Year: 1879

The meeting of the French imperialists
yesterday disclosed dissensions as to the
proper political heir of the de-
ceased Prince Imperial. The position
of NJ Rouher on this subject is sug-
gestive and significant. NJ Rouber
has just returned from Chiselhurst, whittier
he had been to visit and condole with the
Empress Eugene in her great afiiction.
How far his action may reflect her senti-
ments is matter of inference and con-
lecture, but certain it is that he
has lost his former zeal in the
cause Of Imperialism. deputation
was appointed to wait on Prince Napoleon
and communicate to him the will of the de-
ceased Prince Imperial. M. Rouher de-
clined to be member of that deputation,
and declared his purpose to take no
further part in politics. And yet
the newspaper which is regarded as his
organ, L Ordre, had an article yesterday,
said to have been inspired by him,
admitting that Prince Napoleon stands
next in the legitimate order of succession.
NJ Rouher's declared intention to with
draw from politics and his admission that
Prince Napoleon is the head OF the dynasty
are not inconsistent but mutually confrma-
tory There is an evident conflict be-
tween his opinion as to the line OF
succession and his personal preferences
and wishes 1t is because he is constrained
to recognize Prince Napoleon as the legiti-
mate heir of the deceased Prince Imperial's
expectations that he retires from the
political arena. He knows that the
legitimate successor is too unpopular
with the Bonapartists to excite any en-
thusiasm or inspire any warm attach
to crumble away under such head. He
quits a ship which is destined to sink.
While the Prince Imperial lived there was
an element Of popularity and affectionate
loyalty which buoyed up the sinking cause
and insured the unity and enthusiasm of
the party. But Prince Napoleon is SO per-
sonally distasteful and has so alienated
the jealous supporters Of the dynasty that
N. Rouher perceives that it is moral and
political impossibility for them to rally
around so unpopular a representative. M.
Rouhers course is equivalent to declara-
tion that he despairs of the dynasty when
this particular Bonaparte must be acknowl-
edged as its legitimate head


But although he gives up the cause
other Bonapartists will not, and there is
no good reason why they may not exercise
such a freedom of choice as circumstances
seem to demand. They are reduced to the
alternative Of seeing the cause sink under
repnlsive chief or of selecting from among
the other Bonapartes some one who would
be more cordially supported. The one
selection which has chances of popularity
is Colonel Jerome Bonaparte, of Baltimore.
who would be infinitely more acceptable
to a majority of the imperialists than
the unpopular Plon-Plon. He would be
more likely to conciliate the Church party
as good Catholic and as tho really
Legitimate heir according to its tenet
respecting religious marriages. He would
be the least obnoxious OF the Bonapartes to
the French republicans owing to his Ameri-
can education and ideas. Plon-Plon is
Jonah who should be thrown overheard as
the last forlorn hope OF saving the dynasty,
and no man could SO fitly replace him as
Colonel Bonaparte, of Baltimore.