The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-05-07 00:00:00

DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION TO THE PLEBISCITE,

The Republican party in Paris is bolding nightly
numeroui meetings in opposition to the Plebiscite at
which the Emperor and his ministers are abused in the
most violent terms. At a meeting 1241 tbe other even-
ing one speaker presented a formal lilt of indictment
against `• Charles Louis Bonaparte," charging him with
violating certain specified articles of the law, and con-
cluling thus

o
'Seeing that in MT, 1563, and 169 the French people by
its votes raised an indictment against the accused, conse-
quently prescription cannot he pleaded With respect to
the penalty to he Inflicted, seeing that the punishcieut of
&at h, although still retained in our code, has been virtually
abolished by the public conscience, the French peottle con-
denote Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte to forced labour
for life. The present Nth/meet will be made known through-
out the country, and submitted to tile approval of the French
people."
The proposer of this strange document, M. Lermina,
who is said to have been formerly sect, tary to a CA-o-
ink:wiry of Police, in his speech indulged in most violent
and insulting language. "Citizens," he said, "gagged
as you are, you have alr.ady had an opportunity to
say 'No' -to spit 'No' in the face of Napoleon.
Wh-n you find a man in your i•,:d.t—a brigand, a
bal.dit, a thief—you have the right to kill him.'' This
rework having provoked some expressions of d:sserit,
the speaker added, You coil a bandit a man who
commands others, and who, as their head, robe and
assassinates on the highways and streets. Napoleon
has done all that." Alter some further remarks, con-
ceived in a similar spirit, M. Lersiina read his bill of
indictment. the closing sentence of which elicited from
the TI olice Commissary an order of immediate &milli.

Lion, which, although it provoked much uproar and
discontent, was not actively resihted. Three persons
who persisted in hinging the" Marseillaise" in the
public street were arreeted, one of them being M.
Lermina himself.

The following is a copy of the "Acte d'Accuestion
of ND/Aeon III." :

"ft the name of nuivzrsal peke and public conscience—
" Whe,e.is, Charles Louis lion-inane, commonly called
Napoleon 111 , on the night of December 2, ISM, arbi-
trarily cause the arrest and imprisonment of a great number
of citizens ;

" Wier-ens, on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of December, ISM, In
Part., and throughout the month of December in the Depart-
monis, he caused to be murdered by men in his pay mtigens
In a state of legitimate defence, and others who took no part
n the struggle ;
"

Whereas, in the course of the year 1852 he caused to ne
murdered, tratirportod, or incarcerated by men in his pay
upwards of ten thousand citivne, some without a trial,
others after a mockery ,d a trial before sham tribunals con-
stitute,l in defi once of the few; _

"Whereas, by 1.1;e-lirt-ru-n7ebtality of men in his pay he
has acattered devastation, massacre, and plunder all over
France.

" Whereas, in 1852 '57, '63, iind '69, by threats and vio-
lence, he prevented citizens freely wing their civic righ'e.
"9, heress, personally or by men in his pay, he has falsified
the votes of citizens

'Whereon by stomping his effigy upon it, he has debased
and counterfeited the coin of the realm (applause) ;
" Whereas, for the last nineteen years he has embezzled,
for his own profit or that of his creatures, the public moneys;
"Whereas, without any just cause. and solely for his own
personal Interest, he has hurled French armies against
friendly countries •

"Crilnes proyi.,ed for and punbhed by articles 93, 302, 91,
97, 110, 114, 132, 84, and 85 of the Penal Code;

" But. whereas, the penalty of death though still retained
hi the codes, is abolished by public cluscience,
'The French people sentences Charles Loots Napoleon
Bonapaitl, commonly called Napole a 111., to the penalt) of
ha 4 labour tor lire. The present judgment to be posted all
over the territory, and submitted to the approval of the
French people."