NAPOLEON III. 245 NAPOLEON III. the Schleswig-HolsU'iu (q.v.) question engaged the attention of the Powers, Xajiuleou refused to aid Denmark in her hght for the duehies and advocated the recognition of the jirineiple of na- tionalities tlirough the union of the ticrman por- tion of the duehies to (iermany. On the eve of the war of 180G Napoleon entered into negotia- tions with both. Prussia and Austria, with respect to an alliance, but he was foiled by Bismarck's diplomacy, and the swift issue of the Seven 'eeks' War (q.v.) revealed to Napoleon a new military power under masterful guidance, threat- ening his schemes for European control. Austria ceded Venetia to Napoleon with the understand- ing that it was to be made over to Italy. This was his last appearance in the role of an arbiter in the affairs of Europe. The internal history of the Empire divides itself into two periods, that of the autocratic and that of the lilicral Empire. Napoleon, the man of progressive and liberal ideas, believed that a permanent political edifice could be erected only by the exercise of absolute power. At the out- set he brought under his own control the finances and public enterprises; public liberty was re- stricted, and a thorough system of police espion- age was organized. Napoleon married, January 30, 1853, Eugenie de Montijo, a young Spanish countess, and gratified his own ambitions and her tastes with a brilliant, extravagant, and frivolous court. The Empress Eugenie's influence was al- ways exerted in the interest of the Ultramontane Party. In these days of his absolute power Napoleon pushed public improvements with great energy. Pliilanthropic institutions were multi- plied in France ; industrial development was en- couraged: and an era of great material prosperity followed, degenerating into one of speculation and luxurious living in which were the seeds of decadence. Railroads and highways were con- structed and lines of steamships were established and subsidized. Canals were built and harbors improved. Manufactures, agriculture, and for- estry were all fostered by the State. Stock companies were created, and the crMit fonder and the cri'dit mohUier stimulated these enter- prises with financial support. Paris, under the Prefect Haussmann,was transformed. As early as the exposition of 18.55 Paris was able to show a new city to its visitors, and at the brilliant ex- position of 1807 this development was still more marked. Politically, there were three parties in opposition — Legitimists. Orleanists, and Republi- cans. Of these the Legitimists were almost lost sight of. with the exception of a few irrecon- cilable leaders. The Orleanists were stronger in numbers and in the quality of their adherents, and gave the Em])eror more anxiety. The great literary leaders were found in their camp, and the French Academy was their stronghold. The really active opposition, however, lay with the Republicans. None of these parties had any legal means of expression or action. In 1858, after the Orsini attempt, the General Security Act was forced through the Corps IjOgislatif, giv- ing the fJovernnient power to exile or transport without trial any person convicted of a political offense. Wholesale arrests were made under this act for the purpose of intimidating the Republicans. Havinjr alienated the Ultramon- tanes, upon whost support he had hitherto de- pended, by the Italian War. Napoleon rela.xed some of his repressive measures to gain the sup- port of the Liberals. In 1859 an amnesty decree allowed the return of the exiles of 1851. This was followed by a grant of more freedom of action to the Corps Legislatif. The commercial treaty of 18t)0 with England abolished the prohibitions and lowered many of the high protective duties which had formed a part of the Emperor's com- mercial system. The restrictions upon the free- dom of the press were partially removed. A Liberal opposition now began to organize through a coalition of the opposition parties, and after 18U3 there was real parliamentary activity in France. A section known as Liberal Imperialists supported the Emperor, but opposed his reac- tionarj- ministers. The Jlinistry, headed by Kou- lier, and with Drouyn de Lhuys in charge of foreign affairs, favored a vigorous attitude of opposition to Prussia. The Emperor was broken in health, and after the Prussian triumph over Austria had demoralized his plans and left him discredited with his own ministers, he turned for support to the constitutionalists in the Corps Legislatif. The liberties of that body and of the press were much extended, and the right to hold public political meetings was conceded. In 1809 a responsible Ministry was granted. In 1870 the following proposition was sub- mitted to a plebiscite: "The French nation approves the liberal reforms made in the Con- stitution since 1800, and ratifies the Senatorial decree of April 20, 1870." This was opposed by the Republicans, but was carried by a vote of 7.000,000 to 1,500,000. This popular support of the Imperial regime was apparent rather than real. Notwithstanding temporary coalitions, the different parties were still irreconcilable. The autocratic and war party, which had voted in the affirmative on the plebiscite, came again into power in the Corps Legislatif, with the Duke of Grammont in charge of foreign affairs. Partly compelled by the tliplomacy of Bismarck, and partly actuated by their own aims, the Ministry brought on the war with Prussia, much against the will of the Emperor. (See Franco-Germ.
War. ) The Emperor went to the front, leaving the Empress as Regent, and she constituted a Ministry of the war party under General Pali- kao. Napoleon was captured at Sedan (Septem- ber 2. 1870), and on the 4th of September was taken to the Castle of Wilhelmshohe, near Cassel. In the wild confusion that attended "the news of defeat in Paris and the declaration of the Republic, the Empress fled from the city and Avent to England, taking up her residence at Chiselhurst. Kent, where she was joined by Napo- leon in 1871, after the conclusion of peace. He resided there until his death. .lanuary 9. 1873. Napoleon and Eugenie had one child, a son, Eug&ne Louis Jean Jo.seph, Prince Imperial of France, born March 10, 1850. See Napoleon, EuGi>XE Loiis Jeax Jcsepu. A collection of Napoleon's own works was published in five volumes (Paris, 1869). Many of them, including the Histoyi/ of Julius Ca-sar and Xapoleonic Ideas, have been translated into English. The Posthumnus Works and Unptib- tished Autofiraplis of Xapoteon III. in EacHe were edited by De la Chapelle and published in 1873. English works on Na])(deon III. are those of Forbes (London, 1898) : .Terrold (London. 1874) : and Frazer (London. 1895). In translation are the works of Imbert de Saint Amand, Louis Napo- leon and Mile, de Montijo (Eng. trans. New York,
