New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-01
THE HEROES OF DECEMBER.

stained the history of that French nation once so
full of glory, at present sunk so low. The de-
tails of this edious crime, by which man
known only for his recklessness and gypsy lie
clutched absolute power, have been related oy
Victor Hugo, Ledru-Rollin, Victor Sch 'elcher,
and other emin. Mt writer's and orators cast into
exile by this modern Heliogabalus. But the
French people still ignore these terrible annals,
the description of which would be worthy of
The pen of Tscitus; and the people of Europe
and Of this side of the Atlantic have almost for
gotten events which, at the time, filled them
with indignation and horror. Let US proceed
TO q summary recapjtulatiOn of the facts.
In the night Of the I'd of December Bonaparte
takes violent possession of twenty-five millions
of francs, which are the property Of the share
holders of the Bank Of France. With this
money be purchases the services of several per-
sors, whom by virtue Of his capacity as Presl-
dent Of the Republic he had recently elevated
to high official position; he brides the officers
and causes gold and brandy to be distributed
among the soldiers Those whom he does not
purchase by gold from the Bank, he deceiyes by
false reports or by false promises. He tears the
Const, tuition into fragments, causes the repre-
sentatiyes of the people to be arrested, puts
France in state of seige, and addresses proc
lamations to the people in which he promises to
conserve the Republic and to restore the right
of Universal Suffrage.
The people of Paris however, are not wholly
duped by these gross receptions. Many people
rush to arms to repel the criminal enterprise of
Napoleon and his accOmphces Upon this the
soldiers, in whom for lopg time previous a
savage hatred against the citizens had been
stirred up-these soldiers drunk and infuriated,
led on by officers daEzled by hopes of rapid sd-
ysncement, spread themselves all over Paris, IN
divisions, in columns, in regiments, in over
vhelming numbers Then we have the Gen
erals, Just appointed by BOnaparte, and who,
having done nothing yet to win their epaulettes,
feel burning desire for distinction.
They come, they 90, they ride about, giving
orders to FIRE on the citizens armed or unarmed,
upon the women, upon the children; giving or
ders for the bombardment of houses. The same
course is carried out in the provinces, aud
led by infamous chiefs to the murder of their
elbow citizens, to the destruction of their prop
erty, and the imprisonment en- mssse of the Re-
publicans. The BOnapartiss journals being the
only ones allowed voice for weeks aud months,
continually celebrated the achievements of the
Generals CanrObert, Espinasse, Forey Herbil-
lot. Eyuard, Magnan and others whose names
we do not remember, and the exploits of their
lieutenants, colonies and officers of all grades,
who obeyed the orders of their superiors.
After the journals came the pamphlets.
Captain Mauduit, NJ. Meyer and one Csssag-
nae, wrote the history OF the affair, singing the
glory of the victors and insulting the vanquished.
All this was go big with success that France
Sc, med, if not TO accept at least to acquiesce
in the shameful tyranny of the BOnapartist fac
ton.
Next comes the war in the East, when
Bonaparte in his audaciOus folly determines
that Sevastopol shall be taken. OF course
the I'd December, all these generals covered
with embroderies and gold, these fiery colonies
all, or nearly all, intmates of the would
be Emperor, the Prince Napoleon, Zone of
the stanchest pillars of the throne" as his
cousin said on raising him to the rank of gen.
eral. There we meet again, Of course, with
our old friends, Fleury, Magnan, Forey, Espi-
nasse; there, also, We meet again even his
Majesty himself, Napoleon the Third, the heir
and nephew of the great Conqueror. Let US see
how the matter stands.
Napoleon the Third at first assumed the APP
pearance of desire 10 set out for the East,
but after a little reflection deemed st. Cloud
and the Tuileries after all safer retreat than
the camp before SeyastOpol, and remained, con-
tentiDg himself with dispatching messages to
Pelssier along the electric wire and ordering
his unfortunate soldiers forward 70 certain
bufcheIy, while he abandoned himself in his
palace TO soft luxurious delights Mr.. Napoleon,
our cousin "S'eR.ra.fen glpre" in the
words of the pleasant French song, but he re-
turns soon, covered not with the chaplet of hon.
orable laurels, but with the well-merted sobri-
quet of "afraid of lead" Neither Magnan, nor
Espinasse, nor the other heroes hasten to seek
glory st the lannon's mouth. Forey is recalled,
some say for treason, others for cOwardice.
Those few whom we see at Seyastopol, as Can
robert and Pelssier, exhibit a certain kind OF
animal courage, but are mentally so inferior 70
the position in which they are placed that they
constantly commit faults so gross as to AWAKEN
universal ridicule.
Such are the heroes Of the I'd Of Dece nber-
cowardly or impOtent. Such was Haynau' me
logger of women, when the people OF London
roobbaa ar5 rursuad him and compelled him 10