The New York herald., 1870-09-20
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

jules Favrc's Platform-NIinisterial Exposl-
iion of the Government of Defence.
The following the complete text Of the circular
address to the French diplomatic agents abroad by
the Vice President of the French government Of
national defence and Minister OF Foreign AfYairs:-
SIR-The events which have Just taken place In
Paris explain themselves so well by the inexOrable
logic OF facts that II Is useless to insist at length
their meaning ana bearing In ceding to an irre-
ssIible Impulse tcfltch had been but TOO long
strained the population of Paris has obeyed a ne
cessty superior TO that Of ITS safety; II did not
wish TO perish with the criminal government which
was leading France to ner ruin; 1t has not pro-
| nounced the deposition Of Napoleon III. and Of his
dynasty has registered IL In the name Of right us-
tcc and public safety and the sentence 30 well
ratified beforehand by the conscience Of all that no
Power that was falling raised his voice to uphold IT,
collapsed 0J user under ne tcegt o/ It's 6ItttIs,
and amid the acclamations Of an Immense people,
any one individual being deprived OF his personal
liberty, and we have been able to sea thing un-
heard Of in hlstOry-the citizens, upon whom the
popular voice conferred the perilous mandate to
hgnt and TO conquer, not thinking for moment Of
threatened them with execution. 1t Is by refusing
TO their adversaries the honor OF being subject to
them their blindness ana sner naue poteOce seocn
Order has not been disturbed Tor q single
moment. Our confidence in the wisdom ana
whole population permits us to afrm that II will
| not be disturbed. Rescued from the shame and the
danger OF q governments which mas proved itself
traitor to all It's duties each one now comprchends
that the first act OF The national sovereignty at last
reconquered, must be Of self-controi-the seek
ing OF strength respect for right Moreover, time
must not be lost; the enemies are at our gates we
have but one thought-namely, their expulsion from
our territory But this obligation, which we resO-
lutely accept. we did not impose upon France. she
would not be In her present position our voice had
| been listened to. We have energeticay defended,
even at the cost OF our popularity, the policy OF
| peace. We slill maintain the same opinion with
| sight OF these human massacres. wherein Is sacrl-
iced the flower OF the two nations that little good
and great deal OF liberty wound have preserved
| from such 1rlghtful catastrophes. We cannot find
any expression capable OF rendering our admiration
for our heroic army, sacrificed by the incapacity OF
the supreme commander, but sho owing itself greater
in It's defeats than the most brilliant victory; for
| in spite OF the knowledge OF faults which COM
promised It's safely the army has inundated itself
with sublime hcrOsm IL the face OF certain death,
redeemlng thus the honorror France from the stain
Cast upon her by her government. All honor to the
army The nation looks towards 1t with open arms.
| The imperial power wished TO divide them. Msfor-
tune and duty JOIN them In solemn embrace, sealed
| by patriotism and liberty. This alliance renders us
| invlncble. Ready for every emergency, we
look with calmness on the position OF
others. This position Will explain in
a few words, and submit it to the Judgment Of my
war, and while protesting our respect for the rights
! OF peoples, we asked that Germany should be left
| liberty should be at the same time our common tie
and our common shield We were convinced that
these moral forces would forever insure peace. but
| a. a sanction we claimed an arm for every citizen a
civil organization and the election OF leaders Then
we should have remained inyincible on our own soil.
since separated its interests from those OF the cou
| try opposed that policy.
awe take II up with the .hope that, taught by
perience France will have the wisdom TO put IL into
practice. On his side, the King or Prussia declared
tnat he made war, not against France, but against
| the Imperial dynasty. The dynasty has fallen 10 the
ground. France rises herself free. Does the King
| OF Prussia wish to continue an impious struggle
which Will be at least rs fatal to him rs To US Does
he wish to give 70 the world Of the nineteenth GEN.
tury the cruel spectacle OF two nations destroying
one another and, In f0rgetfuness or humanity rea-
and eas e Is %
responsibility in the face OF the world and
Of history II is o challenges; we accept 1t.
stone Of OuT Jort'esses. A shameful peace toOuld
| mean 1cdr Of determination at an early
date We ,oM 1aa only trea! Ior durable peace.
| and we have reason TO hope that, freed IRON all
dynastc considerations, the question will thus pre-
Itself before Cabinets of Europe But should
we be alone we shall not yield. We have solute
army, well pr0visioned forts, well established
encefnte and, above ALL the breasts Of 100000 COM
batants determined to hold out to the last. When
they pousy lay crowns at the feet Of the statue OF
StrasDourg they do not obey merely an enthusiastic
orre they swear to be worthy Of their brethren OF
Alsace, ana to die as they have DONE After the
forts We have the ramparts; aiter the ramparts we
have the barricades. Puris can hold out JOT Wree
months ana conquer. rshe sccu,lt6s, France rtu
start up az her appeal ana due',ge her. France
would continue the struggle aud the aggressor would
such IL, Sir, what Europe must know. We have
not accepted power with any other object; we Will
Doj Keep 1t moment If we should not find the popu-
l. alion OF Paris and the whole OF France decided TO
share our resolutions. j sum up these resolves
briefly the presence OF God, who hears me; In the
face OF posterity, which shall Judge US. We wish
only for peace, but lf this disastrous war; which we
have condemned, Is continued against US we shall
do our duty 10 the last, ana have the firm conn
dence that our cause when Is that OF right and OF
justice, VIII triumph in the end. 1t Is in this man
CONTINUED ON TENTH PAHE