The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-26
BONAPARTE.
Imperial Dignity Conferred ON the Man
of AjacciO.
Plus VII Presents the Crown-No Ruler of Mankind Fer ces
by Such AccanPlots Against -Picbepr
Cadoudal and the Duke of Enghien Put to Death p
John Clark Ridpath.

John Clark Ridpath
I -puoiic INTO an empire was made by
Curee IN the Tribunate. The measure in
cIuued the title of Emperor des Fran
cais Tor Napoleon, with the right of her
eulty succession in his family. Tboueb
the influence of thu, government vas
strongly devoted to the scheme. the pro-
POsal was met with serious opposition.
Inc conspicuous voice of Lazare Nicolas
Odrnot, grandfather of the recently as
sasslnated president of the French Re
pubic, was heard above the din of affirm
awe applause. But on May Is the meas
ufe was carried in the Senate A consul
tum was promulgated. by which the i'm
perlai dignity was conferred on Napoleon
bohaparte, and the decree was at once
sent 10 the people. Another surprising
electlon was held, at which 35242j4 vot-
ers recorded their decision. OF these
S'ozl'o,o We're in the affirmative, and only
z'o's IN the negative! Whatever critical
history may say of the antecedents of the
empire, certain it is that no other hered-
ltary ruler of mankind was ever confirmed
IN power by such an acclaim of his coun-
trymen! With good reason the feudal no.
uon OF territorial dominion hitherto ex-
pressed in the titles of rulers, gave way
under this imperial election: for Bona
parte was made emperor, not of France,
but Of the French.
ment OF the empire and of his own nominal
tlon thereto, Napoleon accepted the trust.
The ceremony of the notification was at
ST Cloud.Josephine was also congratu-
lated by the Senate. The palace of St
Cloud was thronged on the occasion with
the distinguished and elite of France. Just
after the ceremony was over a footman,
rlch IN gold lace and scarf, made his
way into the crowd, where the Baron
Claude-FrancOis dc Meneval-secretary TO
Bonaparte after the disgrace and dismiss
al OF Bourrienne-was standing, and said:
Sir, the emperor wishes TO see your 1t
was the hrst time that that astounding
word had been applied to Bonaparte! His
tory for nearly century has confirmed il.
AT St. Helena he himself-offended at the
small-minded officially that designated
him as General" Bonaparte-said indig-
nantly, I shall always be known in his
tory as the Emperor Napoleon
The empire thus created was made to
date from the 18th of May, 1904; but the
coronation of Napoleon did not take place
until the End of the following December
Practically the change in the government
was not great. The stream of consular
power flowed into the widening river of
Imperialism without bend or the noise of
cataracts- The coronation was a scene
memorable in human annals Plus VII.
conclliated 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 or Notre Dame-where the revolu-
tionists of the Terror had danced the Car
magnole-that the emperor-elect of the
French knelt to receive the diadem. The
pope gave it,; but Napoleon, taking II
from his hand and put it on his own head
thing most fitting to do; for he had made
it for himself
Josephine was crowned with her imperi-
rH. Pat
the Iuilertes, the emperor, on reaching his
own apartment. tore OFF as rapidly as he
could the Imperial vestments, and got him
self into his usual apparel; for he was a
man of buiness. The occasion was sunlit
with splendor. and all hearts seemed full
OF life and light; all but one-the heart of
Josephine. To her what ominous signif
canoe was in that clause of the senatus-
consultum which made the crown heredi-
tary in the family of Napoleon! dire word
was that word family to Marie Josanbe
Tascer. whilom Madame de Beauharnajs
now Imperatrice des. Francois For she
was forty-one and half years of age
epoch well nigh fatal to possible mother
hood.
Only slight changes were made in the
new imperial administration. All such
notifications looked to the unity and glory
of the empire. Napoleon preserved as
much as he could of the personnel of the
preceding consular government. His two
colleagues, Cambaoeres and Lebrun. were
appointed the one arch-chancellor and the
other arch-treasurer of state; Joseph Bona
parte was made grand elector and Louis
the imperial constable. Eighteen of the
great generals who had become such with
Napoleon in the field were made marshals
Of France. The transformation swept over
the landscape like the dappled shadow of a
sunny cloud. The Christmas HOLIDAYS of
20, De- 10,
The Gallo world danced and smiled under
wreaths of ivy and the flash of crystal
candelabre, and the mutter of distant war
was scarcely heard on the widened and
confident borders of France
John Clark Ridpath