New-York tribune., 1873-02-01
THE EX- X-EMPEROR NAPOLEON.
AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM AT WILHELMs-
u0HE
LIE yINDICATEs THE Ex-EMPREss FROM CALUMNY
OPINIONS ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
THE POLITICAL CONDITION OF FRANCE.

OPINIONS ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
THE POLITICAL CONDITION OF FRANCE.
On the 10th of October, 1870, DR.. COhn Mels,
German journalist, who for many years defended tho
conduct OF tho late exEmperor Napoleon, had
an interview with him at Whemsh0he An account OF
this was published In the Berlin Salon. the ablest
monthly magazine Of general literature published In
Germany From this account the following extract Is
translated:
The Emperor was standing before tho fireplace when
entered He attred In plain black clothes In the
buiton-hole Of his coat noticed the orange-coored
ribbon the order OF the Black Eagle Prussian deco
aside all assumption OF court ceremony he advanced
and returning my bow no expressed himself glad to see
10 be seated complied with his polite request, and
next cast look about the room. The apartment was
looked out the park and hung with curtains OF
crimson yeyet d ans 3 o. Sco nD of penss was
there. The Emperors wrtingdesk, which stood on Tue
right OF the aOcr wal ~ ns war u aso noticed
tho photographs of the Empress ana OF tne rpinGe
| Imperial. and with considerable astonishment
| an eaboratey carved crucifx and copy or the
Bible. The Emperor having as above mentioned: given
Courteous remars opened the conversation. While he
was speaking regarded him with great interest," He
apparently was in the enjoyment Of good health anu
the reader that OF the many pictures and
81 S SG 5 afS Ne descriptions seSS
ally given personal appearance oGrroos o hs eve v
pnt searched in vain their "flmy, sunken look
for his "retreatng forehead aRA narrow & dropping ping
shoulders" The Emperor sits tall, anu 80,
told that in carriage horseback he appears at MS
best but foot his figure is rather below tue medium
hight not OF large frame. but looks strong
and vigorous for his age Indeed he has Iace
and his complexion tells OF good constitution nc L
years old but had had to guess at MS age snoua
not have judged him to be So No deep burrows on
that face heavy lines on that forehead but eea ar
steady light shining from gray he was one OF tne
very few prominent Frenchmen that l nave seen, ~
whom was not disappointed at ngSt sS1v @ % fa tss
the man.. mentally asked myself VINO time ahe the
again has been sqSv aSa Saa OF no on ook ike man
| about to shuttle OF this mortal con-
OF srRAsBURG.
The very first topic the Emperor touched upon was the
fate of the City Strasburg which seemed to give hs9
great deal of uneasiness and anxiety He asked me to
tell him all knew about that unhappy town. did as
requested. Toward the conclusion of my remarks the
countenance OF the Emperor assumed sad expression
| &" Alas poor Strasburgw he murmured, when had
finished speaking What - to De tue ena OF heT msIor lot
| it cndi" "Sire," replied, when hurricane
over the country or when the sound Of
tho tempest aud of its thunders when see
the flashes OF its lightning know that these disturb
ances take place in conformtywh the laws OF nature
But the hercest hurricane blows over; the tempest
ceases when it, rage Is spent the thunders are sted
and the lightning flashes no longer There are times III
the history OF every nation when dark and threatening
clouds it horizon. He who directs the destnles
Deaco and concilatonp Concationl" !" said the EN-
peror after poor France PROSTATE ana exhausteg ~
last July Conciliaton after her two iarest provinces
|
cations have been wrested from her You 90 NOT Iuy
understand French character H. under such clrcun-
stances you believe Cancellation to be possible was
for a moment little bewildered. OF the opinion"
yentIfed to femark still somewhat confused that
peace between France and Germany without the
alton of Asace and Lorraine, has become impossible
ty. Public opinion in Germany pereinptorly uol'nus nus
heneeforh these Two provinces shau De'ohg 70 'ne
The Emperor seemed to notice that the subject wa.
was very glad that he did not press this point
He touched upon another theme but his remarks unfor
mglf m
ment. "S0me time ago." he said "theretappeared in
German newspaper shocking statement when when @ ae-
dow Of foandafon II was to the effect that the
rooms in the pavilion which the Empress occupied dur
ing her stay in the camp Of Chalons, were adorned
newspaper report 1 have said before are not true
II is most scandalOus and abominable libel the EN-
nress has been shamefuy yiied and abused Dy the
base insnuaton" The Emperor ryeted ms eyes on me,
and then continued IN q suppressed tone Oh voice voice
which but TOO plainly showed the asitauon unueF r
which he was laboring. What end mas the author OF
that attack in view by originating 50 base slanderi
have great difficulty in understanding lts motVe Does
imagine that the German people have not Intelligence
bood7 Does he believe for a moment that any fair
minded, rightthinking man in Germany VIII place me
does i Why is 1t that the editor OF the paper
disgaces himself by giving publicity to such slanderous
lies With what words shall we condemn such a con-
temptbe prOceedingi No language is TOO severe In de
nouncing the conduct OF tins Journalist . SIRE"
suffered making the best effort to relieve myself or the
acute embarrassment in which the words OF the Empe
ror had placed me, t is not often that journalist
writes malicious motives IL is not the editor or
Publisher OF paper who invent such repOrts Iney
Generally originate with some eyidispOsed design
ing person, aud If Of spicy character they too often
find tLer into the columns or journal whose cdl-
appetite OF the age panders to the vulgar prejudice of
the sensatonovng portion OF its readers. Truly, the
statement to which you refer Is scandal0us ana there Is
nothing in it to justify the culpable and porfdous pro-
ceedirgs by which dastardy libel was cast upon the
reputation of an innocent person The editor OF the
paper in which the cruel calumny was published
deserves great blame; he should not have printed IT,
To pander to the worst passions ana cIedutes OF te
public ID unworthy OF that high standard of journalism
TO which the press should aspire" You are right re-
piled Emperor the editor OF the journal offer
for having given currency TO the report from
mere heasay As for the author OF the offensive article
--none but a coward would the columns Of the pub
lie press weapon of warfare against lady and
have words for the proper characterization OF his
conduct The statement or IL VIII suggest the proper
the lies contained in the article to brand that report as
tack gross insult sufficient defense against the
sander that wicked malice has put forth through lying
newspaper However, all honest men in Germany will
Judge these oalumnies at their proper value The
obscene pictures TO which tho article in question re-
the Empress has entered those rooms on but two or
three occasions For the honor OF the editor will take
which gave currency through his journal. For the
sake Of justice, however he should come forward un-
asked from a sense OF duty toward lady he has
wronged and publish statement reraeting the charges
the editorial columns OF his paper. III he had
gone carefully over the ground OF such charges as his
journal made against the Empress he would have been
compelled to find that what he believed to be true and
capable OF being substantated cannot be maintained by
any evidence which he can produce have no desire TO
increase the mOrncat0n winch TINS dS2raceful anar
must the editor OF the paper in question: provided
he OF honor; but in Justice 10 the Empress and
in the interest of reputable and useful journalism, 1t
seemed to that circumstance ought not to be
passed by me,withOut remark"
GERMAN PRESS AND THE YAPoLEoSIc DYNASTY.
Touching the attitude of the German press with refer
ence TO his dynasty, the Emperor continued "An i'm
partial press has much do toward establishing and
prompting friendly relations between distinct but neigh
bory Governments do not deprecate the criticisms Of
able journals But IL Ia beyond my power to compse-
hend why the German press almost without dissenting
voice. years past has INDUCED In nvectve aud abuse
OF imperial France. IL has maintained an attitude or
hostility 10 the French Government and has been busy
engaged in the spread OF false reports am at loss to
account this Particularly the breaking out OF
| ranrn InnII