Rock Island Argus., 1895-06-01


Europe had not yet learned that the
blood OF kings and princes is even as
the blood cf other men.
Certain i. is that tha death Of Enghien
fastened the transformation of tine Con-
sulate into the Empire. The seat OF the
First Consul was already in everything
but the name a throne. Whv not, make
il throne in fact? Tho facility of The
French fer change rendered easy the
project which the temper of heavier
and more serious raCe would have re-
jecteG. Like the Athenian fancy, the
Partisan mind flies quickly to the new.
It hoycrs about the brilliant, the ex.
traordinary. 1t satisfies itself with glory
and enthusiasm. All these qualities i'll
tho soul of the people worked to the adj
vantage ana purpose of Bonaparte; but
there was not wanting measure Of op-
position. The Napoleonic desire soon
found expression. Petitions began to be
sent up from all parts OF France. These
were couchod in Suggestive hints to the
First Consul that he should consolidate
his potrcr.
Oh the 13th of April, 1904, the first
the Consular Republic into an Empire
was made by Curee in the Tribunate.
The measure included the title of En-
pereur des 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
Lazara Nicolas Carnot, grandfather OF
the recently assassinated President Of
the French Republic, was heard above
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 tho
decree was at once sent to the people.
! Another surprising election was held, at
| which 3, 524, 25f voters recorded their
| decision. OF these. 3,52l,67 were in
the affirmative, and only 2, $40 in the
negative! Whatever critical history may
say of the antecedents of tho Empire,
| certain it is that no other hereditary
ruler of mankind was ever confirmed in
power by sach an acclaim of his coun-
trymen! With good reason the feudal
notion of territorial dominion hitherto
| expressed in the titles Of rulers, gave
way under this Imperial election; for
| Ronaparte was made Emperor, not Of
France, but of the French.
| Notified by the Senate of the estab-
lishment of the Empire aud 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 Oh the Occa-
sion with the distinguished and elite of
| France just after the ceremony was
over, q 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 your' 1t was
tho first time that that astounding word
had been applied to Bonaparto! History
for nearly a century has confirmed 1t.
At st. Helena he himself-offended at
the small minded of1iciality that desig-
mated him as General Bonaparte-said
Indignantly, II shall always be known
in history as the Emperor Napoleonv'
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 De-
Gambler. Practically, the change in the
government was not great. The stream
of INT fta a.
ening river of Imperialism without a
bend or the Ioise Of cataracts. The cor.
onation was a scene memorable in hu.
man annals. Plus VII, conciliated by
tho late Concortiat, cGmo 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 on 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 Notr.
Dame to the Tuileries, the Emperor, OIL
reaching his own apartment, tore off a.
rapidly as he could the imperial vest
ments, and got himself into his usua
apparel; for he was a man of business
The occasion was sunlit with splendor
and all hearts seemed full of life anC
light: all but One-the heart of Jose
phine. To her what ominous significanc,
was in that clause of the senatus- consul
tum which made the crown hereditar.
in the family of Napoleon! Dire wor,
was that word family" to Marie jose
> phe Tascer, whilom Madame dc Beau
harnais, now Imperatrice des Francais
For she was forty -one and a-half year
! Of age-epoch well nigh fatal to posi-
3 BILE motherhood.
. Only slight changes were made in tn
l new Imperial administration. All -sucl
: notifications looked to the unity an,
glory Of the Empire. Napoleon pre-
served as much as he could of the per
sonnel Of the preceding Consular gov