The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24

crown Tn Notre Dame, there never Hdu been but one real empire in Christendom the empire founded by Augustus at Rome 27 years before the birth of Christ and which had Leen styled the Holy Roman empire throughout the thousand years since Charlemagne kneit at the altar of St. Peters to receive from Pope Leo III the diadem of the Caesars. In tsAo eyes of the medieval world there could be only one emperor and one pope the former the supreme sovereign in tenn poral as the latter was in spiritual af- fairs, and 10th reigning together as the vcegerents of God on earth, the august lieutenants of the Heavenly Power.
 The New Charlemagne
 It had been long prophcsied that in the day when chaos and wickedness should reign, a second Charlemagne would rise to restore the empire to it's ancient authority and establish uni versal peace and justice That was the great task Napoleon set for his genius when. on the eve of his coronation, he repaired to the tomb of Charlemagne. True, he did not assume the Roman title. He designed to make Paris the head of the modern, as Rome had been the head of the ancient, world; but he invited the blessing of the pope on his cfywn and dreamed of uniting the na- tions anew in grand federation.
 He lost no time after the victory of Austerlitz in assuming the imperial prerogative to crown his vassal princes. There were then only eight Kings in Europe. the Kings of England. Prus- sia. Spain. Portugal. Denmark, Sweden Sardinia and Naples. But Napoleon opened wide the flood gates of royal honors and thercAwas downpour of 10 lSingly crowns in half dozen years, or more than time had conferred upon nrif1ra1V in centuries.
 He had already made himself King of Italy, and now on his way from the field of Austerlitz he sent mes senger, who overlook the elector of Bavaria while he was hunting, with a message addressed to His Majesty, the King of Bavaria" Wherefore the Bavarian sovereigns are Kings to this day. The Kings of Wurtemburg and Saxony also are indebted to Napoleon for their present titles.
 A Kindly Fault
 The new Emperor's success as kingmaker flattered him into the con ceit that in the plentitude of his inn perial power he could do more than make over dukes and electors and could manufacture Kings out of the raw material of the common earth. As the bright boy in family might gen. erously share his success with his brothers and take them into his busi- ness, he undertook to share his glory with all the Bonapartes and take them into the business of ruling the world.
 It was kindly fault, to be sure. and one to which the great have been much given. Indeed. all royalty and the en- tire hereditary principle rest upon this same folly. The masterful conquering men have always deeded empires and kingdoms to their families as if they were mere quarter sections of farming land. How many inheritors of thrones would otherwise have risen above cob blers' benches?
 But the BNaapartes were not as plas- tic subjects for the Kingmawer as the Wurtenbcrger and Bavarian princes. The members of that singularly perverse race were far more particular and exacting. Hereditary sovereigns might receive the Emperors orders with the silent docllty of well trained buffers. but there was ever a noisy rebellion against his authority under his own roof.
 King Joseph
 Napoeon really had to push his vain vet mbitious brothers upon the thrones he reared for them Joseph at first re- fused outright and positively to accept a crown He simply could not be coaxed into becoming King of Italy. Although his elevation had been formally announced he decl1eQ to De titNdtcu uiiiCsS %*oPCA- con agreed to let him maintain fortifica- tions against him on the French-ltalian frontier and be King in fact as well as ln name.
 The Emperor declined to make such complete surrender of a land he had cap tured with his sword, and was about 10 clap the crown on the infant head or Louis Bonaparte's son, leaving the father to be the baby regent. when Louis raised objections and was forcibly thrust from the room. Finally he was obliged to take Italy for himself and do double duty. But he adopted Josephine's son, Eugene, and appointed him his viceroy at Milan. T can beget children with scratch Of my pen" he reminded Joseph.
 After the Emperor, in bitterest terms. had fairly warned the domineering wife of the Bourbon King of Naples that if she did not cease playing fast and loose With France. her children would curse her as they wandered over Europe begging their bread. he drove the royal family from their capital to take refuge on the Island of Sicily Then with another throne to All. he gave, Joseph one more chance.
 ''I ean no longer have relatives in ob- scurity,' he said. Those who will not rise with me- shall no longer be of my family. am making a family of kings attached to my federative system"
 But his reluctant and indifferent elder brother held out for his own terms again until he received them, the Emperor only stipulating as he crowned him King of Naples, T beg but one thing of you be masterr'
 Joseph. who had insisted so stoutly on being King in fact really was qualified by nature to be King only in name Of a courtly and kindly bearing. he could look the regal part very we'll. but he could not act 1t. His minister implored him day after day to study tho budget