New-York tribune., 1867-02-18
HE EMPERORS SPEECH.

HE EMPERORS SPEECH.
We regret that the Gable has furnished us an
abstract only, instead of the full text. OF the
speech by which Louis Napoleon, on the 14th
of February, opened the Corps Legislatif The
full text of important documents has so ire
ouently proved the inadcquacy of telcgraphlc
abstracts, that it is well to bear Ill lnlnd
that the very marked impression produced by
the summary of the Imperial speech may be
somewhat modified by a pcrusa OF the whole
Assuming the central ideas, ut least, OF the
speech to have been reproduced by the Cable
with tOleTable accuracy, we cannot but look
upon it rs another and most striking proof OF
the decline of the Imperial policy and OF the
Empire Louis Napoleon is generally believed
10 have had kind of fataliStic belief III the
mission and the future OF the Napoleon dy-
nasty Even those who have never been daz-
zed by the brilliant display OF his imperial
Oratory have been ready to admit that there
was in many of his public harangucs and mani
feStoes some magic spell entirely foreign to
the inferior and royal prose of most of
the speeches from European thrones, and well
calculated to confuse and miSguide hearers and
readers of unsettled political convictions. This
more to depart. The confidence OF the third
Napoleon in the nlallible success OF ms
proyidcntial mission seems Ia he shaken. In
stead OF pointing the nation. with compiaccnt
enthusiasm, to the magnificent pinnacle oi the
Nap0leOnc State, the greatest product OF
political wisdom, which he felt sure he wa'
steadily approaching, he now staggers at the
explanations of failures which are too public to
be denied.
This change of language most conSpcu0u,ly
presents itself in the review of the Mexican
question. year ago the Emperor announced
that the object of the Mexican expedition hav-
ing been reached, negotiations tor the with
driwa of the French troops were pending.
The defeat of the French policy during The
wear now closed hiS been 50 complete that the
Emperor deems it best to admit IT. "Ihe
happy results hc says. 'at tifSt obtained were
" compromised hy an inauspirous concurrence Ot
circumstances" and il is conceded that the re-
call of the French troops was determined upon
when 'tlIc extent of sacrifices appeared to exceed
the interests which had called France across
"thc ocean" Another hmiliating confession
is made BY Acknowledging that the army corps
would bc recalled 81 in ordcr that the Govern
"mcut of the United States might comprehend
that it was only the absence of cancellation in
policy that had cmbittercd relations which. for
" the welfare of both counties, should remain
" friendly" The compromise of happy results
the "cXccSS 0i sacrifice, over Interests and
the complaint of the want of cancellation OH
the part OF the Government of the United
States are expressions which must have grated
harshly upon the ears of the Imperiasts.
The allusions to other questions of foreign
policy are, if not equally mgubrious, at least
equally devoid of anything calculated to elevate
the dropping spirits of the lmpcriai,t party.
70 a>cribe to the great Napoleon" who dis
mcmbeIcd Germany and Italy in order 10 found
new thrones for his brothers and relatives, the
idea of uniting all the great homogeneous ma
tiOnS hitherto separated, Is a bOdcr defiance
Of wcll-known facts of history than is COM
monty made in speeches from the throne. To
call the consolidation of all the great homo
geneous nations hitherto separated "the
"Only possible balance of power in
Europe" and in the same speech
to say that the perpctuation of Austria, whose
very existence is constant obstacle to the
consolidation of the Germans, the Slavi, the
Italians, the R0umanianS, and the lIungarans
- ntttSSdlN iOI preserving lnc DlliiNf VI
power and that all the Catholic Powers should
sustain the temporal power against the
national aspirations of the Italians-are incOn-
sistencies, which to honest minds cannot be
explained away by any sophistry. Again, to
speak Of sympathy with the consolidation
movements in Germany and Italy calls to mind
the warlikc speech made last Spring by the
Emperor at Auxerre, the demand for an exten-
sion of the Rhine frontier and the advice given
to Italy to conclude a separate peace with
Austria without the knowledge of Prussia.
The speech does not contain, as had been
expected, a liberal commentary on the so
called reform decree TOcomplete the unfavorable
impression it must make upon the French nation,
it announces that the Army Reorganization bill,
notwithstanding its extreme npopularity, will
be adhered to by the Government. Taken as
a whole, therefore, we regard the imperial
speech as proof of a very serious decline of
the Empire We are already informed that
the plan is rapidly spreading distrust in Paris.
Abroad, the influence of Napoleon has no chance
of retrieving the humihations suffered i'll 1866;
while the progress OF the Eastern question: the
introduction of the military system of Prus-
sa into the South German States. and the APP
preaching reunion of South and North Germany
threaten it with new dangers.
Mr. PeabOdy'> gift to the Southern States, for