The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-09-14
NAPOLEON'S ABDICATION.

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bred miles without rest and all to no
purpose. Going into the little posting
house near the fountain, he dropped in
to chair and for an instant rested his
head upon the table, Butno. He must
not sleep; he must work. He called for
lights. He spread out the war.maps
upon the table, and, sticking his pins
here and there. as was his custom, at
once began to study the situation. Philip
never forgot that scene.-the gray Of the
morning. the group of silent soldiers,
and, through the open door of the cot.
tage, in the circle of Pickering light, the
tired and defeated leader of men porting
over his maps, planning new ecm-
paign.
But that campaign never came. Fate
was too strong for him; and, yielding to
the inevitable, Napoleon finally gave up
his determination to make an instant
march on Paris with the troops who
were following him from the eastern
frontier, and rode YEARLY to his palace
at Fontainebleau, few miles to the
south. Bad news travels quickly. And
bad news speedily found its way to Fon-
tainebleau. The Allies entered Paris,
The city.-"faithful Paris" as the en-
peror had called it,-instead of rising
against the invaders, welcomed them.
France was weary of war. The digni-
taries of the empire. following the lead
OF Talleyrand, "that arch conspirator."
one by one deserted the emperor who
had made them rich and loaded them
with honors. They gave their allegiance
to the new government. The white
cockade and the white flag of the Bour-
bons appeared in the streets. Long
live the king!" began to be heard where
Long live the emperor" had go often
been shouted. The abdication of the
emperor was demanded; and tickle
Paris at last made ready to welcome
back the Bourbons whom nearly gen.
GRAFTON before it had driven away in the
days Of terror.
Treason fastened the work. Napol-
Icons army. upon which he had DEEPEN
ded for his revenge, dwindled away; and
Marmont-brave Marmont, who had go
valiantly defended Paris = went over
with his entire corps, and forever after
was esteemed traitor by the French he
hoped to serve and save.
The marshals. whom the emperor had
raised to rank and riches. joined in the
cry for his abdication. They conspired
against their old leader. 1t is claimed
they even doomed him to death if he re-
fused to obey their will.
Then, deserted by his companions-in-
arms. worn out with useless struggle,
-loath now to bring about civil war by
appeals to the people who were loyal and
the old soldiers who were faithful to
him, Napoleon, with that serenity that
marks great soul, yielded to the newt
able. and on April IL, 1914. signed his
abdication.
This is the act Of remuneration he
signed this victor, subjugated by FATE
aud by his own ambition:
1.-THE Allied Powers having proclaimed
that the emperor is the sole obstacle to
the re- establishment of peace in Europe,
the Emperor, faithful to his oath, de-
clares that he renounces, for himself
aud for his family, the thrones of France
and Italy. and that there is no sacrifice,
even to that of his life. which he is not
ready to make for the interest of France"
The tricolor had indeed fallen. The
man who for SO many years had given
glory and greatness to France, who had
distracted England with war. startled
the whole Continent with his success,
and filled the world with his name.
stepped down from his throne; and
Europe once more breathed freely. Great
in everything he did. Napoleon was as
great in his fall as in his glory. The
empire was El6ridge S. Brooks,
IN st. Nicholas.