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

THE TRANSLATION.
To Mr. JAMEs GORDON BENNETT, Proprietor OF the
HERALD
BoIs DE BRxUx, 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 bo Diassed con-
cerning the terrible drama In which, next to tho
Emperor, have been the most unhappy victim.
With the exception Of the London Times, whose
exotism 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 mo as others
have done.
AMERICAN sYxpATHIEs:
Recently, as was passing through Cologne, sew.
eral parties OF Americans came spontaneously to
visit me and to assure me Of their sympathy; Amer
lean ofYicers 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; butI
confess to having been deeply affected by the exI
hibition 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.
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
their weaknesses, with ell their sins and then
they sacrificed mep ! 90 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 It, 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 the
rolls of the army since 1S48, when he was compelled
to seclude himself IN the walks OF civil life, who
has never conducted any operations ofimportance
and who possesses no other military merit than
that OF being the son Of king and Of having been
colonel at twenty-five years of age through the
privileges of high birth.
THE TWO sUPPORTs-NAPOLEON AND THEIRS.
Ihave no longer the hope that strict justice viii
be promptly done me. I 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, who has been set aside and
replaced by NacMahon, my former comrade. Il
resulted, therefore. that alone had to pass
through the whole terrible complexty 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
Departmental. the Germans alone have pronted
BY the war. ana with them those who remained at
home, far from the field Of battle, so that they
might the better natter the passions Of the people
and the more easily bring about q great national
calamity. might truly say with the ancient
Roman, "Justtce, thou art but word;' bat pre-
fer to await the verdict Of time and history.
NAoxAHoN's oPPREssr0Ns.
I 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 Alsace without en-
deavortng 10 defend the vQsges, without resisting
tho march OF the enemy without utilizing the zall.
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 FIRST duties OF Q general in order to
play the part Of aghting soldier. he must be re-
garded as one OF the nrst authors Of disasters
INITIATING THE EMPEROR.
But initiated the conduct Of the Emperor, never
accusing any one, and never seeking 70 throw tho
responsibility upon others. MacMahon had been
a. unfortunate ct Sedan as was at Metz; a.
Trochu and Ducrot were In Paris, a. Bourbaki ana
| Clinchaut were in the East. He had forgotten all
| this when he became President, and his want Of
| memory was the chief incentive to my escape.
| envy MacMahon 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 captulation OF Sedan and
to cast his responsibility upon the Emperor. who
most graciously accepted It. Instead OF indulsing
in recriminstions think that each did his utmost
to succeed. France, accustomed to record VIC
tories really believed that she could not be con-
quered; she had been spoiled BY the campaigns In
the Crimea and In Italy.
THE MILITARY cARERn OF THE DUO DAUNALE.
Hare theAAtfAr conunuas to enumerate thej causes