The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-01-23 00:00:00

SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.

The following is the text of the speech fo an the
throne delivered on Monday by the Emperor Napoleon,
at the opening of the French Chambers :
MURMURS LEO SIENATECES,

Sii.SSIEURS LES DEPUTES.

The spiech which I address to you every year at the
opening of the session Is the sincere expression of the
tnoughts which guide my conduct. To explAin frankly to
to the nation before the great bodies of the state the pro-
gress of the government is the duty of the responsible chief
of a free country. The tat•lt which we hove undertaken
together is arduous it is not, indeed, without difficulty that
on a soil shaken by so MAIO revolutions a government is
founded suftlei-ntly impressed with the wants f the age to
adopt all the benefits of liberty, and sufficiently strong to
hear even its excesses.

The two laws which 300 passed during the last session, and
the object of which was the development of the principle of
free discussion, have produced two ,ipposite effects, which it
Inlay lie useful to point out. On the one hand, the press and
public electing. have created in a certain quarter a factious
;a/dation, and have can.eil the reappearance of ideas and

passions ;which were believed to be eVtitiguiilied ; but n the
other hand the nation rellItli111111( insendide to the most
violent Veitement, and relying upon my firmness for the
maintenance of order, has not felt its faith in the future
shaken. . .

Remarkable coincidence ! the more adventurous and sub-
versive minds sought to disturb public tranquility so much
the more profound became the peace of the country ; com-
mercial transactions reassumed a fruitful activity, the
public revenues incremed considerably, the public interest
reassured, and the greater part of the recent elections gave a
new support to my goverment,

The Army Hifi and the Subsidies 11 granted by yom
patriotism, have contributed to strengthen the confidence of
the country, and in the just consciousness of its pride it ex-
perienced a real satisfaction the 1111 l ment it learnt that it
was in a position to confront every eventuality. The land
alld sea forces, strongly constituted, are Ilpoll a peace foot.
. . .

,
nig The effective strength maintained does rind exceed that
which existed under former systems, but our armament
rendered perfect, our arsenals MO our magazines filled, 41.ir
reserves exercised, the National Garde Mobile in course of
organisation, our fleet tra..sformed, Wei Iliar strongholds in
good condition, give to our power a development which was
itiolispensable.
The constraint object of my efforts is attained, and the
military resources of France are henceforward on a level
with its deathly lan the world. In this position we can Peaty
proclaim row desire to maintain peace. There is no weakness
in our saj ing so when we are ready to defend the honour
and independence of our country.
Our relations with foreign Powers are mist friendly.
The Revolution winch has broken out beyond the Pyrenees
has not altered our good relations with Spam, and the Con.
ferenee, tin stifle a threatening conflict in the East, is a great
act of which we should appreciate the importance. Tins
Conference approaches its t. rinination, atari all the Menlo.-
tent erten have agreed upon lire ainciptes calculated to inri..g
about a rec. ncilidion between Greece and Turkey. If, there-
fore, as I firmly hope, nothing shall arise to disturb general
harmony. It will b., our 101111110 tO realise natty projected
maprovennent•, and we shall endeavour to solve all the
practical questions raised by the :agricultural investigations.
Public works have been sufficiently endowed ; parochial
roadn are being constructed. Education of all classes Con-
tinues to be successfully developed, and, thanks to the
periodical increase ot the revenue, we shall soon he able to
devn de all our sol;citude to the diminution of public burdens.
Tile moment is drawing nigh when, for the third time since
the establishment of the Empire, the Legislative Bnr ly wid be
constituted afresh by the general elm:that, and each time it win •
have attaine I the limit of its legal duration—a thing !tithed..
unknown. This regularity is due to the ii..rmony which has
always existed between us, and to the confidence which I
feel in the sineete exercise of universal suffrage. The
patroller muse= are stanch hr their faith as in their :.ffectlons.
and if noble passions are able to rouse them, sophism and
calumny scarce ruffle the surface. Sustained by your appro-
batoin and your concurreince, I am thoroughly resolved to
persevere ill the course which I have labl down—that
is to say, to adopt all real progress, but also to maintain,
without iltscussi ~,, the essentian bases of the Constitution
which the natnenal vote has placed under she ter from all
attacks. " A good tree is known by the troll it bears," says
the (I spot.
Well, if we cast a glance at the past, which Is the Govern.
m-nt that has given to France seventeen years rat ever.
Increasing quiet Bed prosperity Certainly every Govern
mend is liable to error, sell fortune lies tint smile upon all
enterprises, but that which constitutes nty strength is tune
fact that the nation tines not ignore that for twenty years
. . --- • —'

.. _
have not had a single thought, I have not done a she'd; deed,
of which the motive wins other than the Interest and greatness
of France. Nor Is It ignorant of the circumstance
that I was the first to desire & rigorous control over the
conduct of affairs that I with this object increased the
powers of the deliberative Assemblies, perenaded that the

rod l support of a Government is to i.e found in the inde-
pendence and patriotimi .4 the great bodies of the State.
This Session will add fresh servicesto those which you have
already rendered to the coundry. Soot. the 'ration, called
t *ether in its ettuntia. will sanction the policy which we
have purstml It will once in tre proclaim oy ita votes that
it does not desire revolution, hut wishes to mat the derailties
of France upon the intimate alliance of power with liberty.

The Etendard of Monday atm that the Emperor's Speech
was frequently interrupted by tuarks of approval and cheers,
which were especially emphatic when his :Majesty proclaimed
his desire to maintain order at home and peace alitoad. rite
wh de Speech, according to the same paper, was pts.ly con-
sidered to be pacific and liberal, and the iteroration was
loudly cheered.

Referring to the same subject, the France contains the
to too " Never wvre n he words of the Emperor clearer.
and never did they better correspond with tit, nation's Jost
reeling of diznity abroad or its liberal aspirations at tome.
France is desirous of nuthitaining peace with to eign tuntries,
hut a peace worthy at her. She knows she is strong enough
to be prepared for any eventuality, and to sustain be-
fore the nations of modern times the principles which are
the basis lloth of her own interests and of the peace of the
whole of Europe. We are ready for war if circumstances
compel UB to draw the sword, but there is nothing in our
armaments that ought to alarm other Powers, it they are
animated with the Caine peaceful illteStiOLlA which guide
the policy of the Government of the Emperor."