The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-12
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effort to preserve the revolution, and gae entered into retirement from which he did not emerge while Napoleon remained in power
 Might he have made himself a Wash ington instead of a Caesar? 1t is hard 10 say. Against factions at home and foes abroad even the power of Napoleon might not have availed to make France. with it's traditions of royalty and igno- rance of free institutions q true repub- lie. But how glorious would have Leen his failures.
 Hurryins to the Throne
 Enemies as well as friends played their part in hurrying the republic toward the throne. all classes and events conspir- ing to the same end. Bourbon plots sup piled, indeed, the strongest argument for making the change.
 TAe old royal family in their exile per sisted in the folly which had lost them their kingdom. It was truly said Of the Bourbons that in their m!sfortunes, they learned nothing and forgot nothing Fail ing in their armed treason against their country as allies of jealous foreign na- tions, they descended to the next step in their degradation and tried to brbe their way back to the throne.
 Their sordid measures succeeded with some of the French generals, who were tOlIupteu Dy IHsln ana tired to Detray the armies of the republic into the hands of the enemy. But when Napoleon came they found man they could not buy. They made extraVagant offers to him in his first Italian campaign, but he scorned their money and their honors After he became first consul, the pretender, Louis XVIII, younger brother of Louis XVI wrote him, begging for the lost throne and bluntly asking him to name his price: IT you doubt my gratitude, fix your re- ward and mark out the fortunes of your friends
 To that base appeal from the son Of St, Louis the son of the people returned this hnEly reply: You must not seek to return to France. To do so you would have to trample upon 100000 dead bodies Sacrifice your interest to the repose and happiness of France, and history will render you justice"
 Bourbon Assassins
 The Bourbons ill their despair then sank to the level of assassins For years they had maintained their emissaries in Paris for the purpose of fomenting revo- lution and anarchy. But, under Napo- Icons masterful rule, the country was quickly pacified and the nation reunited France prosDered and revolutions lan- guished
 The Bourbons found themselves with out an active party, and unable even to incite riot. But if they could not hope to overthrow the government, they could plot the assassination of Napoleon. As he was on his way to the opera in the winter following the battle of Marengo his driver, veteran who had been with him in Egypt, and whom he had nick named Caesar, found d cart, apparently water cart standing across the street. When the escort had drawn it to one slde, Caesar, exasperated by the delay, whipped up his horses and drove on at a 1uflous haste In two seconds an in- fernal machine on the cart exploded
 But Caesar had driven so fast as to re- move his distinguished passenger beyond harms reach. At the terrible noise of the explosion he stopped his horses and stepping to the window of the carriage, asked for orders 'To the operal" Ma poieon replied, without betraying in the least the rage that filled his breast
 As he had missed death by being two seconds too early, Josephine, whose car riase followed his, had escaped as mar roWly by being two seconds late having stopped at the palace door to let Gen eral Rapp rearrange her shawl and fold it over her shoulders in the Egyptian man ner. Arrived at the opera she folund her husband seated in his box in apparent calm, and surveying the audience through his opera glasses. "The rascals wanted 10 blow me up,' he said to her quietly Give me book of the oratorio."
 several persons in the street had been Killed and many wounded More than 40 houses were shattered, and even the glass in the windows of the Tuileries was . smashed.
 When Napoleon returned from the opera ne ceased to disguise his indignation. but . gave rein to a passion TOT punishing the perpetrators of the outrage. He refused to believe that the Bourbons would re- sort to such a murderous measure. al- ph mi fcta sisted 1t was royalist and not repub- hcan plot. They are the terrorists" he insisted, "wretches stained with blood The BoufDons are simply a skin disease, but the terrorists are an internal mai adv"
 In his determination to terrify the ter rorists l30 men were rushed into penal hanishment without any evidence against they had nothing to do with the internal them. Afterward it was discovered that machine. and that it was the work of the royalists, two of whom were detected convicted and executed. Yet so persist Fent was Napoleon's suspicion that the ter iorists were menace to his government he did not recall the poor exiles from , thelr prison colony in the tropics. lie organized a police of his own to , watch Fouche and his police. Do you , suppose because 1 am staying at Mal- inalson that l know nothing about what , ls gong onY he said to Fouche. q don't depend on Your police. I do my own po- hclng. and l am on the watch till 2 , o'clock in the morning."
 Alas, Poor Baurrienne fouche' whose duty it was to watch the enemies of the enemies of the first consul but who always kept the sharpest watch on the first consul himself, boasted in after years that he hired Bourriennc for $50Oo'a month to spy on his chief The Bourbon conspirators also passed around the word that the secretary is for sale