Year: 1865

There is no character in modern or ancient
history more curious than that of the present
Emperor of the French. Just now, when his
relations with Mexico bring him so promi-
nently to our notice, it may be of interest to
glance at some of the earlier events of his
career.


Prince Louis Napoleon, as he used to be
called-the son of Louis Bonaparte, King of
Holland, and Hortense the daughter of the
Empress Josephine-had always been a
schemer. He had INDUCED from his boy
hood in dreams of empire. Being, accord
ing to statute, the heir of his uncle, the first,
great Napoleon, he was driven by the very
exigencies Of his Inheritance into contriyan
ces to obtain the supreme power over France,
which he without doubt persuaded himself
was his right. Through long. silent years
he studied, until he became learned in jjuris
prudence. He knew we'll how to veil his
designs by high sounding talk about freedom
and honor and loyalty to the will of the
many. Still for long time he was not ap
preciated or considered parsonage of much
Importance. 1t was, indeed, rather the
fashion to laugh at him, and to regard him
as harmless because of sheer want of capaci-
ty to do great things.


His attempts to rouse the enthusiasm Of
the French people, in 1886, covered him still
more with ridicule. He presented himself
before the army wearing the clothes of the
first Napoleon, and, conscious that in point
of hat, coat and boots he resembled perfect
ly the hero of Austerlitz, he imagined him.
self secure of welcome from the troops, He
was utterly quenched, however, by certain
rcsolute Colonel Taandier, and was ship
ped off to America by a good natured King of
the French, Louis Philippe.


In 1910 he made another attempt, this
time carrying with him tame eagle, which
be had taught to perform some exploit that he
trusted the people would receive as an omen.
The eagle failed lamentably in its part of the
programme; and again firm, resolute
officer forced his way to the theater of action
"a barrack yard-and disposed of the prince,
his fifty armed followers, his flag. his eagle,
and his counterfeit staff with as much ease
as though he had been dealing with band
of strolling players. This time the would
be Emperor was tried for treason, and SEN
fenced to perpetual imprisonment in the
fortress of Ham, from which he escaped, six
years afterwards, in the garb ola workman,
and went to England


lie took-advantage of the revolution of
1913, in which King Louis Philippe was
deposed, to return again to France. " The
third WINS says the old proverb, and this
third time he found more favor in the ewes of
countrymen. He was chosen deputy to
the National Assembly. Lamartine, always
opposed to the Bonaparte dynasty. endeavor-
ed to effect his Punishment, but was unsuc
cessful: and after a stormy debate, the
Prince, at this time forty years old, was
found to be the most popular candidate.
The election was conducted with perfect
fairness: the Prince became President, and
perhaps, as he had already made two at
tempts on the throne of France he had some
right to infer that the millions Of citizens
who elected him to the Presidency were will
ing to make use Of him and his well known
ambition as a means of restoring to France
an imperial form of government At any
rate, as will be shown in future article, he
acted upon this inference and no more held
himself bound to the support of the constitu
ton by his oath of Office, than did Jefferson
Davis and Robert E. Lee consider themselves
bound to the United States by theirs.-jS. T.
Nelr A ae