Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-06-09


arus' and Others on the ground that Napo-
icon mad not boon personally responsible
for the killing Of the prince.
Certain 1t is that the death Of Fnrhien
hastened the transfosnntion OF the Consu-
iate into the Empire Tho scat of the First
Consul was already d everything but the
name n throne. Why not make Il a throne
IN iaotf The facility Of tho French for
change rendered easy tho project which tho
temper OF heavier and moro serious racc
would have rejected. Like tho Athonlan
fancy, tho Partisan mind flics quickly to
the new. 1t hoyers about the brilliant, tho
extraordinary. 1t satisfies itself with
glory and enthusiasm. All these qualities
In the soul of the people worked to tho nd.
vantage and purpose OF Bonaparte; but
there was not wanting q measure OF oppo-
sition. The Napoleonic desire soon found
expression. Petitions began to be sent up
from all parts OF France These were
couched In suggestive hints to tho First
Consul that he should consolidate his poie-
err Allusions about the advantages OF q
hereditary succession began to be circulnt-
ed. Some Of these were inspired by tho
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 Curcc In tho Trihunato. Tho
measure included tho title OF Iempercur des
Francois for Napoleon, with tho right OF
hereditary succession In his family.
Though the influence of tho government
was strongly devoted to tho scheme, the
proposal WINS mot with serious opposition.
Tho conspicuous voice OF Lazare Nicolas
"a ca % -.
slnated President OF tho French Republic,
was heard above the din OF affirmative np-
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 WINS Mt once sent
to tho people. Another surprising election
was held, at which 3, 52I, 254 voters record.
ed their decision. OF these, 3, 59i, $40 were
In tho affirmative, and only a,679 in the
ncgativol Whatever critical history may
say of the antocedents Of tho Empire GER
tain 1t Is that no other hereditary ruler Of
mankind was ever confirmed In power by
such an acclaim of his countrylnen With
good reason tho 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 the establish.
ment of the Empire and of his own nomi-
, nation thereto, Napoleon accepted the
trust, Tho ceremony Of notification was at
St. Cloud Josephine was also congratu.
lated by the Senate. Tho Palace OF ST.
Cloud was thronged on the occasion with
tho distinguished and elite Of France
Just after tho ceremony was over, u foot
man, rich in gold lace and scarf, made his
way into the crowd, where tho Baron
Claude Francois do Meneyal-secretary to
Bonnparte after tho disgrace and dismissal
of BoLrrienne-was standing, and sald
"Sir, the EMPEROR wishes to sec you'll" II
was tho first time that that astounding
word had been applied to Bonapartel Hi
tory for nearly century has confirmed IT,
AT st. Helena he himself--offended at the
small-minded ofllciality that designated
him as General Bonaparto--said indig-
nantly, 81 shall always be known in history
rs the Emperor NapolconW
The Empire thus created wns made to
date from the 18th OF May lSOI 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 tho widening river Of
Imperialism without bend or the noise Of
cataracts. Tho coronation was u scene
memorable in human annals. Plus VII,
concillntcd by tho 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--whero tho Rcvolu
tlonists OF tho Terror had danced tho Car
magnole-that tho Emperor.eleot of the
French lSnolt TO receive tho diadem. The
Pope gave It; but Napoleon, taking It
from his hand, put It on his own head
thing most fitting to do; for he had made
1t for himself
Josephine was crowned with her imperl.
Gus lord Returning from Notre Dame to
tho Tuilerles, tho Emperor, on reaching
his own apartment, tore off as rapidly as
he could the imperial vestmcnts, and got
himself into his usual apparel; for he was
man OF business. The occasion was sun.
lit with splendor, md all hearts seemed
full of life and light; all but one--the
heart Of Josephine. To her what ominous
Significance was In that clause OF tho sem
atus-consultum which made tho crown
hereditary in the family Of Napoleonl
Dire word was that word family" to
Marie Josopho Tascer, whllom Madame de
Beauharnais, now Imperatrioo DIES Fran.
Gals. For she was forty-opo and a-half
years of age-cpoch well nigh fatal to pos
sible motherhood.
Only slight changes were made in the
new Imperial administration, All such
notifications looked TO the unity and glory
Of tho Empire. Napoleon preserved as
much rs he could OF the personnel Of the
preceding Consular government. His two
colleagues, Cambaceres and Lebrun, were
appointed the one aroh-ohnncellor md the
other arch. treasurer of state; Joseph Bona
parto was made grand elootor, and Louis
the Imperial constable. Eighteen Of the
great generals who had become such with
Napoleon in the field were made mnrshals
Of France. Tho transformation swept oven
tho landscape like the dapplod shadow OF
sunny cloud. Tho Christmas holidays OF
1904 came to Paris in a blaze Of splondor
The Gallo world danced and smiled under
wrcaths OF Ivy and the flash of crystal can
delabrn, and tic mutter OF distant wal
was scarcely heard on the widened and con-
fident borders Of France.
JOHN CLARK RIDPATH
-------