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FRANCE. 



nation for four score years has amply discussed 

 theories of government. Is it now not more useful 

 to seek the practical means of improving the moral 

 and material condition of the people? 



Let us employ ourselves in spreading everywhere 

 intelligence, healthy economic doctrines, the love of 

 what is good, and religious principles. Let us en- 

 deavor to solve by the freedom of transactions the 

 difficult problem of the just distribution of produc- 

 tive forces, and let us attempt to ameliorate the con- 

 dition of labor in the fields as in the workshops. 

 When all Frenchmen invested with political rights 

 shall have been enlightened by education, they will 

 discern the truth without difficulty, and will not 

 suffer themselves to be seduced by plausible theories. 

 When all those who live by daily_ wages shall have 

 seen increased the benefits which assiduous toil 

 procures, they will be firm supporters of a society 

 which guarantees their welfare and their dignity. 

 Finally, when all shall have received from infancy 

 those principles of faith and morality which elevate 

 man in his own eyes, they will know that above 

 human intelligence, above the efforts of science and 

 reason, there exists a Supreme Will that rules the 

 destinies of individuals as well as of nations. 



You have shared with me the general indignation 

 produced by the assassination of President Lincoln ; 

 and recently the death of the King of the Belgians 

 has caused unanimous regrets. 



In Mexico, the Government, founded by the will 

 of the people, is being consolidated. The opposition, 

 conquered and dispersed, have no longer a chief, the 

 national troops have displayed valor, and the coun- 

 try has founded guaranties of order and security, 

 which developed its resources, and raised its com- 

 merce with France alone from 21 to 77 millions. As 

 I expressed the hope last year that our expedition 

 was approaching its termination, I am coming to an 

 understanding with the Emperor Maximilian to fix 

 the epoch for the recall of our troops before their 

 return is effectuated, without compromising the 

 French interests which we have been defending in 

 that remote country. 



North America, issuing victoriously from a formid- 

 able struggle, has reestablished the Union, and sol- 

 emnly proclaimed the abolition of slavery. France, 

 which forgets no noble page of her history, offers up 

 sincere wishes for the prosperity of the great Amer- 

 ican Kepublic, and for the maintenance of amicable 

 relations, which soon will have had a century's dura- 

 tion. The emotion produced in the United States 

 by the presence of our troops on the Mexican soil 

 will be pacified by the frankness of our declarations. 

 The American people will comprehend that our ex- 

 pedition, to which we invited them, was not opposed 

 to their interests. Two nations equally jealous of 

 their independence ought to avoid every step which 

 might affect their dignity and their honor. 



It is in the midst of populations satisfied and con- 

 fiding that our institutions perform their functions. 

 The municipal elections are conducted with the great- 

 est order and the most entire liberty. 



The law upon coalitions, which gave rise to some 

 apprehensions, has been carried out with a strict im- 

 partiality on the part of the Government, and with 

 moderation on the part of those interested. The work- 

 ing class, intelligent as it is, has comprehended that 

 the more facility is accorded to it to discuss its in- 

 terests the more it is bound to respect the liberty of 

 each, and the security of all. 



The inquiry into the cooperative societies has come 

 to demonstrate how just were the bases of the law 

 which has been laid before you on this important 

 subject. This law will permit the establishment of 

 numerous associations to the benefit of labor and of 

 industrial development. In order to favor the de- 

 velopment of them, I have decided that authorization 

 to meet together shall be accorded to all those who, 

 outside of politics, may desire to deliberate respect- 

 ing their industrial and commercial interests. This 



liberty will not be limited except by the guaranties 

 which public order requires. 



The equilibrium of the budget is secured by a sur- 

 plus of revenue. In order to attain this result it was 

 necessary to effect economy in the greater part of tho 

 public services amongst others, in the war depart- 

 ment. The army being on a peace footing, there 

 was only the alternative of reducing either the regi- 

 mental cadres or the effective; the latter measure 

 was impracticable, since the regiments hardly mus- 

 tered the necessary strength of men. The good of 

 the service counselled even their augmentation. By 

 suppressing the cadres of 220 companies, 46 squad- 

 rons, 40 batteries, but, dividing the men among the 

 remaining companies and squadrons, we have rather 

 strengthened than weakened our regiments. Natural 



guardian of the interests of the army, I would not 

 ave consented to these reductions, if they had neces- 

 sarily altered our military organization, or broken 

 the existence of men whose services and devotion I 

 have been able to appreciate. 



The addresses from the Senate and the Legis- 

 lative body, as usual, expressed an unqualified 

 approval of the imperial speech. In his reply 

 to that from the Senate (February 18th), the 

 emperor thus referred to his design to further 

 develop the political institutions of the empire, 

 and thus to " crown " the edifice of the Napo- 

 leonic state : 



You desire, as I do, stability, the rational and pro- 

 gressive development of our institutions, the ame- 

 lioration of the lot of the greater number, and the 

 maintenance intact of the national honor and dignity. 

 This accord is a force in the moral as well as the 

 physical world, which obeys general laws that can- 

 not be violated without danger. It is not by daily 

 disturbing the basis of an edifice that its comple- 

 tion (couronnemenf) is hastene_d. My Government is 

 not stationary ; it is advancing, and wishes to ad- 

 vance, but upon firm ground capable of supporting 

 power and liberty. 



The proceedings of the Legislature did not 

 present many points of great interest. That 

 body, in the debate on the German question 

 expressed itself very emphatically against the 

 plans of aggrandizement supposed to be enter- 

 tained by the Government of Prussia. In the 

 discussion of home politics, a considerable num- 

 ber of members of the imperial party joined 

 the Liberal Opposition in expressing a wish for 

 some liberal reforms, and an amendment to 

 the address to this effect received 63 votes. 

 An amendment to the address, proposed by the 

 protectionist party in the Legislative body, was 

 defeated by 190 votes against 35, after M. 

 Rouher had declared that the Government 

 would take into serious consideration the re- 

 sults of the agricultural inquiry going on at that 

 time. 



A great sensation was produced throughout 

 Europe by a brief speech made by the emperor 

 at Auxerre, in May. In reply to an address 

 from the mayor of the city, the emperor said : 



I see with pleasure that the memory of the First 

 Empire has not been effaced from your minds. Be- 

 lieve me, for my own part, I have inherited the feel- 

 ings entertained by the chief of my family for this 

 energetic and patriotic population, who sustained 

 the emperor in good as in evil fortune. I have a 

 debt of gratitude to discharge toward Yonne. This 

 department was the first to give me its suffrages in 

 1848, because it knew, with the majority of the 



