The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-05-22
NAPOLEON CROSSING THE ALPS.

EtGpAUIlU OAuADAeON do Was eAAoo - oSOAAS
of distressing confusion.
The ambition Of Napoleon found in
this situation fitting opportunity. The
Directors were Sieyes, Barras, Ducos,
Moulins and Gohier. The legislative
branch Of the government consisted Of
Senate, or Council Of Ancients, and
Council Of Five Hundred. The latter
constituted the popular branch. OF this
Body Lucien Bonaparte. brother Of the
General, was president. Hardly had
Napoleon arrived In the capital when
conspiracy was formed by him with
Sieyes, Luoien, and others Of revolu-
eionary disposition, to do away by a
comp with the too democratic system,
and to replace 1t with stronger and
more centralized order. The Council Of
Ancients was to be brought around by
the influence Of Sieyes To Luoien Bon.
aparte the more difficult task was as
signed Of controlling and revolutioniz.
ting the Assembly. As for Napoleon.
Bieyas procured for him the command
Of the military forces Of Paris; and by
another decree the sittings Of the two
legislative councils were transferred to
St Cloud.
The 18th Brumai.e OF the Year VIII.
corresponding to the 9th Of November,
1899, was fixed as the day for the revo-
luton. To Napoleon the crisis was an
epoch of fate. The conspiracy embraced
the resignation of sieyes, Barras and
Ducos, whioh--oomiug suddenly ON the
appointed morning-broke up the Di.
reotory. Bonaparte then put out his
hand as commander Of the troops Too
late the Republicans Of the Council Of
Five Hundred felt the earthquake SWELL
Ing under their feet. Napoleon appeared
At Che bar Of the Assembly, and attempt
cd rambling and inooberent justifioa.
ton for what was going on. a motion
was made to outlaw him; but the SOL
diers rushed in; and the refractory
members were seized or expelled. A
few who were in with the revolution re-
manned, and to the number Of fifty voted
q decree making Sieyes, Bonaparts and
Ducos provisional Consuls, thus con-
ferriDg on them the supreme executive
power Of the State, BY nightfall the
business was accomplished, and the man
Of Ajaccio slept in the Tuileries.
The new order was Immediately made
organic. There could be no question
when Three Consuls were appointed and
Bonaparte one Of the number, which Of
the three would be FIRST Consul. He
would BIO that himself; the other two
might be the ciphers which should make
his unit 100. The new system was de.
fined as the Professionally Consulate; but
this form was only transitional. The
managers Of the coup went rapidly for
ward to make it permanent The Consti-
tuition Of the Year III. gave place quick
ly to the Constitution Of the Year VIII.
which provided for IN executive govern
ment, under the name of the consul
LATE. Nominally the Consulate was
to be on executive committee Of three,
but really an executive Of one-with
two associates The three men chosen
were Napoleon Bonaparte, Jean Jacques
Cambaceres and Charles Francois Lee
brun. On Christmas day, 1899, Napo
leon was made FIRST Consul; and that
signifed the beginning Of new order,
destined to endure for sixteen and a-half
years, and to end at Waterloo.
This era in Bonaparte's life marks
the beginning of the union in him of
great military and great political power.
Henceforth he was destined, to the end
Of his career, to be the State Of France.
To his will all things now became rap
idly subservient His ssoendenoy was
henceforth the most striking example Of
merely personal power that the world
has witnessed since the days Of Julius
Caesar. OF certainty, History, begot-
ten by Reason in the womb Of Eternity,