The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-05-03
I e l. 4 e r A 2 IL Il C.,
F r A N Q E .
NapOieOH's Proclamation in the
PiCliSCiiIIn,

NapOieon's Proclamation in the
PiebiScitum.
PARIS, April 24-Thc French people
have had presented to them to-day q
synopsis Of the proclamation of the i
Emperor Napoleon on The subject Of pie
biscitum and the constitutions of France
His Majesty addresses them as ''Erench-
men, and says that the constitution Of
1852, which was ratified hv 100000 of
votes, has by its operation procured for
France eighteen years of national pros
ptrity. Changes having been made in
the basis Of that instrument by the va
rious pebescites which have already been |
pronounced on, both by the country and
the government require that an appeal
should again be made to the nation
THIS has been determined on. Everything
which is done or accomplished without
the expression of the voice of the peo
pie is illegitimatc. The constitution
imperial and democratic in its essentials
reduces just now to very small nun
Der the complaints aud legitimate az)l-
rations of the people. Its fundamental
dispositions and provisions cannot be
altered or changed without their con
sent This consent, if acceded, wilkaf-
ford national sanction to the work OF
progress which has been already accom-
| plished, and thus give shelter to the eX
ecutive government. The time which
has been hitherto lost in political party
controversy on the public issues of the
| day will be henceforth employed for the
obtanment Of an increase of the moral
we'll being of all tor the general good.
Towards the conclusion of the lmpe-
rial manifesto the Emperor says to his
subjects:
l address all the French people; you
who, since the 10th day or December in
the year lS4S, placed me at your head,
have rccompensed me by your affection,
ard call on you to give me new proof
of your confidence in me, by casting an
affirmative vote in the plcbiscite. Snch
q vote is vote against threatened rev
q vote renders easy for me and for
France the transmission of the crow. to
my son. Let your vote ba Unanimous,
as it,was eighteen years since. A great
nation. j.. IL order to secure the fruits of
; It's own development, must support in
stitutions guaranteeing national stability
and progress. Let tile people answer
"Yes' on the day Of elections in order
to ratify by. their voice the liberal re
forms which they have enjoyed during
the past ten years, !, For my part, faith
iul to my origin and confident in the
providence of God, will continue te
work necessarily for the prosperity Of
France.
1t becomes indispensable that the new
constitutional pact shall be approved by
the people, as were formerly the cons ii
tutions of the republic and of the EN-
pire At those two epochs it was be
lieved, even as | myself believe to day
that anything done without you was lille
gitimate. The constitution of imperia
and democratic Frass$may be reduced
to small number of fundamental pro
+ visions, which cannot be Changed with
out your consent; your decision vii
have the advantage of rendering defnit,
the progress already made, and of pla
cling beyond the influence of politica
fluctuations the principles of the govern
ment l address myself to all of yol
who, from the 10th of December, 1S4S
surmounted all obstacles to place me a
your head; to you who for twenty-five
e years have without cessation guarded
me by your suffrages, sustained me b,
D your cooperation. rewarded me by you
$ affection. Give me new proof of con
$ fdence in bringing to the ballot box Al
G affirmative vote. You Will exercise th
menaces of revolution; you will plac
i order and liberty on solid basis, an
e you will render easier in the future til
: transmission of the crown to my SON.
!. You have almost unanimously for eigh
q teen years clothed me with the most eS
+ tcnsive powers; be also signally unani
G nous to-day in supporting the transfol
+ nation Of the imperial regime. A grea
{ nation has no way of attaining its de
n velopment without resting on institr
Il tions which guarantee at the same tim
S stability and prograss To the ca
e which l make on you to ratify the libel
/ al reforms realized during the last te
e years reply yes AS for myself, ,faitl
ful to my origin I shall continue pent
trated by your thoughts and fortified b
! your will, and, confding in Providenc
> shall work without cessation for I'll
70 prosperity and the grandeur of Franc
~ NAPOLEON.