Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-17
WHEN NAPOLEON WAS
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
French Sent Him Into Exile; Herr
Hohenzollern' Case an
Historic Parallel.
An outspoken demand grows daily more

An outspoken demand grows daily more
urgent among the allied peoples that the
men responsible for the war, however ex-
alted in their position, should be tried IN
an international court and If condemned,
punished severely. Attention is naturally
focused on the Kaiser as the arch-ofiend-
er. amt increasingly strong pressure Is
being exerted to obtain his extradition
from Holland Premier Lloyd George,
who is now conducting an election cam
paign, has said: ''The war was crime.
The men responsible for this outrage on
the human race must not be let of because
their heads were crowned when they com
mitted the outrage" And Sir Auckland
Geddes, in n recent address, declared that
peace should he based ON stern justice,
since the day of reckoning for our enemies
has come.
Although there rs no exact precedent to
guide the Allies in this situation, the
historic parallel suggests itself of that
other Emperor who overran Europe with
his armies and turned it into a ver1table
shamhlc in the pursuit of his mad am
bition. The abdication of Napoleon Bona
parte offers an interesting comparison
with that Of William III, while the rapid
succession of deposition, abdicstlon and
exile Is at least suggestive When Ma
poleon. Fastening TO the relief of Pans on
thc night Of March 30 1914, learned at
the posting station of tromenteau that
the city had capitulated nc returned to
Fontainebleau, where he was later joined
by the remnant of his army. Meanwhile
the Allies, now in possession of Paris, al
though refusing TO treat with Napoleon or
his family, authorized the formation of n
pro gisional government and supported rs
DEGREES.
Almost the first act II this government
was 10 declare that Napoleon BOnai 1rte
has forfeited the throne, and the right OF
inheritance established IN his family IS
abolished" One of the reasons assigned
for this forfeiture was that he had caused
to be considered as national a war which
had occurred only In the interest Of his un-
measured ambition. When Napoleon
learned of his deposition and the harsh
terms imposed IN him by the Allies, he
attempted to rally his officers and to in
spirp his men to renew the struggle at all
costs. But his generals would not support
him.
The detection of Marmont, an unuit-
ting tool of Talleyrand left him helpless,
and he acquiesced in the decision of the
Senate by signing his abdlcatlon which
reads
Tho Allied Powers proclaimed that the
Emperor Napoleon was the sole obstacle
to the re-establishment Of peace In
Europe The Emperor Napoleon, faithful
to his oath, declares he IS ready to de-
sccnd from the throne, TO leave France,
and even TO lay down his life for the wei
| fare Of his fatherland, which cannot be
separated from the rights Of his son and
| the regency of the Empress and the laws
of the empire.
This note Of abdication was dispatched
+! to Paris IN the hupe OF retaining the
4 regency Of the Impress and protecting
| the rights ~ Napolcon's son by his sub
| MISSION lie was speedily undecclved, iol
| that same night his emissaries returned
| and, awakening him, told him that the
| Senate had declared for the Bourbons, and
/ that exile was probably his own late. TIC
soften this blow, Ney, for il WAS he who
\ had broken the news To Napoleon, added
Exile in the Island Of Elba, with an IN
| come Of six millions.
six millions, reiolned the Emperor
| -that is a great deal. What shall | dc
| with it? ! only need louis day. / an
now nothing but common soldier"
| The Emperor fell into deep despond
| encv after this dlsheartenIng news, and
| twice attempted 10 take his lie by means
of poison, which he always Carried with
| him. Probably the efficacy Of the poison
J had been impaired by long keeping, fol
| both efforts were vain.
/ A week later hc signed the treaty oi
( Fontaincbleau, renouncIng all rights fol
! himself. his descendants, and The mem
| bers OF MS family He was, however, tt
retain during his life the title Of Emperor
and TO possess the Island Of E.lba ia com
pletc sovereignty, bur to be separate
/ from his wife and ch,ld.
On the 10Th Of April, the last scene was
staged with fitting dignity at Fontalne
bleau-the travelling carriage was II
waiting between two ranks Of the Ole
! Guard, an aide e-de-calnp announced hl