Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-11
General TrOChu's Proclamation.

While approaching, with friendliness
for which I thank you, the document py
which on the night Of nv return from
the army put myself in communication
with the PEOPLE of Paris, you appear TO
desire explanations on the subject OF the
following passage in my proclamation: II
appeal 10 men of all parties, belonging
myself. as is well known IN The army, 20
no party but that Of the country. APP
peal 10 their devOtedness 10 restrain BY
moral authority those ardent spirits who
cannot restrain themselves, and to do
Justice with their own hands on
those me- oI no party who see in
the public calamity only an oc-
; aston to satisfy their detestable
.appetites." l have all my life been for
frse discussion, and to the explanations
Won call for l Will add my profession Of
cath. The error of all the governments
which / have known, has been to consider
forOe as the ltitiHta ratio of power. All,
without exception, have more or less
relegSted TO the background that true
force, the only force which Is efhcaclous
At all times, the only decisive force when
lhe difficult problems which agitate civil
jzation are to be resolved-mOral force.
AlIthese governments have been more or
less personal, not percelYing that lmper-
NOual power which considers Itself but as
- delegation of the natiOn-Which
sbinEs and acts but in the Interest
~ the nation, and never for its
own fnterest-which submits cheerfully
10 an the control which it may
nIe,se the nation to reqCire-Where Is
iowa. sincere, ardent for the public good,
and ever guided by principles OF puenc
honssty-is alone in possession OF thar
moral force the power Of which have de-
Nned IL is In this spirit that ! addressed
the population of Paris; it is in this
snirit that / have lived, and that in the
measure of my ability and my position
have struggled against those errors
which have brought the country
"a the state OF mourning in
which she is. / have asked for the
assistance of men Of all parties, Offering
mine gratuitOusly, without reserve, ano
A. have said, and could not say more
with all my heart; and this is what un
derstand by the purely moral assistance
which / ask for. The idea Of maintaining
order in Paris, now prey 10 most legiti-
mate anguish and consequent agitation
fills me with horror and disgust; the idei
of maintaining order by the ascendsncy
of patriotlsm freely expressing itself, anC
by The feeling of honor amidst the mani
fest psrils Of the nation, inspires m'
with hope and serenity. But the problem
IA an ardous one; 1 cannot solve II alone
4 can only solve it by the help OF thos.
have. This is what / mean by moral force
But moment may come when Paris
menaced throughout her whole extent
and suffering from the trials Of
siege, will be, 10 certain extent
given over to that special class Q
seoundrels (gredias), who see IN Tn
public calamity only an occasion q
satisfy their detestabie appetite. Thes
are the men who 20 about the alarmed
city crying we are betrayed, break int
houses, and pillsge them. IL Is such mel
only that I recommend all honest peopl
10 seize by the collar in the absence o
the public force which will be on tn
ramparts-I meant nothing more. be-
YOU, Mr.. Editor, 10 receive the assnranc
Of my distinguished consideration.
GENERAL TRocHU.
Paris, August 10,