1-150-593 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'Renewing The Lease', 1870. Madame La France, in the costume of the upper class matron, reads over some papers presented to her by Emperor Napoleon, here shown in the clogs and uniform of the working man. He is holding the hand of his young son. A recent plebiscitum had been issued by the Emperor. A plebiscitum would allow direct voting by the people to decide France's future. As his health failed, Napoleon's main aim was to secure his office for his son and he therefore issued a proclamation in support of the plebiscitum which asked that the public extend to his son the almost unanimous support he had himself enjoyed and which had previously conferred upon him the most extensive powers. From Punch, or the London Charivari, May 7, 1870.