Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-11-15
NAPOLEON INTERVIEWED
Ills Say about ,he war and Affairs in Franc,

iiis Say about the War and Affairs in France;
A special correspondent of the New
York Herdid gives the following ac-
count Of an interview with NApoLEoN
at Wilhelmshohe on the 9th inst:
The Emperor says, when the press
was freed entirely by him, il was
seized by demagogucs and unscrup-
ulous politicians, who openly preach
ed disobedlence to the laws, and were
but too successful in preventing the
minds of the people. On the subject
Of the recognition Of the French Re
pnplic by the United States, the En-
peror said: 81 suppose Americans
would sympathize with republican
institutions but all the conditions
requisite to a true republican form
OF government are absolutely want
ing in France The men who have
boldly grasped the reins OF govern
mcnt have already shown their inabi-
ity to establish it. That for which
they blamed me most, they have
been compelled to do themselves, and
impose still more obnoxious condi-
tons. The restraint upon the press,
for instance, was the constant theme
of attack but whilst | made moder-
ate restrictions, and preceded penal
ties by a mild system Of warnings,
they have suppressed number Of
journals because they do not chime in
with their fantastic ideas. Repub-
lican sentiment-presupposing the vi
tai interest of majority OF the PEG
pie in the concerns of the country, and
willing to put their shoulders to the
wheel-does not exist in France.
The Republic of America and the Re-
public OF Franco arc as different us
white and black. Your country peo-
pie submit to the law, and spirit
based upon public intelligence and
morality dictates and controls soci-
ETY.. Are not your threats allowed
to perform such plays as they deem
ftp
Corrospondent-"Certainly they
are"
Emperor-"Then, suppose they
should treat the public to perform
ances of impure and offensive pieces,
what Would the consequence be .?
The press would denounce them, no
body would 60 to see them, and they
would be condemned by the verdict
Of the people but in France the great.
or the departure from morality and
decorum, the greater will be the
crowd hocklng TO delight in it. 1t is
no easy work to curb such an extrav-
agant spirit in a country so often un-
happily shaken by revolution. 1t
requires the utmost energy to build
up any thing"
Correspondent-"Will Your Maj
esty please enlighten the American
people as TO the immediate causes of
the catastrophe which upset your
Government 2"
Emperor can only likon it to
an earthquake, sir, produced by the
combined action and influence of ele-
ments whose existence we are aware
of without being able to trace their
sudden operation. My Government
has been almost too willing to listen
to the clamors of those who, some
times iona fde, imagined they knew
best how to promote the welfare of
the country. | thus consented to
the removal ofthe last existing check
TO the right of free assemblage, and
no sooner had | done so than the
privilege was abused to an unlimited
extent. Public meetings no longer
discussed political or social questions
ia a sober, dignified manner, but be-
came tumutuous in the highest de-
gree during a short year. Assassin
alton, poisoning, rebellion and the
most abominable acts were openly
preached to the masses, and urged
upon them as the best and only means
for saving the country"
Correspondent" sncb
condition of affairs does not aurur
stability to a republican form of gov-
ernment. The views Of your Ma lies
ty, who is an able judge, will deeply
interest the American people,"
The Emper0r-"I know them to
be frank-hearted, generous nation.
and cannot believe they approve the
slanderous accusations now preferred
against me. Have you read the vile
statement published in the Tndepena-
ence Beige and other journals, to the
effect that | had appropriated the
the public funds and conjured up the
war to conceal such illegal transact
ions, while, to state emphatically, /
the commission of such a breach of /
trust by any government in France,
even II desired is an utter impossible /
ity. Not single franc is expended /
without severe checks on the part of |
the administrations. This is well |
known to every intelligent man in
France i could hardly attempt to
contradict all the base, vile ealuunies.
though they have not been believed !
by few. In order to show that by
far the largest part of my own civil
list has been expended by me for the
benefit of the public institutions of
the country, you may have seen the
statement, published by my order
signed by Mons. TheIin, my treasurer
to contradict the unfounded asser.
tions of a certain Mons. Pail. | have
some property in Italy, which was
left me by my father. Ny wife has