The year 1848 came bearing revolution on its wings. Again France cast aside the Bourbon dynasty, and declared for a republic. Once more began the exile of King Louis Philippe; driven from his native land in old age, as in youth. The man of Boulogne and Strasbourg waited and watched his opportunity. A republican, a great minister, a member of the provisional government declared, “The renown of Napoleon remains as one of those immense souvenirs which extend over the history of a people, and cover it with an eternal splendor. All that is popular in this glory we accept with eagerness; the proscription of his family by the France of to-day would be a shame.” France gave heed to these words and the National Assembly declared: “Article 6 of the law of April 10, 1852, relative to the banishment of the Bonaparte family is abrogated.” Another republican leader made the following assertion: “The Republic is like the sun. Allow the nephew of the Emperor to approach it, I am sure he will disappear in its beams.” Events proved that it was not the nephew of the emperor who was to disappear. But, in fact, the real antagonist of the republic was not the living nephew—it was the dead emperor himself, the ever-living name—Napoleon. Living or dead, France belonged to him. After thirty-three years of proscription and exile, Louis Napoleon was elected by his native city of Paris to a seat in the National Assembly. On December 20, 1848, Charles Louis Napoleon was declared President of the Republic of France. The question arose, “Will he take the oath of office wearing the costume of Napoleon as First Consul, or appear in military dress?” Upon taking his oath the Prince-President wore a black coat with the star of the Legion of Honor. During the year 1852, the vote of the people of France was taken as to whether or not the imperial dignity should be re-established in the person of Prince Louis Napoleon. And “by the grace of God and the National Will” Charles Louis Napoleon became “Napoleon III, Emperor of the French.” On the night of December 1, 1852, the dignitaries of the new Empire went to the Palace of St. Cloud carrying the Imperial Crown, and the next day the proclamation of the empire was made in Paris with stately ceremony. The Emperor Napoleon III rode from the palace of St. Cloud to the Tuileries. The procession marched between lines of soldiers with arms presented; the cannon roared, the bells rang gaily, and the military bands played “_Partant pour la Syrie_,” the stirring air composed by Queen Hortense.