The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-16
Editorial Comment
HERR HITLER TO NAPOLEON
N. Y. Herald Tribune

It would be interesting to know what Incl
dent in the frustrated life of an unsuccessful
Viennese house painter prompted Herr Hitter
to order the removal to Paris of the body OF
Napoleon II, better known to the world as
L'Aiglon,'' or the King of Rome, from the
Hapsburg family vaults in Vienna. The Fuehr'
er has been regarded as a Napoleon wor'
shipper, and nothing that he has ever done sug'
gests that he shared his Austrian countrymen's
veneration for the Hapsburgs. But sentimental
lism, apart from his singularly literal accept
ance of the Wagnerian cosmology and racla
mythology, has rarely dominated Hitler's &C
tons. Usually his moves-even his political
| gestures-have had an avowed purpose. Ap'
p~arently he sees some advantage in return
ing to Paris the body of Napoleon's son-an act
that would have won the affectionate gratitude
Of the French Emperor, but d could
scarcely be counted upon to arouse the en-
thusiasm either of French royalists or republi'
cans, of whom there are still large numbers ir
occupied and unoccupied France.
L'Aiglon was one of the few people that
Napoleon ever loved. Hence the Emperor
bitterness when Marie Louise took him to
Vienna, and when, as Napoleon passed his last
dull years on st. Helena, he learned Of the
manner in which his precious son was scorned
by the boys Hapsburg relatives and how, de.
orived by events in Europe of his throne in
France, he was later deprived by his mother
family Of his Hapsburg titles. AS a matter of
fact, the boy lived and died in an atmosphere
Of bitterness, hated by his relatives and looked
down upon because he was Napoleon's son.
The palace Of Schocnbrunn, which stands on
the outskirts of Vienna, was virtually a prison
to him, although it was one of the principal
homes of the imperial Austrian family. 1t was
there that he finally died, passionately proud
Of his father, whom he had been told he should
despise-a martyr to European politics and to
Hapsburg family ambition and pride.
The story of the boys last years and death
is known to most Frenchmen and many An,eri-
cans through the pages of Rostand's 'L'Aig-
Ion" and the impersonation of this role by the
great Sarah Bernhard. But to a France torn
and defeated as it had not been even in the
days Of Napoleon's collapse there can be little
in Mr.. Hitler's gesture to assuage the bitter
Eess and cynicism with which they view the
contemporary scene.
1t is reported to be looked upon by Herr Hit
Ter as a symbol of good will and hope for
eternal peace. But is it not perhaps something
much less grandiose and more human-a ges-
ture by Mr.. Hitler to his own ego, seeking to
prove to the world that where Napoleon failed
Hitler stepped in to lend a hand? Hitler is,
IN effect, doing Napoleon a favor, thus still
further magnifying his power in the Europe
which, like Napoleon, he overran. Or is this
gesture a fresh humiliation for France by
taking this French hero from the conquered
province of Austria and placing him in the
conquered country of France, bringing him
home to his father at a moment when his
fathers country is crushed? Surely there is
bitterness in this deed-bitterness, and an
ironical thurnbjng of the nose at the history
Of Europe.
The great Napoleon was regarded by most
OF Europe as an upstart. He was hated by his
Whe's Hapsburg relatives. The great Hitler is
regarded by most of Europe of today as an up.
start. Blu he absorbed the Hapsburgs' empire
and crushed the France that had risen from
the ashes Of Napoleon's empire. Now he is
rendering to Napoleon that which was the
Hapsburgs', thus making of L'Aiglon a politi-
cal pawn in death, as he had been in life. /