Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-10-06
THE EX.EMPEROR.
deserted by HIS Frtends-AccusRti
of Trcachery,


OF Royal greatness that Napoleon, in his
captivity, is deserted even by the London
Daily Telegraph. A correspondent Of that
celebrated organ of the Imperial back
stairs sends from Paris the following ru-
mors and suspicious;
There Is but too much reason to appre-
bend that the almost universal belief en-.
tertained by Freuchmen that treacherv
and treason have been rampant, not only
among French civilians, but also in the
ranks OF the French army, is founded up-
on fact. have talked with several soldiers
VINO escaped from the wreck Of DeFaillv's
division, and who have made their way
back TO Paris. They are unanimous in
their assertion that this traitor, as they all
regard him, so handled his troops as 10
deliver them over 10 be helplesslv massa.
cred by their enemy. But / regret TO add
that, although De Failly is even more exe-
Grated to-day in France than Lebout,
there is still mightier name on every lip,
against which the strongest innuendoes are
whispered, The latter from the pen of
Nj. Podevin, late Project of the Department
of La Maurthe, which appeared in last
nights Soir, has produced a prodigious
effect, It will be remembered that NJ. de
Podevin was violently animadverted upon
by public opinion for having surrendered
Nancy, the chief town of his department
without q struggle, and for having advised
his fellow townsmen not to resist the enc.
my. The peccant Pretet was destiiue
and disgraced by III. Chevreau, late Minis
ister of the Interior. He now defends
himself energetically against the calumnies
OF NJ. Cheyreau, says that his repeated ap.
peals for arms we're disregarded and that
not grain Of powder was supplied to him
wherewith to blow up the bridges over the
Muerthe. He adds that on the morning of
August II he was again ordered to blow up
the bridges, but that, after having in vain
applied for powder from the Engineer De.
partment, he shortly after received uue de-
peche chifree de pEmrereur m'snjoiqaaat de
ne pas les Jolre Sdo;er IA cipher dis.
patch from the Emperor, forbidding
me TO blow them up."l These words
are printed in italics in NJ Povedin's
letter, and have here aroused intense sur
prise and indignation. A story is to night
banded about that Marshal Bazaine has
announced that the Emperor himself made
overtures to him, his most distinguished
general, Of traitorous character. Trait
or bandit" robber"-t these are the
mildest words which fly tonight from lip
to lip-and I grieve to add that they are
applied to no less man than the unhappy
Emperor himself OF course it is natural
that Frenchmen should be only 10 eager,
in the present condition of France, to find
any excuse for the dismal reverses of the
French army. But low as is the estimate
everywhere formed of the military
and administrative capacity of the late En-
peror, it seems inconceiyabe to French
men, except on the suppostinn of treach-
cry, thai he could have courted this war
unless he saw that it would enable him to
escape from position which he had riot
ouslv enjoyed for eighteen years, and
which he felt to be no longer tenable. A
mot is attributed to the Emperors most
trusted favorite, who exclaimed when the
crisis came: "DumoiaS nous nous S0mmes
diq5Ienent dDluseS depltS dishlt ans O lepS
frais!" cat any rate We have amused
ourselves levihsh well at their expense
during these eighteen years. You are
told that the Emperor, having had at his
disposal @ sum OF 80, 900, 900 francs annual-
", was in the habit of never spend
ing less than 100 10000 The State
accounts were so ''cooked" and
iumbled up with each other
in inextrcable confusion, that any auditor
ship or supervision was impossible. II was,
indeed, never attempted. | am not repeat
ing to you mere idle and windy rumors,-
For several days these damaging imputa-
tons have been the staple OF conversation
ut four out OF Ave dinner-tables in Paris
The letter from NJ. Podevin has undoubt
edlv given them increased weight and cir.
culation, Nor should ! be doing my duty
a.s ohronicler of daily events IN Paris, if |
omitted TO mention that, whether justly or
uniusty the cry of treason is rife tonight
ia this city, and that neither the Emperor
himself, nor the Ministers who commenced
the war, and who, by quitting France, are
Likewise giving color to the charges, have
escaped what cannot but hope IS SIAN
derous accusation.