Year: 1870

Ollivier's Views Of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


The Minister of Justice, in his quality of
Deputy for the First Circumscription of the Var,
issued on the 25th of April the following address
to his electors


My DEAR FELLow-C CITIzENs-It is said to be
well to lop off, from time to time, dead wood
from trees, in order that the living branches
may be developed with greater vigor. The EN-
peror has Just also cut away the obsolete por-
tions of the constitution in order that the latter
may acquire fresh force and youth. He will
ask you on the Sth May whether he has
done well. l advise you to reply eagerly
to that appeal, and to arrive at the bailoting urn
with a bulletin bearing the wold Yes! Some
persons will try to induce you to answer No,
but do not listen to them. You have known me
for long time past, and many among you re-
member my speeches, when, at the commence
ment of my career l went through your dis
trict. They will tell you that my voice was
always raised against violence, anger, and
hatred, and that then opposed revolutionary
doctrines with as much resolution as do now
Do you know whence arises that consistency of
my ideas? From the unity of my sentiments
In politics l have had but one passion
a love for the great and good people
of France; and 1T is the desire of relieving their
sufferings, of raising their intellectual, material
and moral situation which has made easy to me
a resignation to the daily miseres of public life
Who are the expiatory victims of revolutions?
Is it not the people9 When order is disturbed
in the streets and business is in suspense Provl-
dence does not cause any revolution in the
elements; the sun continues to ripen the corn
and the vine, and the rich are never in want.
But, on the contrary, what desolation there is in
the dwelling of the poor laborer For that
reason have always detested revolutions. Do
not listen to those men who advise you to vote
"No!" Suppose that they have a majority
on the Sth, of May, in the Var and
They would exercise vengeance, would
imprison and exile, would establish
the social republic, and oppress the rich, as
they promise in your meetings. And what
after? The storm would soon pass away. The
nation, ashamed of its momentary weakness,
would rise up and say:-"Enough of anarchy
and disorder" And, in their turn, those who
had struck would be harshly treated. Suppose
on the contrary, that our friends triumph; how
different all will be! A long period of security
confidence, and rest will be reassured to us.
The Emperor and has Ministers, rid of const-
tutional discussions, interpretations, menaces of
disturbance, and predictions of revolution will
be able to take in hand, with even more solici-
ameliorating the situation of those
who have nothing, without violating the
rights of those who possess property; and we
when the sons instead of closing the eyes of their
fathers, have their own closed by them. Go
then, my dear fellow-countrymen, to the vote
with unanimity and ardor. At the last egis-
lative elections, triumphing over the revolution
by your free Initiative, you gave to France an
example which has been followed at Lyons, and
which will be initiated everywhere. Recon-
mence that course for the pIebiscite; unite, or
ganize yourselves, and do not be ntimidated by
those who make up for the smallness of their
number by the noise they make.


If their words were honeyed, I could under
stand that you might be beguiled But how
could you do otherwise than resist language so
gross, composed of meanness and insult
worthy expression of materaist doctrines in
which neither mans will nor God has any place.
Send us great majority. | shall receive it a
proof Df affection. and nv means of SERVING
you will thereby be increased. Receive, etc,


EMILE OLIVIER.