The New York herald., 1874-09-12
THE TRANSLATION.

THE TRANSLATION.
TO Mr. JAxEs GORDON BENNETT, Proprietor of the
HERALD
BoIs DE BREUx, near Liege, Sept. 8, 1874.
SIR-The imparttality Of your honorable Journal
before the rude trials which have undergone
and the strong marks Of sympathy which have
since received from your representatives In Eu.
rope, induce me 10 publicly thank you. The Eng.
lish press, and the American press in general.
have not allowed their Judgment to be Diassed con-
cerning the terrible drama in which, next to the
Emperor, have been the most unhappy victim.
With the exception of tho London Times, whose
egotism and German sympathies are well known,
the English press was extremely favorable at the
commencement OF the war. The Russian press
was also very sensible and often brought me items
of the most precious consolation. But 1t was In
the American journals that l found my best de-
tenders and the most impartial criticisms. They
have never systematically abused me as others
have done.
AMERICAN sYxpATHIEs:
Recently, as was passing through Cologne, sew
eral parties OF Americans came spontaneously to
visit me ana to assure me OF their sympathy; Amer
| lean onicers wished to shake my hand, the same
as they had previously done to General Sherman
ON the occasion OF his passage through Versailles.
care but little for demonstrations as rule; but
confess to having been deeply affected BY the ex-
hibtion of American friendliness. American ctti-
gems are not like the French demagogues who pre-
tend that an act of patriotism is an Insult to de-
| feated soldiers WA
TIE VICTIM OF THE ARMY AND NATION.
They deemed 1t to be the part Of good policy to
make OF me an expiatory victim; the army and the
nation charged me with all their faults, with all
thotr vi
| they sacrificed mes I 40 not wish to complain Of
| the judgment rendered against me, because that
Judgment is invalid on account Of the composition
Of the court whicn rendered 1t, for the old laws
declare that an accused individual shall be tried
| by his peers. This legal guarantee was refused
| me. The council was presided over by prince Of
| the blood, whose name had been removed from tho
rolls of the army since 1s4s when he was compelled
to seclude himself in the walks Of civil life, who
has never conducted any operations OF Importance
and who possesses no other military merit than
that OF being the son Of king and Of having been
| q colonel at twenty-five years of age through the
privileges Of high birth.
THE TWO suPPoErs-NAPoLEoN AND THEIRS.
Ihave no longer the hope that strict justice will
| be promptly done me. had but two supports,
| whose authority ana impartiality assured me dur
| ing the contest against those who allowed me to
be inundated IN order to appease certain coterie
and public sorrow. These were the Emperor. who
| is dead. and Thiers, VINO has been set aside and
replaced by MacMahon, my former comrade. II
resulted, therefore, that I alone had to pass
through the whole terrible complexity Of events.
From the day that the command OF the Army of
| the Rhine was imposed upon me have drank tho
bitter cup even to the dregs; but ought not to
complain for the Emperor lost both the throne
and mis- life, and France, Notwithstanding the
bravery displayed by her armies, has lost three
| departments. the Germans alone have pronted
| BY the war. and with them those who remained at
home, far from the field Of battle, 30 that. they
might the better natter the passions Of the people
and the more easily bring about great national
calamity. might truly say with the ancient
Roman, "Justice, thou art but word )" bat pre-
fer to await the verdict Of time and history.
NACNAHoN's 0PPREssroNs.
! should not even have attempted to escape
| from prison had my former comrade seen At to
lessen the seventies Of my captivity. During my
| trial should have employed the same weapons
that MacMahon used: against me. should have
| shown in my defence how MacMahon had been
| beaten, and had evacuated Alssce without en-
dsAvoring to defend The vQsges, without resisting
the march OF the enemy without utilizing the Eail.
| roads, leaving my right uncovered and turned,
notwithstanding the order he had received not to
| repass beyond Nancy. l should have shown
his ignorance Of the numerical strength
and the movements Of the enemy; his
presumption in accepting battle blindfolded; |;
his imprudence In risking the reputation Of the
old African troops which he commanded in one
battle. could have shown clearly how In for
getting the nrst duties OF Z general in order to
play the part Of hghting soldier, he must be re-
garded OF the nrst authors Of disasters.
INITIATING THE EMPEROR.
| But initiated the conduct of the Emperor, never
accusing any one, and never seeking TO throw the
| responsibility upon others. MacMahon had been
as unfortunate at Sedan as was at Metz; ~
Trochu and Ducrot were in Paris, a. Bourbaki ana
Clinchaut were in the East. He had forgotten all
this when be became President, and his want Of
memory was the chief incentive to my escape.
| envy MacManon In one thing and that is tho
| wound that he received at Sedan which permitted
him to honorably pass over the command to the
general who signed the capitulation OF Sedan ana
to cast his responsibility upon the Emperor. who
most graciously accepted It, Instead Of indulsing
In recriminations think that each did his utmost
to succeed. France, accustomed to record VIC
tories. really believed that she could not be con-
quercd; she had been spoiled BY the campaigns In
the Crimea and In Italy.
TIM MILITARY CARRRn OF THE DUO D'AUMALE.
Hare th0nAttnr con unuas 10 euumerate tho causes