The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-09-16 00:00:00

PRINCE NAPOLEON'S VINDICATION.

The Caulnim publishes a pamphlet which it states is
about to be issued by Prince Napoleon, entitled Lot
Verib' a Ines Culortnltiateurs. In it the Prince, after
explaining his reasons for meeting the attacks that
have been made upon him notably by n Jules Farm
Hi the Assembly, proceed., meet two charges-1, that
he Lad in,voked the late war ; and 2, that he lcul
avoided meeting the enemy. With respect to the first
charge he says that in June, 1810, being desirions of
becoming better acquainted with Europe and of
escaping from "sterile agitations and political in-
trigues," he obtained the Emperor's pennission to
leave France, which he did without the least srtspi6
of any hnpending dower. The first intimation of such
was conveyed to him by a telegram which he received
at Berg?, in Norway, on the Bth of July, which ran
thus ' Situation very delicate as relates to the
Prusso-Spanish incident, but nothing new yet. Saw
M. Offivier this morning, who requests your Imperial
Highnesss to keep within reach of the telegraph,
and will send despatch if necessary. On the 13th of
July he received at Tromsoe the following telegram
1 —"Complications removed. 'D
mPrince of Prussia
withdraws his pretensions. To-day communication
will be made to the Chambers. Will send details."
Again on the 15th of July came a despatch—" Last
evening and to-night have been manifestations demand-
ing war. The majority in the Chambers are for war,
but will hesitate to take that extreme step. The
Ministry is very hesitating. To-day there will lte
in-
terpellations. I will telegraph. Great preparations
for war are going on." Upon the same evening he re-
ceived the following despatch :—" The Emperor legs
you to return as speedily as possible. M ar inevit-
able. Reply immediately by telegraph. The Prince
states that he started at once, and arrived in Paris
on the lit. In reply to the charge of !raving avoided
the enemy by accepting a mistion to Italy, he
says that on ids return he P.,licited an active com-
mand, and the Emperor offered him the conduct
of an expedition to land trots in Denmark and
upon the Baltic coast, which offer he eagerly accepteth
Iwo military councils were held, and the Prince tub-

mitted a plan of organization. but the Emperor by the
advice of his Ministers placed the naval forces which
were to form part of the expedition under the command
of Admiral Bonet Willaumez. The Prinve foresaw
difficulties likely to arise from a divided command, hut
determined to meet them and submitted his plans of
action, which were examined by the Cabinet and
greatly modified. It being evident that the expedition
would licit be ready for some time, the Prinee obtained
the Emperor's permission to accompany him from Paris
to the fiontier. On the tith of July an Imperial ord.er
was is-.ued at Met.: attaching ileneral of I fivi..olPrinee
Napoleon to the liewl-Quartei, of the Army id the
The pamphlet rays :
- • • • - • -•

••I 5t....111,4 roan the events aloleh oceurred between the
of July and the lath if August. I sadly, simply, and
silently remained with the Emperor until the mornMe of the
lath of August, when his Majesty came Into my lint and said
1., me, 'Things are going on badly. You are 44 no use to um
here. A single chance, not very pndiable, but stilt possible,
would be decisive. That to that Italy, pronouncing in favour
of France, should declare war and endeavourto bring Austria
with her. No one is better fitted for a buisiiin to your
father-in-law and Italy than yourself. Y.,11 1111 lit Ist out at
once tor Florence. 1 have written to the K Mg. There is
my letter.' Sly lint impreAsi.di was •l4 astonishment. I
resisted at hest. Sly ardent desire was to Omni to the last
the fate of our soldiers. I observed that it seemed to me
very Improbable that the Immediate Retire co-operation at
Italy could be obtained, and still more so that if Austria
that, personally, without direct responalbility for events, I
desired to remain with the army and the Emperor."
Yielding to pressure, the Prince at last accepted the
missii in. the Emperor observing, " You will only leave
for a few days; if your misdon is not sweessful, you
will rejooin MO. IV, ac-Malson's plans are well arranged ;
the army retires lips' Paris I oy the 'northern fortresses,
It wiil be before Paris' probably,
that we shall deliver
a davisive battle, and loy that tnne yin will be bark."
The Prince declines to state what were the orders and
instruction he had received, but says that he reached
Florence ton the 2lst and found that it was an imp ossilole
task in 24 hours to induce Italy Matt against victorious
Prussia, especially as the negotiations included Vienna
as well as Florence, After quoting a di:sit:itch from
the French Ambassmlor at Florence to prove that the
Minio.try in Paris were aware of this mission, and a
telegram from tieneml Troelm, dated August 25,
stating that the position of affairs lus I rather improved,
the Prince states that, on the 27th, learning that the
Emperor and the army were marching mum Chem°
•Populeux and away from Paris he detxrmined to quit
Florence, and forwarded the following telegram to the
Emperor :---

"1 donut think I shall be able to induce Italy to take part
In the war until drcumstanees chan,.e. In obedience to
your onion I have refused to discuss the subject of a diplo-
matic intervention. I learn from Paris that m) mission has
been commented Upon, that questions have leen asked In
the Chainher, and that the Minister has offered 1,01 a poor
defense for me I therelore bqg your Majesty to glee me
positive orders; there are but three possible-either to re-
main here Alidpurr n w ate the egotiation. hich Ido lint de,Are
to do, it to rejoin you -it will be dillnult for me to avoid
passing through P.sris, or to restore me liberty of action Ii
uu think I ran be in nu way useful a ith ytm." '
_

this &spate): the Emperor telei-iraphed

Chesil°, A. Isa —To Prince Nopoloon, Florence. I
Into received your despatches. Nothing new here. I beg
you to remain where you are, and to continue the negotia-
tion. I will write to Paris that you shall be defended in ease
you are attacked."

Notwithstanding the anxiety caused by the important
movements in pregresee, Prince Napoleon writes
Fearing to thwart the views of the Emperor by quitting
Italy, for that Power might possibly have rendered no vital
service if the fortune of war had not gino fatally muinst us,
or if it Innl been simply uncertain, I obeyed the Emperor.
Sedan came, and then the usurpation of the selfalyled
remittent lif National Defence. I left Italy for Switzerland,
previously writing this letter to the Emperor :
" Florence, Sold. 4, IS7O.
have been Informed of the lost battles and of
your captivity. My devotion, my duty, Indicate my Cl,lllle.
I not to be allow,' to rej ' you, especially now tlmt all
defence of the country has become Impossible to me since the
events at Paris.'
To this the Emperor replied :

" • WilliellushOlke, Rept. 17.

". My dear Consin,--I am very sensible of the oiler you
make to share limy captivity, but I &sire to remain alone
with the few pies. no 100 haVe Inll4lWed Me. I have eve?,
requested the Empress not to join lue here. I hope we shall
Bee 1,01 other again in happier times, anti in the meauthute
I repeat to you time assurance 14 my sincere friendship.'

All was now over. After the trinmph of enemies - the
allies of the Prussians among us overturned tow dynasty
under the pretext of better defending themselves. A mob,
blindol by despair and deception, allowml itself to holed by a
hateful group of ambiti (((( s Intriguers, who set the frightful
example of internal anarchy lathe Imes-nee of the invader. All
the if:sources remaining to France were scattered ; the resist.
ADM: ivliin4ittnefnenennin of 30111 e Aoldierfi Mid Mahe olikingitiAbed
Generals had not suffered to render success( u had to, other
elluet than b. extend devastation, suit,, 'sake the fall of the
nation more sanguinary and nmre profound. Our unhani.Y
country affords the ,pectaele of the ,le see of ;iluntement to
which a great people may descend when in the face of the
em-tiny it Mots in its leaders only impotence, envy, gr of,
malice, hatred, and all evil passions unloosed. I shoat
entertain some doubts as to the reception these esplana•
tions—deeisive as they are, wmthl meet with were 1 ail-
dressin4 all ASla.llll/1y which glades in being composed
row enemies. Kali while a tirade alrallait UIC Emperor or his
family is a certain 1110alla of obtaining applause from the par-
thorns of the white gager the adepts of the red one. But I ad-
dress myself to all my fellow-citizens, to that generous and
loyal people who in die end never forgive t hose who have abet,
Moted their elected representatives, to that people who have
always despised traitors, to that lie dde whian our foes I'are
not etaisult my a lib,bawite,liecause It is weil known that Par-
liamentary intrigues, calumnies, factions. combinations, all
wont,' he powerless AZ they were on the occasions of the
plibixrifes of LAO, 1801, 1515, 151 S, 'sal, and lisirt). 1 addreas
myself to that pemde who may be misled WO daCCiVeli for
a tunic, but who again awaken and seeing the servile
drivellers (dibilit,,s) who gorern them, will recall in their
hearts the single name of this century which, despite the
faults and misfortune of those who bear it, is at too a
of antlllaity Mal a guarantee. I await
with confidence the Judgment if that 0i 41410."