Year: 1874




conclusion of the matter was for the Empress
and her adherents to push their attack to its
legitimate result and formally depOse the
Prince from his position in the dynasty. 1t
was thought that his personal unpopularity,
his lack of devoted followers, the noisy force
of the Chiselhurst party in the press, and
other like considerations, were enough to
Justify the expediency of such course, ana
to discourage Prince Napoleon from making
any energetic resistance.


But he has not chosen to submit in silence
to this prescription, and friends have arisen
in unexpected quarters to share his quarrel.
In the recent elections for the Assembly the
only pronounced BOnapartist candidate was
the Duke of Padua, who was in fact the head
and front of the Imperialist party in France,
only second to ROuher as a party manager,
and holding even more important position
than that shfty son of Auvergne by reason
of his rank and property. He came boldly
before the country as thorough BOnapartlst,
Wanting his connection with the coup detat,
his close adhesion to the Empire, and to the
family of Chiselhurst after the death of Ma
poleOn III. He avOwed himself Septennalist
for the time being, but said without disguise
that he was in favor of the recall of Napoleon
w. to France as soon as Marshal MacMahOn's
term expired He had no doubt OF his elec-
ton. He expected the entire Conservative
vote would be cast in his favor. But to the
surprise of every one, NJ. Maurice Richard,
a member of the Cabinet under the En-
pire, came out against him in an energetic
appeal against the tendencies of the Imperial
ist leaders who were prescribing Prince Ma
poleOn and misleading the mind of the young
Prince Imperial. 1t is reasonable to believe
| that this demonstration was not without its
effect, for the Duke of Padua is defeated
| and NJ. Senard is elected in the Department
of Seine -et-Oise. M. Delisse Engrand, who
| came forward far more modestly, and vailed
his imperialist principles in MacMahonist pro-
| fessions, was successful in the Straits-Of-
| Calais, the strongest BOnapartist District OF
| France after Corsica.


| The Red Prince may therefore consider HIM
slider himself even with the party OF the
| Empress for the reverse he suffered at their
hands in Ajaccio. 1t would not be a surprise
| to any one if he should be induced by this
attack upon him to 90 bodily over with his
| adherents to the cause of the Republic. His
tendencies are all radical and demOcratic-as
| those of younger sons and fighty men of
genius are apt to be. He would like very well
/ to be Republican and man of the people.
| If at the same time he might be Prince with
great income and chance at the throne.
His birth in the purple has been q sad hinder
ance to his career as popular politician. He
is brilliant and defective speaker, but his
talents have rusted in inactivity, because the
temper of his mind prevented him from being
the advocate of the Empire, and his position
and prospects prevented him from opposing
it. Every year or two his impetuOsity
betrayed him into making an eloquent
and indiscreet speech, which be was
forced to expiate by temporary retirement
from public affairs, and long yacht-cruise in
Northern or Oriental seas. The Emperor,
whom he heartily despised, could always con-
troll him by means of their lucrative cousin
ship. The indOlent and luxurious life of q
prince of the blood possessed too strong an
attraction to be given up for any caprice of
democracy or independence. 1t remains to be
seen whether he still regards his contingent
prospect of the imperial throne as worth an
| effort to retain it, or whether he will think
| the future offers more to democratic orator
| than to an EmperOr's cousin. At all events, it
| has been shown that he was not altogether so
| frendless and pOwerless as the Empress and
| NJ. ROuher imagined month ago.