The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-02-14 00:00:00

PROCLAMATION OF TIIE EMPEROR
NAPOLEON.

CA3/1111, Friday. The Emiwror Nopoleon has named
the following proclamation to the French people, dated
the &h:—

" Betrayed by fortune, I hive preserved since my
captivity that profound silence ;which is IM-fortune's
mourning. So long as the armies of Frames and Ger-
many confronted one another I abstained from all steps
or words which might have divided the public mind. I
can no longer be silent in face of the disasters of my
wintry without appearing to be inseneible to its suffer.
ings. When I was compelled to constitute myself a
prisoner I could not treat for peace; my decisions would
have seemed dictated by personal considelations ; I left
to the Government of the Regent the duty of deciding
whether the interests of the nation required a continu-
ation of the struggle. Notwithstanding unheard-of
reverses, France was not daunted. Our strongholds
still held out, few departments were invaded. Paris
was in a state of defence, and the extent of our mis-
fortunes might have been limited.
"But while attention was fixed upon the enemy an
insurrection broke out in Paris. The seat of the National
Representatives was violated, the safety of the Empress
was threatened, a Government installed Heel( by sur-
prise in the Hotel de Ville, and the Empire, which the
whole nation had jut acclaimed for the third time,
was overthrown—abandoned by those who should have
been its defenders. Setting aside for a time my pre.
sentiments, 1 exclaimed, 'What matter the dynasty, if
the country can be saved I' and instead of protesting
against the violence done against right, I desired the
success of the National Defence, and I have admired
the patriotic devotion shown by the children of all
classes sad of all parties.
"Now that the struggle is suspended, that the capital,
notwithstanding an heroin resistance, has succumbed,
and thatall reasonable chant* of victory has disappeared,
it ie time to ask for an account, from those who have
usurped power, of the blood abed without neoesuty,
the ruin heaped up without reason, the resources of
theloountry squandered without control.
"The destinies of France cannot be abandoned to a
Government without mandate, which,while disorganis-
ing the Administration, has not left standing a single
authority emanating from universal suffrage. The
nation gannet long obey those who have no right to
command. Order, oonfidenee, and a solid peace
will
not be restored till the people have been consulted as
to the most capable Government for repairing the
national dictators.
In the solemn circumstances in which we are
&Wed, in the Nee of an invsaiou, and with Europe
attentive, it is important that France should be one in
her aims and her desires, as well is in her decision,.
Bush is the object towards which the efforts of all good
citimens should tend.
"As regards myself. bruised by so much injustice
and sash bitter deceptions, 1 do not come forward to-
day to claim rights which four times in twenty years
you heel, sonfirwed. In the presence of the calamities
whisk atlet as there is no room for personal ambition.
But so long as the people regnl.rly assembled in it.
militia shall not have manifested its will, It will be my
duty to address myseif to the eatioc as its real repre-
seolative, and tell it that all that may be done without
year direct participation is illegitimate. Tbere is but
one Government, which has issued from the national
sovereignty, and which, rising above the egotism of
parties, has the strength to heal your wounds, to re-
open your hearts to hope, and your profaned churches
to your prayers, and to bring back industry, concord,
and pesos to the bottom of the couutry."
Tie Times says it matters not that four times in
twenty years the rule of Louis Nepaleon was confirmed
by overwhelming majorities; "a nation cannot long
obey those who have no right to command," and the
events of last July and Caput definitely showed that
his 'apposed qualifications were fictitious.