Year: 1875




From the Opinion National Oct 2ol


Gentlemen, thank you sincerely for the recep-
ton you have given me. That reception touches me
deeply for It calls back the memory of days spent
among you. You saw me, indeed, every day for four
months during msfortunes, alarmed and grieved
you all by tho reports of disasters succeeding
each other without interruption, and asking myself
with despair how end could be put to them. Sud
denly, when the situation seemed without remedy /
found myself overwhelmed with the burden OF the Ex
ecutive power It not to be envied assuredly,
nor could IL be refused, and you saw what efforts
! made to withstand the evil fortune OF Franco.
You are, then, my witnesses at this passage of
our history, and thank you for having offered me
your sincere and loyal testimony You all know it.
gentlemen. Not army left; 200 900 enemies round
Paris, as many in Champagne and Burgundy, $4,000
Germans at Tours threatening Bordeaux and as many
threatening Lyons; all political parties astir ready
to attack each other. The cities OF the South
eagued for the defence of the Republic Paris in
the hands of the Commune and to form a government
able TO surmount those difficulties amid the universal
misrust, when each party ready to refuse aid 70
the government which did not pander to its passions
well, in that situaton-of which the remembrance
moves me deeply-dd hesitate2 No. did not ask
myself whether should succeed thought only of my
duty which was not to succeed, but to devote





Republic. ! accepted power In the form it was given
me-such events had made it. / resolved to re-
the deposit just as it had been ntrusted to me-
and peace concluded by making it the cruel
possible, TO re-estabsh order, the finances and tho
army; and then finally If could, to deliver my
try from the presence OF the enemy by paying II
the only one busted myself WITH and which under
took to discharge before the country with the help Of
France who remained true to herself and with
the aid OF q merciful Providence Tho first dlfi-
culties surmounted; saw a certain
amount OF order restored, and we returned to
Paris. ] had been able, with the remains
of our defeated armies to get together military force
of 15O 600 mem but If that force sufficient snatch
Paris from the clutches of the Commune it was not
enough to overawe the large towns of France anxious
they for the maintenance of tho Republic and
asking me- with mistrust and irritation whether it was
for that fighting mo, no." said to them
lit Is merely for order;" and acting openly pro-
claimed that answer to the large towns from the
Tribune. No at that time either contradicted or
denied what l stated; every one the contrary re-
corded the vote asked for Paris delivered from
the Commune the assassins of the hostages pun
shed in the name the laws and by the laws only and
France breathed again: 1t has often been said to
me that at that time might have done anything Alas
no Scarcely half of my task was then accomplished
To redeem provinces one by from the hands of
the enemy miards were necessary, and to get those
mllards 1t was necessary to re-esablish credit. |
sought that credit IN policy Of publication. BY keep
ing my words to the Assembly, the of order being
reassured by the destruction of the Commune and the
republicans being confident because they sure
they would not be deceived, a arose which aston
ished Europe. required six millards | found more
than forty. Thanks to them retook the occupied
departments, liberated the territory and restored
France to herself If recall the facts here it
with the intention of deriving from them o
lesson which l need TO decide the conduct
to be observed for our future welfare. At Bor
deaux, in Paris before as after the Commune,
there time when could have thought ofrc-estabsh
ing monarchy AT Bordeaux IL would have been mad
criminal, when nothing OF so much that urgent
had been done AT Paris 1t would have been sovereign
imprudencc, the most audacous violation OF a solemn
pledge, above all contrary to the policy of paccation
which alone had liberated the territory and reopened
the career of industry, trade and economya career
which had been utterly closed to France being deiv
cred from the presence Of the foreigner and that
BILE wounded one," as had called her having recov-
cred her strength and her liberty OF mind all parties
simultaneously demanded that the country should be
provided with constitution At that time gentle
men, did take upon myself TO raise that redoubta-
bic question: No; knew the gravity OF it. con-
fined myself to pointing out what my opinion was,
leaving the Assembly, OF course, to pronounce the
matter. Had been what was not, almighty dpos.
ing Of victorious armies, | should have con
tute myself for the nation / was, aud
could be, but her devoted servant confined myself to
laying before her the question had raised and
which Providence alone had put before But coming
forward with the boldness which is natural to me, /
showed what personal opinion was. Then the AS
scmbly in of its right separated from me-
am far from complaining; thank Providence. My
arst task was ended The re-establishmont of order





things. The liberation of the territory accom-
plished there remained TO me but ungratcful
task II was impossible TO satisfy parties each
of which desired the contrary Of what the others
wished for. l was asked To resign. | did so without
hesitation and without regret Perhaps I might have
hoped to do some more good. 1t most urgent to
enlghten the country completely to the possibility
Of making monarchy. 1t was for the authors OF May
"a TO extract the truth from the obscures OF the
alton. Had been at the head OF government they
might have pointed as pretext for my i'll will With
as ase Si May Gs SDos9Ss
for them TO create light; and l think l may
say they have created a bright and irresistible
knowledge, and without their doing anything to
prevent IL certain persons went to Frohsdorf; and let
pe be allowed to say II they went TO offer the crown OF
France without much caring for any laws Far from
blaming my successors FOR their attitude that
SION, find IL good that they allowed everything TO DO
DONE everything TO be tried But then they may grant
that the proof is compete that nothing wanting
10 1t. Hence content myself with asking them this
question, Why was monarchy not restored ? | hear
the voico Of parties reply that 1t the Come de
Chambord's fault Far from me the unbecoming
thought of blaming the Comte dc Chambord.
fend him. There remained the constitu.
tional monarchy whose natural representatives
them either. long served their august father and
shall always keep for them the respect owe them.
But the Orleans princes have pledged themselves at the
feet OF tho Compile do Chambord TO abstain from all
s'preension" The House of Bourbon thus being out
of the question: there remained the young OF
Napoleon, who was lnishing his education aud bur
dened with the still fresh remembrance of disaster6


1t was under those circumstances that the Assembly
preferrng, II II may be said with respect monarchy,
but admitting its mpossbilty, voted the republic on
the 25th of February Well, gentlemen the republic
voted, what Is to be dono2 | answer unhestatingly
only one thng-an endeavor must be made frankly
fairly, 70 make IT succeed Whatever future may fore
shadow, there Is no duty but that ! people i'm
patient to look into that future and forgetting the
fable initiating those who went 10 consult the sphinx
You all know IL; that perndious animal lis
tened without answering, and when the riddle
was not guessed dcvoured the questoner
~
Of being the most inconsistent Of men, we must re-
peat make It II will be said that Is very dif.
ncult l know IL; but is the monarchy which has
falen thrice in forty years. easier Doubtless II de-
pends on the monarchcal parties to increase the din.
culties by opposition, either open concealed but
will thoy for the make the monarchy possbe
No; the same causes cxist-wil exist for long Sup
pose the House Of Bourbon have but one
tive The Napocons would remain, whom we might see
at times sitting with The Bourbons but whom we could
never see reignng with them What the real situation
today The Republic Is no longer question OF prn.