The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-10
HERALD THURSDAY ls7o-rkPLE

graspeo Tho rei2s of power have already discov
erea ,,.,. ter inability to establish such gov
erpmen, r,.. for which they blamed me mos,
they have been com, 'elled to do themselves, and
in q form s,u 'ous. The restraint I'M
posed upon the press for ins,~ wv
slant theme of most violent
my government; but while T m. '' ""
| moaouo.o anes
moderate use OF the law, while
and punishment were rare, and preceded n
mild system of ADVERTISEMENTS, they have
| suppressed number of journals because they did
not chime in with their fantastic IDEAS of repub-
can sentiments, presupposing vital interest Of
majority Of the people in what concerns the
country, and willingness to put their shoulder to
the wheel, which does not exist in France I can
illustrate to you the utter political indifference
which pervades the masses by the following Incl
dent One of the representatives in the
Department of the Jura, an officer of
my army, friend to me personally.
and stanch imperialist, who was at
| and highly esteemed in the community, died. At
an election called to fill the vacancy another
wealthy and welknown citizen, M. Grevy, was
chosen almost unanimously, without even having
been asked to make known his political convic-
tions. It was afterwards discovered, to the great
astonishment Of his constituency, that he was
politically the antpode of his predecessor, and
of course o strong antagonist Of my govern
ment. The good people never inquired what
were his sentiments, nor did they care.
They had been asked to vote for him, and did so.
That he should be an exponent, however, Of their
political views never occurred to them. How
could it, in the absence Of real political intelh-
genceg The republic Of America and the repub-
lie of France are as different as white is from
black. Your country submits to the law. Public
sentiment and public spirit, based upon general
intelligence and morality, dictate the control Of
society. Are not your theatres in New York and
Boston allowed to perform such plays as they
deem fit?
Certainly they are.
EMPEROR NAPoLEoN-Suppose they should treat
the public to performances of impure and often
sive pieces, what would be the consequences!
The press would denounce them. Nobody would
so to see them. They would be condemned by
the verdict of the public. But in France,
just over the way, the greater the
departure from morality and decorum
the greater will be the crowd focking
to delight in it. It is no easy work to curb such
an extravagant and depraved spirit in country
so often, unhappily, shaken by revolution. 1t re.
| quires the utmost energy to build up anything,
| any form of State government.
tighten the American people as to the immediate
causes Of the catastrophe which dethroned your
government?
EMPEROR NAPoLEoN-I can only liken it to
an earthquake, sir, produced by the combined
! action Of hidden influences In the elements, the
| existence Of which we are aware Of without
being able to trace their sudden operations.
My government has been almost too willing to
listen to the clamors of those who, some
times bona fde, imagined they knew best
how to promote the welfare of the
of the last existing check to the right of free
| semblages of people. As soon as had done SO
the privilege was abused to an unlimited extent.
| Public meetings no longer discussed political or
social questions in q cool and digni1ed manner,
but at once became tumultuous in the highest de-
gree, and during the whole year assassination"
nable doctrines were openly preached to the
masses and urged upon them as the best and only
means Of saving the country.
CoRREspoNDENr-Indeed, such condition Of
affairs does not augur stability for q republican
government. The views Of your Majesty, who is
such an able judge, will deeply interest the
American people.
EMPEROR NAPoLEoN-I know them to be a
ank-hearted, generous nation, and l cannot
cusations now preferred against me. Have
you read the vile statement published in the
Independence Beige and in other journals, to the
effect that had appropriated the public funds,
and copjured up war to conceal such illegal trans
actions? wish to state emphatically that the
commission Of such breach of trust under my
government in France, even If desired, Is an
utter impossibility. Not single franc is
expended without severe checks on the part Of
the administration. This fact is well known to
every intelligent person in France. could hardly
attempt to contradict all these vile calumnes
though have denied few of them. In order to