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No . 409 , January 23 , 1858 . ] THE LEADER . 77
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present moment what that of England was till a long time after ¦ William III ., in an evident position of legitimate defence ; the attempt of the 14 th of January only proves it too well . We should be wanting to our duty if we did not at once hare recourse , in the interest of society , to those weapons which the actual legislation places at our disposal , and I ask your Majesty to decree at once the severe application of the law of 1852 on the press . A review which has scarcely a two years' existence as a political organ , on the very morrow of the day upon which I allowed its publication , forgot all the formal promises made by its editors , and opened its columns to the most detestable inspirations of the demagogues . The Revue de Paris now seeks to make itself the centre of a sort of ramified
agitation , the traces of which the Government has discovered in various departments ; it , moreover , adheres to its work of propagandism , and its last number is replete with the glorification of the reminiscences and hope of the Republican party . More than once warned , and its publication suspended , during the last two years , it must now be suppressed . The decree of the 17 th of February , 1852 , allows this suppression , and I propose it to your Majesty . Another newspaper which , under very different colours , has never ceased since the restoration of the Empire to wage a hidden but constant war against the new institutions , sanctioned by the national will—the Spectateur ( formerly called the Assemblee Nationale )—persisting ^ in its opposition , takes the opportunity , while expressing its horror at the attempt of the 14 th of January , to advocate the principles which it upholds . " whom to be
Pierri and Orsini ( the latter of appears the Felice Orsini who made an extraordinary escape two or three years ago from an Austrian dungeon ) have recently resided in Birmingham , and it is there , in all probability , that they concerted their plot . A singular anecdote of Pierri after his arrest on Thursday week is told in the daily papers , where we read : — " M . Hebert , who effected his capture , was handling one of the bombs which were seized on him , when Pierri , alarmed at the consequences which might arise to himself should it explode , exclaimed , Take care ! Pay attention to what you are doing , or that thing may cause serious accidents . ' When arrested , Pierri was very violently agitated ; but , when he heard the detonations , he became more calm , and said , ' I am taken , but that is now of little consequence , for the blow has been struck . '" The Emperor has addressed an autograph letter of thanks to our Queen , in answer to one written by her to him on hearing of the attempt on his life .
The British residents at Paris held a meeting on Wednesday , at which an address to the Emperor , congratulating him on his escape , was unanimously adopted . It is stated in Paris as positive that a communication has been made by the French Minister in London to the English Government demanding the expulsion from England of five political refugees—one or two Italian , and the others French .
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OPENING OF THE FRENCH CHAMBERS . Thk French Chambers were opened by Louis Napoleon in person on Monday . The Emperor spoke as follows : — 14 Gentlemen , Senators , and Deputies , — " At the annual meeting of the Chambers I render you an account of what has taken place during your absence , and I ask your support for the measures to be taken . " Since last year the Government has followed its r egular and progressive march , exempt from all vain ostentation . It has often been pretended that to govern France it was necessary continually to keep the public mind alive with some great theatrical display . I think , on the contrary , that it suffices to endeavour exclusively to do good to deserve the confidence of the country . The action of the Government has consequently been confined to doing what was most necessary in the different branches of the administration . " In the interests of agriculture , the exportation of nnd the distillation from grain have again been authorized , and the support of the Bank has given support to the landed interest . The cultivation of the Lands * has commenced . "In Public Works , the most important results arc 1880 kilometres of railway thrown open in 1867 to traffic , and 2600 kilometres of new lines granted for construction ; the floating-dock of St . Nazniro , and the canal from Caen to tlio sea thrown open to navigation ; careful surveys made to provont the scourge of inundations ; improvements of our ports , and , among others , of Havre , Marseilles , Toulon , and Bayonno ; in tho north and ~ in ^ the ^ oa 8 t _ of _ F . rflncq ^ thfl ^ u « rHU » g ^ . ) Ln o , Yyl ^ 8 fli mines ; at Paris tho inauguration of tho Louvro and of u wing at Vinccnncs ; iinally , in tho capital , aa at Lyons , quarters thrown opou for tho lirat time since centuries to the light of day , and throughout Franco religious odilicos aro being constructed or restored .
" Public , instruction 1 protected by tho State , is being developed by tho aide of froo education honourably protected . Tho number of colleges lias boon increased by 1600 . Education lias become more moral and religious ,
with a tendency towards sound humanities and useful sciences . The College of France has been reorganized ; elementary instruction is spreading far . " It is the wish of the Government that the principle of freedom of worship shall be sincerely admitted ^ without forgetting that the Roman Catholic religion is that of the great majority of Frenchmen . ' Therefore , this religion has never been more respected nor more unshackled . " The Municipal Councils meet without hindrance , and the bishops enjoy the full plenitude of their sacred office . The Lutheran , Protestant , and Jewish confessions pay their just proportion of taxes to the State , and are equally protected . " The increase in the price of all necessaries has compelled us since last year to augment the salaries of the lesser functionaries ; the rations of the soldiers have been improved and the pay of subalterns increased .
" The budget of 1859 provides for better payment for teachers and professors , and for magistrates . I may point out an increase of charitable societies—in the country those of the medical corporations , and in the towns the establishment of soup-kitchens . One million has been distributed in relief of the populations which have suffered most from want of work . The budget of 1859 , which will be laid before you , will show a balance in favour of receipts , arid the action of the sinking fund can be renewed . On the close of accounts a reduction of the floating debt was assured . Commerce recently suffered a check , but the firm position it took up in the midst of what may be termed a universal crisis is , in the eyes of all , an honour for France , and justifies the economical principles advised by the Government in matters of commerce , finances , and credit . " The increase of direct and indirect revenue during the past year was thirty millions of francs .
" Among the various bills which will be submitted to you of general interest I may mention a law on patents , a new military and naval code , a proposal to employ the 20 , 000 , 000 fr . remaining from the loans on works to guard the towns against inundations . " Algeria connected with France by the electric wire has afforded new glory to our troops by the submission of Kabylia . That expedition , skilfully planned and vigorously executed , has completed our domination . The army , which has no more enemies to overcome , will have to struggle against new difficulties in constructing railways , so necessary for the development of the prosperity of our colony . " In France , the army will find in the Camp of Chalons a grand school which will keep up the military spirit and standard at the high level it has attained .
" The Emperor Napoleon bequeathed to his ancient companions in glory his private and other property . Under the Restoration it was absorbed by the State . It is to carry out in some measure that pious legacy that you , on the one hand , voted an annual sum of 8 , 000 , 000 f . for old soldiers , but , nevertheless , I wished that a medal should remind all who had served in our armies of their former leaders . More than 300 , 000 men in France and abroad have applied for this medal in remembrance of the Imperial epoch , and on receiving it they might exclaim with pride , ' I also belonged to the Grand Army , ' —words which at Austerlitz the Emperor had reason to point out to them as the advent of a title of nobility . 14 Our navy is occupied in its arsenals with those necessary changes which will enable it to maintain the honour of our flag on every sea . In China it is acting in concert with the English fleet to obtain redress for common gr ievances , and to avenge the blood of our missionaries who have been cruelly massacred .
44 The relations of France with foreign Powers were never on a better footing . Our ancient allies , true to tho sentiments which sprang from a common cause , give us the same confidence as usual ; and our new allies , by their straightforward and loyal conduct in all great questions , make us almost regret that we ever were their foes . I was enabled to bo convinced at Osborne , as well as at Stuttgard , that my desire to keep up the intimacy of old relations , as well as to form new ones , was equally shared by the chiefs of two great empires . 44 If the policy of Franco is appreciated as it deserves
to bo in Europe , it is because we have the common sense only to deal with questions which concern ourselves directly , either as a nation or as a great European Power . This is why I avoided interfering in the question of tlio Duchies which now agitates Germany , for that question , which is exclusively a Gorman one , will remain so as long as the integrity of Denmark is not threatened . If , on tho other hand , I took up the Noufchutol question , it is bocnuse tho King of Prussia asked for my bona offices , and I was happy on this occasion to contribute to tho final settlement of a difference which
inJgUUiGYeJUccQm . e . jJftng « L 04 ^ "As regards the Principalities , astonishment has boon cxprcascJ at our disagreement with many of our allies . Tho fact i » , that Franco , in her disinterested policy , has always advocated , in so much as treaties allowed her , tho wishes of tho populations which appealed to her . Nevertheless , tlio conferences which will shortly open at Paris will show in what conciliating spirit we work to . attenuate tho diflicultiee which are inseparable from a difference of opinion .
Such , Gentlemen , is the resume of our position ; I might end my address here , but I think it useful , at the commencement of a new Legislature , to examine with you what we are and w hat we desire . It is only welldefined causes distinctly formulated that create profound convictions . It is only standards boldly unfurled which inspire sincere devotion . " What is the Empire ? Is it a retrograde Government , an enemy of progress , desirous of suppressing generous impulses and of impeding the pacific extension of the great and civilizing principles of 1789 ? No ; the Empire inscribes these principles as the motto of its constitution . It frankly adopts everything of a nature
to ennoble the heart or exalt the mind for what is good : but it is also the enemy of every abstract theory . It seeks a strong power , capable of overcoming the obstacles which might stop its advance , for—let us not forget it : —the advance of every new Power is a long struggle . " Moreover , there is a truth inscribed upon every page of the history of France and of England—namely , that liberty without obstacles is impossible as long as there exists in a country a faction which obstinately disowns the fundamental " bases of the Government ; for then liberty , instead of enlightening , controlling , ameliorating , is nothing else in the hands of factions but a weapon of destruction .
Therefore , as I did not accept the power of the nation with a view to acquire that ephemeral popularity , the paltry prize of concessions exacted from weakness , but with a view one day to deserve the approbation of posterity by founding something lasting in France , I do not fear to declare to you to-day that the danger , no matter what is said to the contrary , does not exist in the excessive prerogatives of power , but rather in the absence of repressive laws . Thus , the last elections , despite their satisfactory result , offered in many localities a sad spectacle . Hostile parties took advantage of
it to create agitation in the country , and some men had the boldness openly to declare themselves the enemies of the national institutions , deceived the electors by false promises , and , having gained their votes , then spurned them with contempt . You will not allow a renewal of such a scandal , and you will compel ( pbligef ) every elector to take an oath to the Constitution before presenting himself as a candidate . As the quiet of the public mind ought to be the constant object of our efforts , you will assist me in finding the means to silence extreme and annoying oppositions .
44 In fact , is it not too sad to behold in a quiet , prosperous country , which is respected in Europe , on the one hand , men crying ddwn a Government to . which they are indebted for the security which they enjoj' , while others only take advantage of the free exercise of their political rights to undermine the existing institutions ? I welcome heartily , without inquiring into their antecedents , all those who recognize the national will . As regards the originators of disturbances and conspiracies , let them understand that their day is gone by . 44 1 cannot conclude without alluding to the criminal
attempt which has just taken place . I _ thank Heaven for the visible protection with which it shielded the Empress and myself , and I deplore that so many victims should be made when only one life was aimed at . Yet these plots bring their lessons with them . Firstly , they prove the weakness and impotence of the parties who have recourse to assassination and such desperate means ; secondly , that no assassination , even if successful , ever served tho cause of those who hired the assassin . Neither those who slew Caesar nor those who assassinated Henry IV . derived any advantage from their
. 44 sometimes allows the just to fall , but He never allows the cause of crime to triumph . These attempts , therefore , neither shake my security in the present nor my faith in the future . If I live , the Empire will live with me ; and if I should fall , my very death would only tend to strengthen the Empire , for the indignation of the people and of the army would be an additional support to the throne of my son . 44 Let us , then , look confidently towards tho future ; let us attend calmly to our daily work for the welfare and greatness of our country . God protects Franco !"
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CONTINENTAL NOTES . That narrow nnd unchristian feeling ia to be condemned which regards with jealousy the progreae of foreign nations , and carea for no portion or tne numanrace but that to which iteelf belongs . . . __ , JJK . ABNOIjD * IfRANCK . Tjib Cour ImptSriale lias pronounced a judgment annulling the decision of tho Tribunal of Commerce , and declaring Augusto ThurnoysBon , of the house of Stioglitz , not comprised in tho failure of his son Charles . Tlio Countess do Momy has given birth to a eon . ^ XwSrnnrKaTucc ^^ rcctloiml Police of Lisicux ( Euro ) for swindling several nerm . na by protending to be a aorooross mid to euro those who put faith in her of any ailment * by which ^ tloy might Ui' anlicted . One of her dupes waa cheated to tho extern of throe hundred franc * . She performed yanoua absurd incantations ; mid , when tho poor fools , find ng themselves yot . ing worao , talkc / U of ' calling m a doctor , she would toll them that in that case they would infal-
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 23, 1858, page 77, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2227/page/5/
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