Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-14
FRANCE.
Speech Of the Emperor at Opening
of the Legislature.
PAKIs, Monday, Jan. 2.

Emperor, who delivered the following
speech
MEssIEURs LES SENATOR'S
sIEURs LES DEPUTIES: The opening of the
Legislative session permits ms periodically
to explain to you the situation of the en-
pire, and to express to you my views. As
in preceding years, 1 shall examine with
you the principal questions in which our
country is interested.
Abroad, peace seems everywhere assur-
ed, for everywhere the means are sought
for overcoming difficulties by friendly
means instead of deciding them by arms.
The meeting of the English and French
fleets in the same ports shows that the re-
lations formed on fields of battle have not
been weakened, and that time has only &C.
mented the accord between the two ma
tions.
With regard to Germany, my intention
is to continue to observe a policy of neu-
trality, which without preventing us at
times from being grieved or from %rejoic-
ing, nevertheless leaves us strangers to
questions in which our interests are not
directly engaged. [Applause.l
Italy, recognized by nearly all the pow
ers of Europe, has affirmed her unity by
inaugurating her capital in the centre Of
the peninsula. We have reason to rely
on the %scrupulous execution of the treaty
of the 18th of September, and on the in
dispensable maintenance of the power of
the Holy Father. [Cheers
The bonds which unite us to Spain and
Portugal have been drawn still closer by
my late interview with the sovereig gas Of
those two countries.
Vo, have ebora1 NTH mo tho naOaral
Indignation produced by the assassination
| of President Lincoln, and recently the
death of the King of the Belgians has
caused unanimous regret. Marks Of as
sent.
In Mexico the government founded by
the will of the people is'becoming CONSOLE
dated the ~nOn-cOntents, vanquisbed and
dispersed, have no longer any leader.
The national troops have shown their
worth, and the country has found guaran-
tees of order and security which have de-
veloped its resources and raised It's COM
merce with France alone from twenty-one
to seventy-seven millions. According to
the hope which l expressed last year, our
expedition is approaching its termination
[ am coming to an understanding with the
Emperor Macmillan for fixing the period
for recalling our troops so that the re-
turn may be affected without compromIs-
ing the French interests which we have
gone to defend in that distant country.
Loud cheers.
North America, after having victori-
ouslv issued from a formidable contest,
has re-established the old Union and sol
emily proclaimed the abolition of slavery.
France, which forgets no noble page in
her history, forms sincere wishes for the
prosperity Of the great American Repub-
lie, and for the maintenance of amlcable
relations, now of nearly a century's dura-
ton. The emotion produced in the United
States by the presence of the French army
on the Mexican territory will subslde be-
fore the frankness of my declarations
The American people will understand
that our expedition, in which we had in
vited them to take part, was not opposed
TO their interests. Two nations, both
equally Jealous of their independence,
should avoid any step in which their dig
nifty and their honor would be engaged.
[Applause.
At home, the tranquility which has not
ceased to prevail has permitted me TO
visit Algeria, where my presence, l hope,
/ Will DCb nave DcOh MiLhOub !" y
assuring interests and drawing closer to-
gether the different races. My absence
from France has. besides, proved that l
could be replaced by a noble heart and
elevated mind. Loud cheers, all regards
being directed to the Empress.
1t is in the midst of q satisfied and con-
fdent population that our institutions
work. The municipal elections have
taken place with the greatest order and
the most entire liberty. The Mayor being
in the the representative of the
central power, the constitution has con-
ferred on me the right of selecting him
from among all the citizens. But the
election of intelligent and deroted men
has enabled me almost everywhere to
choose the Mayor from among the mem
bers of the municipal councils. [Appro-
baton.
The law on coalitions, which gave rise
to some apprehensions, has been carried
out with great impartiality on the part of
the government, and with moderation On
the part of those interested. The work
ing-class, SO intelligent, has understood
that, the more facilities were accorded for
debating its interest, the more it is bound
to respect the liberty of each and the Sc
curity of all. The inquiry relative to CO.
operative societies has demonstrated how
Just were the basis of the law which was
presented to you on that matter. That
measure will permit the establishment of
numerous associations to the advantage of
labor and foresight. In order to favor
their development, 1 havedecided that the
authorization to meet shall be accorded to
all who, apart from politics, shall wish to
deliberate on their manufacturing or com
mercial interests. That faculty shall be
limited only by the guarantees required
for public order.
The state of our finances will show you
that if the receipts follow sn ascending
progression, the expenses are tending to
decrease. In the new budget, accidental
or extraordinary resources have been re-
placed by those of a normal or permanent
character; the bill on the sinking fund
which will be submitted to you endows
that institution with sure revenues and
gives new guarantees to the creditors of
the State. The equilibrium of the budget
is assured by a surplus of receipts. Zap
plause.
To attain that result, savings have had
to be imposed on most of the public ser
vices. The army being on a peace foot
ing, the only alternative was to reduce
either the cadres or the number of men.
This latter measure was unrealizable, for
the regiments scarcely contained the ne
cessary~ number of soldiers; the good of
the service even counseled increasing it.
By suppressing the cadres of 22O COM
panies, 46 ~squadrons and 40 batteries, but
transferring the soldiers to the remaining
companies and squadrons, we have rather
strengthened than weakened our regi-
ments.
As the natural guardian of the inter
ests of the army, l should not have con-
scented to those reductions if they were
calculated to impair our military organi-
zation or broken the career of men whose
services and devotedness l have been able
to appreciate. The maintenance of all
the officers without troops consequently
compromises no future, and the admission
into administrative careers of the officers
and non commissioned officers who are ap-
preaching the period of -superannuation
will soon restore the regular course of pro-
motion; all interests are thus guaranteed,
and the country will not have shown itself
ungrateful to those who shed their blood
for her. Loud cheers.
The Budget of Public Works and that
of instruction have not undergone any
diminutions. 1t was advisablet to continue
the productive activity of the great State