The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-25

1
| CRU, Napoleon's old master In mathemat-
| les at Brienne, 20 destroy tho life Of tho
| First Consul. Tho plot was discovered,
| Pichegru was seized, imprisoned, and on
| tho 9th Of April, 1904, was strangled in
| his cell. Cadoudal, trying TO escape killed
two policemen, but was oyermastered, con-
demned, and on the 25th of June, 1904,
was guillotined. General Moreau, the
hero OF Hohenlinden, who had become a
Royalist, was accused OF completely In
these schemes. Convicted of having knowl-
edge of the plot of Cadoudal he was con-
demned 10 two years imprisonment; but
Napoleon commuted the sentence into ex-
lie, and Moreau chose the United States as
his refuge. After eight years, he entered
the service of Russia, and in 49, was NOR
tally wounded at the battle of Dresden.
The result of these attempts was far
reaching. AT this time the living repre-
sentatives Of the demolished monarchy
were the count Of Provence, afterwards
Louis XVIII, who was at Warsaw; the
count Of Artois, in London; the young Or
leans Philippe, afterwards the Citizen
King in Switzerland; and the duke of
Enghien, descendant OF the great Condei
at Ettenheim, in Baden. All Of these were
more or less implicated In the plots against
Napoleon. lut huht VI lnknltn III par
ticular was believed to be a fellow-conspir-
ator of Pichegru and CadoudaL The lat
Ter had been secretly visited In Paris by a
mysterious parsonage whom the passion OF
the hour declared TO be the Conde prince
Notwithstanding the fact that Baden was
neutral territory, body Of French soldiers
was sent secretly 10 Ettenheim; the cha
teau was surrounded, and on the night of
the 18th Of March, 1904, the due Ding
hien was seized In bed and hurried away
TO the fortress Of Vincennes. A court-mar-
tial under General Hullin was immediate
ly ordered, and without witnesses or other
legel proof the Duke was condemned TO
be shot On the morning OF the 21st OF
March, Just before day, he was led into the
ditch outside the wall, and there, by the
CHASTITY light of torches, was shot dead.
His body was thrown, without removal of
the bloody garments, into pit that had
been digged the day before! The Consul
late, as well as the Revolution which Ii
succeeded, had sword of sharpness for all
its enemies.
The killing OF Enghien created tre-
mendous sensation througnout Europe.
Europe had not yet learned that the blood
of kings and princes Is even as the blood
of other men. Tho European courts heard
with horror and uplifted hands that q
prince had been shot, as If by brigands, in
the ditch Of Vincennes. Abroad, in all
governmental circles, opinion was con-
firmed against Bonaparte; but throughout
France tho execution of the duke of En-
ghien was applauded as an net Of just venFo-
ance against q conspirator. On the side
of the First Consul many apologists ap-
peared-some on the ground that he saved
the Republic by saving himself at oil haz-
ards and others on the ground that Napo-
leon had not been personally responsible
for tho killing of the prince.
Certain it is that the death Of Enghien
hastened the Transformation Of the 8snsu-
late into the Empire The seat of the First
Consul was already In everything but the
name a throne. Why not make 1t throne
In factf The facility of the French for
change rendered easy the project which the
temper of heavier and more serious race
would have rejected Like the Athenian
fancy, the Partisan mind flies quickly to
tho new. 10 hovcrs about the brilliant, the
extraordinary. It satisfies itself with
glory and enthusiasm. All these qualities
In the soul Of the people worked to the ad-
vantage and purpose OF Bonaparte; but
there was not wanting measure Of oppo-
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 potD-
er. Allusions about the advantages Of q
hereditary succession began to be circulat-
cd. Some Of these were inspired by the
agents Of tho governments; others were
spontaneous and sincere.
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 Empereur des
Francais 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 was met with serious opposition.
The conspicuous voice of Lazare Nicolas
Carnot, grandfather of the recently assas-
sinated President OF the French Republic,
was heard above the din of affirmative ap-
plause. But on the 18th Of May the meas
ure was carried In the Senate. A consul
tum was promulgated, by which the I'M
perial dignity was conferred on Napoleon
Bonaparte, and the decree was at once sent
to the people. Another surprising election
was held, at which 3, 524, 254 voters record
cd their decision. OF these, 8,591, 675 were
In the affirmative, and only 2, $40 In the
negativel Whatever critical history may
say of the antecedents of the Empire, GER
tain 10 Is that no other hereditary ruler Of
mankind was ever confirmed in power by
such IN acclaim OF his countrymeni 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 Emper-
or, not OF France, but of the French.
Notified by the Senate OF tho establish
ment of the Empire and Of his own nomi-
nation thereto Napoleon accepted the
trust The ceremony of notification was at
St. Cloud. Josephine was also congratu-
lated by the Senate. The Palace of st.
Cloud was throngcd on tho occasion with !
the distinguished and elite of France.
Just after the ceremony was over, foot |
man, rich In gold lace and scarf, made his |
way into tho crowd, where the Baron |
Claude Francois dc notwithstanding TO |
Bonaparte after the disgrace and dismissal |
Of Bourrienne-was standing, and said: |
"a -