Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-04-29
FRANCE.
imperial Appeal TO the French NatIOn.--Re-
view Of the Government Since l848.-pOte
ayes" for Order and the Dynasty--VOtes
on Former Occasions.

PARIS, April "A, I870.-The French
people have had presented to them
to-day a synopsis of the proclamation
of the Emperor Napoleon on the sub
iect of Dle5iseitum and the cOnstitu-
ton of France. His Majesty addresses
them as |" Frenchmen," and says that
the constitution of 1852, which was
ratified by 5000, 900 of votes, has, by
its operation, procured for France
eighteen years of national prosperity.
Changes having been made in the
bases of that instrument by the vari-
GUS plebescites which have already
been pronounced on, both by the
country and the government, require
that an appeal should again be madet0
the nation. This has been determined
on. Everything which is done or ac-
complished without the expression of
the voice of the people is illegitimate.
The Observation-Disclosures and demo-
cratic in its essentials-reduees just
now to a very small number the COM
plants ana4egitimate aspirations of
the people. Its fundamental DISPOSE
tiOns and provisions cannot be altered
or changed without their consent.
This consent, if acceded, will afford a
national sanction to the work of pro-
gress which has been already accom-
plished, and thus give shelter to the
executive government. The time
which has been hitherto lost in pO-
litical party controversy on the pub
lie issues OF the day will be hence
forth employed for the obtainment of
an increase of the moral well being of
all for the general good.
Frenchmen: The Constitution of 1852,
drawn up in virtue of the powers which
you gave me, and ratified, by the eight
millions of votes which re-established the
Empire, has procured for France eighteen
years Of calm and prosperity, which have
not been without glory. 1t has insured
order and left the way open to all i'm
provements. Thus, the more security has
been confirmed, the larger is the part it
has taken in the progress of liberty. But
successive changes have altered the bases
ptebiScitaiTeS, which cannot be modified
without an appeal to the nation.
1t becomes Indispensable then that the
new constitutional pact shall be approved
by the people, as were formerly the con-
situations of the republic and Of the em-
pire. At those two epochs 1t was be-
lieVed, even as l myself believe to-da-
that anything done without you wSS M
Ultimate, Tine constitution of imnaripl
and democratic France NAV toe redncad 10
a small number Of hundamenLg nro.
visions, which cannot be changed without
your consent; your decision will have the
advantage OF rendering definite the pro-
gress already made, and OF placing beyond
the influence of political fluctuations the
principles of the government, Time lost
too often in barren and embittered con-
troVersles may be more usefully en-
ployed hereafter in seeking for means of
increasing the moral and material we'll
being OF the greatest number. / address
myself to all of you who, from the 10th of
December, ls4S, surmounted all obstacles
TO place me at your head to you who, for
twenty-five years, have without cessation
guarded me by your s~uffrages, sustained
me by your cooperation, rewarded me
by your affection. Give me anew proofof
confidence IN bringing to the ballot-bOx
an affirmative vote. HOu will exercise |
the menaces of revolution; YOU will
place order and liberty ON a solid basis;
and you will render caller in the future
the transmission of the crown to my son.
You have almost unanimously, for
eighteen years, cloths me with the most
extensive powers; hh,lso equally unani-
nous to-day in supH9haipg the transform
alton of the Imperiafessgime. A great
nation has no waY of attaining its devel-
opment without resting on Institutions
which guarantee at the same time stabil-
ny anu progress. 10 Jn6 call which /
make on you to ratify the liberal reforms
realized during the last ten years, reply
yes. As for myself, faithful to my origin.
! shall continue penetrated BY your
thought, and fortified by your win, and,
coniding in Providence, shall work with
out cessation for the prosperity and the
grandeur of France.
(Signed1 NAPOLEON.
In view of the approaching pIe5iscae
France, the following statistics of
the vote on similar former occasions
are interesting:
For Against.
of 1898 (Re-
public ..,.,...l, sol ,sls 1l,6lO
of the year
III tRepublic) ,........ 1901 1851, $50 1887
Of the year
NlII,(COnsulate) ....,.......3 81, 900 1886
Senatus Consulte of the Il
year X~(Consulate for life.3 3, SOS, 1856 9.O74
Senatus Consulto of the
year XIII (Empire). ..,..3 1921 ,675 2.599
additional of ISIS. /, 3O0lOOO 42O6
Constitution oflSa2", c ,v.7 ,473, 43l GAL, 35l
Consulte of De-
cember 1852 (Empire) ...,,7 :, s28, Is9 253, I45
AT the elections of 1857, '63 and '69.
the Opposition votes numbered 57I.-
BOO, 1853, 600, and 3,400, 900 respective
Iy, At the last election-that Of >egN
the Official candidates received 4O59
D56 votes, and the Independent 92S.-
N-Ns