidate
his po,Ucr
On the 18th Of April, 1904, the first
formal proposition for the conversion OF
the Consular Republic into an Empire
was made by Curee in the Tribunate.
! The measure included the title Of En-
pereur DIES Francois for Napoleon. with
the right of hereditary succession in his
family. Though the influence Of the
government was strongly devoted to the
scheme, the proposal met with serious
opposition. The conspicuous voice Of
Lazare Nicolas Carnot, grandfather OF
the recently assassinated President Of
the French Republic, was heard above
the din of affirmative applause. But Oh
the 18th Of May the measure was car.
ried in the senate.
A consultum was promulgated, by
which the Imperial dignity was con-
ferred on Napoleon Bonaparte, and the
decree was at once sent to the people.
Another surprising election was held, at
which 8, 524, 254 voters recorded their
decision. OF these, 3, 52l, 675 were in
the affirmative, and only Q, $40 in the
negative! Whatever critical history may
say Of the antecedents Of the Empire,
certain it is that no other hereditary
ruler Of mankind was ever confirmed in
power by such an acclaim Of his coun-
trynen! With good reason the feudal
notion of territorial dominion hitherto
expressed in the titles Of rulers, gave
way under this Imperial election; for
Bonaparte was made Emperor, not OF
France, but Of the French.
Notified by the Senate Of the estab-
lishment of the Empire and Of his own
nomination thereto, Napoleon accepted
the trust. The ceremony Of notification
was at St. Cloud. Josephine was also
congratulated by the Senate. The Palace
of St. Cloud was thronged on the ocoa-
sion with the distinguished and elite OF
France. Just after the ceremony was
over, footman, rich in gold lace and
scarf, made his way into the crowd,
where the Baron Claude-Francois dc
misunderstanding to Bonaparte after
the disgrace and dismissal OF Bour-
rienne-was standing, and said: "Sir,
the EMPEROR wishes to see you!' 1t was
the first time that that astounding word
had been applied to Bonaparte! History
for nearly century has confirmed it.
At St. Helena he himself-otfended at
the small-minded of1iciality that desig-
mated him as General Bonaparte-said
Indignantly, II shall always be known
in history as the Emperor Napoleon!'
The Empire thus created was made to
date from the 18th Of May, 1904; but
tho coronation of Napoleon did not take
place until the End of the following De-
celnber. Practically, the change in the
government was not great The stream
Of Consular power flowed into the wild
ening river Of Imperialism without
bend or the noise of cataraots. The COR
onation was a scene memorable in hu-
man annals. Plus VII, oonoiliated by
the late Concordat, came willingly from
Rome to crown the soldier Of fortune,
and to leave on him and his work the
Papal benediction.
1t was at the altar of Notre Dame
where the Revolutionists Of the Terror
had danced the Carmagnole-that the
Emperor-elect of the French knelt to re-
ceive the diadem. The Pope gave it;
but Napoleon, taking it from his hand,
put it Oh his own head-a thing most
fitting to do; for he had made it for him,
self!
Josephine was crowned with her i'm
perious lord. Returning from Notre
Dame to the Tuileries, the Emperor, on
reaching his own apartment, tore off as
rapidly as he could the imperial vest
ments, and got himself into his usual
apparel; for he was man Of business
The occasion was sunlit with splendor,
and all hearts seemed full Of life and
light: all but onc-the heart Of jose
phine. To her what ominous significance
was in that clause Of the senatus- consul
tum which made the crown hereditary
in the family Of Napoleon! Dire word
was that word family" to Marie Jose
phe Tascer, whilom Madame de Beau,
harnais, now Imperatrice des Francois.
For she was forty one and a-half years
of age-epoch we'll nigh fatal to posi-
BILE motherhood. -
Only slight changes were made in the
new Imperial administration. All such
notifications looked to the unity and
glory of the Empire. Napoleon pre-
served as much as he could Of the per-