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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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LOUIS NAPOLEON'S PROGRESS . The French President was to finish his rather tiresome journey through the provinces about Thursday . The accounts given of his reception at the various places he visited , are somewhat chequered , but on the whole they have been calculated to flatter his self-esteem . On the evening of the tlay he arrived at Strasburg , a grand dinner was given by the President at the prefecture . Among the personages present were the Princess Stephanie , Grand Duchess of Baden , Generals d'Hautpoul , Magnan , and Brilliet , MM . Dumas and Bineau , M . West , the Prefect of
the Bas-Rhin ; M . de Tain ay , French minister at Frankfort ; M . de Bassano , envoy of France to the Grand Duchy of Baden , M . de Schneck , master of the horse to the Grand Duke , who was Rent to com-S liment Louis Napoleon on the part of his master , I . de Reinhardt , French minister at Berne ; M . d'llavcourt , French minister at Stuttgard ; M . Englehard , French consul at Maycnce ; the bishop , the heads of the several constituted bodies , and the colonels of the regiments . After dinner , at eight o ' clock , commenced the reception of the ladies of the city . The rooms of the prefecture were soon crowded with ladies in ball dresses . But the event which
created most sensation was a little surprise , which certainly does honour to the waggery of the Strasburgers . A tremendous display of fireworks had been got up on the rampart of the Porte des Juifs , opposite to the prefecture and theatre . The President ' s aunt , the Grand Duchess Stephanie , fired the truin with her own fair hand : but imagine tho disappointment and chagrin of the President's party when they saw opposite to them , in immense blazing characters .
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THE WEISBADEN CONGRESS . The Legitimist journals continue to give the most flattering accounts of the proceedings at Weisbaden , where the influx of visitors still continues , the season being favourable for excursions from Paris . But it is not merely from Paris that the visitors of the Count de Chambord come . A number of the provinces have sent delegates . The Count seems to be trying to play the same game with the working men which Louis Napoleon did , before he obtained po w er . He is described , in the Opinio 7 i Publigue , as taking great interest in the condition of the labouring class . To three members of the deputation from the working men of Paris : —
* ' He spoke with the greatest emotion of the women and young girls who were exposed by their misery to _ fall into snares laid for them , and pointed out institutions which might be established for their assistance . He entered with great feeling into the situation of the work-
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himself—grim and forbidding in aspect . The appearance of Mr . Cobden in the tribune excited not a little curiosity amongst those who were aware of Haynau being present . Twelve months previously the atrocities committed by that general had been denounced by the member for the " West Riding in the most indignant terms . In his allusion to the " presence" in which he spoke , Mr . Cobden maintained his character for moral courage and tact . After an able exposition of the common-sense view of arbitration and its practicability , he referred to the signs of progress around them : —" At the last peace meet-1 seated side side witii
ing which I attended , was by General Klapka ; now I am shoulder to shoulder with General Haynau . Now , I think when I see the two leading generals of the age , who were opposed to each other , coming to such meetings as these , there can be no doubt as to the progress we are making . I wish not to say anything of General Haynau—I accept his presence as an indication that our principles begin to arre 6 t attention . " This happy and delicate allusion to the Austrian General , although not fully understood by all his auditors , was received with curiosity and expressive silence .
The chief speakers on Friday were foreigners . Mr . Hindley , M . P ., moved a resolution condemnatory of standing armaments . He was followed by Herr Stein , a Jewish Rabbi , M . Gamier , secretary of the French Committee , the Reverend Dr . Buller , of Missouri , Dr . Hitchcock , of Amherst College , and the Reverend T . B . Hall , of Rhode Island . On the appearance of Mr . George Dawson , of Birmingham , the somewhat flagging interest of the meeting seemed revived . His speech was brief , pointed , racy , and in good taste . His allusions to Guttenburg ,
the inventor of printing , born near Frankfort—to the influence which that invention was exerting upon the nations—to the taxable nature of Englishmento the demoralization of the barrack system—to what Boldiers , trained as they were to war , might be " organized" to accomplish—to the sham system of diplomacy—and his elaboration of Carlyle ' s idea of turning soldiers into labourers , and sending them , epade on shoulder , to subdue the bogs of Irelandwere points which told with much effect upon his auditors , and elicited their hearty applause : —
" He often admired the soldiers , but whenever he saw them he thought what giant works might have been achieved had the military been taught to perform some useful labour with the same regularity and skill as they displayed in their evolutions and exercises . Let them imagine a brigade armed with spades , in order to overcome the sterility of the enemy ' s ground—what wonders in cultivation and order might be brought to light ! Europe ' s misfortune was her system of diplomacy , that mystery of trickery and concealment . The words of Napoleon must be realized , and our leaders of war become directors of industry , and the people one family . "
His picturesque and graphic style of oratory formed a happy contrast to the matter-of fact and somewhat prosy addresses of some who preceded him . After the short interval of ten minutes , which was each day allotted for refreshment , had elapsed , Mr . Cobden again ascended the tribune , and delivered one of his happiest speeches . He made a happy comparison between the Indians of the forest and civilized nations —the former burying the hatchet in a time of peace—the latter maintaining an armed truce .
Perhaps the most forcible part of his speech was that referring to a pamphlet on war , addressed to the Peace Congress , by Baron Reden , the most distinguished statistical writer of Germany , which , although combating their views , contained some telling facts in their favour . If their meeting , he said , had done nothing else than provoke this pamphlet , from so eminent a man , it would have been worth all the labour they had expended on it . His remarks on the real danger which menaces the Governments of Europe were very striking : —
" The real danger of European Governments is not in war . I was told , two years ago , that there was danger of a European war . No one tells me that now . That is not the danger : the danger everywhere is financial . ( Laughter . ) * How can we get more money ? ' is the outcry . They can get money at this time , because there have been one or two good harvests ; but does any man with a head upon his shoulders , and who finds himself worthy io take a place in the Government of a countrydoes any such man think that the Governments of Europe could be maintained with two successive bad harvests , Birch as those which come in a cycle of every ten years ? No ; this event would plunge the whole of Europe again into the vortex of revolution . ( Cheers . ) This is what I think everybody must admit ; and when
I sec in the time of good harvests throughout the world the Governments neglecting to lay in a store for the future—neglecting to lay up corn in the land of Egypt—I cannot help thinking of the old chancellor who said , ' Go forth , my son , jind see with what little wisdom the world i « governed . ' ( Cheers . ) We , however , go forth on our own minion—we go forth to rouse the mind of nations on this question . ( Cheers . ) I think nothing of the taunts with which we are molested . I have always been luughed at for having some Utopia in my head ; but 1 h » ve always made the discovery that whatever is founded in jiiRUuc and reason niuttt pievail . ( Cheers . ) I have lived long enough to sec tlvit those who cry out with so much boldness uguinst our principles , and who arraign them with the highest acrimony , have not much
confidenee in the truth of their own system , and may be found hard by listening to what we have got to say , while they look in their terror not unlike that child who made a disturbance at night in passing through the churchyard to frighten away the ghosts of his own imagination . { Laughter and cheers . ) They call us bad names , but they come and listen ; and presently we come to get noticed in the long nose Charivari style—they immortalize you in the long nose publication . ( Great laughter . ) Nevertheless , the Charivari must admit that men of mind and influence belong to the fraternity . No two men of France could have been picked out more ably qualified for the task of proclaiming the principle—no
two men better than M . Girardin , the editor of the most eminent journal of the continent , and M . Uormenin , one of the ablest and most spirited of writers . ( Cheers . ) We have also met here a great host of German professors , and one has just spoken to you from America , Dr . Hitchcock , and a more eminent geologist cannot be found . He has told us , that the Germans are in the habit of going to the foundation of great principles in religion and in morals , in science and in literature—that the German mind plunges to the bottom of every subject . Who , then , could be better adapted for great designs and for great purposes ? Give them time . Next time when we come they will be all on our side . { Great cheering . )
The succeeding resolution , condemnatory of warloans , was most ably supported by M . Drucker , a banker of Amsterdam—a city second only to London in the aid afforded by its merchants , by means of loans , to the great military powers of Europe . On Saturday , the closing day of the Congress , the chief speakers were Mr . Copway , the converted Indian chief , Dr . Veil , and Dr . Creigenach , of Frankfort , Mr . Edward Miall , editor of the Nonconformist , who made a short and pithy speech , which was well received , Dr . Madonno , of the college of Casale , Piedmont , Mr . Cobden , who spoke in support of nonintervention , Mr . Elihu Burritt , and M . A . Coquerel , son of the celebrated French clergyman .
An exciting incident in the last day s proceedings was the appearance of Dr . Bodenstedt , of Berlin , one of the most eminent literary characters of Germany , a hearty friend of the peace cause , and a distinguished member of the constitutional party . This gentleman arrived only on the morning of the meeting from that city , charged with an important mission . A meeting of the leading members of that party was held before he left , at which Professor Grimm , the two envoys from the Schleswig-Hol-tein Government , and other eminent Germans were present , by whom he was charged with a written message to the Congress , to the effect that that state would be willing to submit the dispute between itself
and Denmaik to the arbitration of a committee appointed by that assembly . The committee , with the expression of the high sense they entertained of the compliment thus paid to them , felt compelled to decline bringing the matter before the Congress . Mr . Cobden , in fitting terms , explained how impossible it was for the Congress to accept the offer of the Berlin meeting , unless Denmark were also to invite their arbitration in the matter , and took the opportunity of expressing , on the part of the meeting , their sympathy with Germany in the cause of constitutional freedom , and of assuring their German friends that the people of England entertained nothing but feelings of good-will and esteem for their German brethren .
Previous to breaking up it was resolved that the next meeting of the Peace Congress shall be held in London , in 1851 .
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•* VIVE TjX BEPUBLia"CB . " Orders had been given that it should he " Vive le President , " but General Thouvenin , who commanded the artillery of the National Guard , the body which had the getting up of this flaming compliment , made the small , and not altogether , perhaps , unintentional blunder of putting ?• Republique " in the place of ' * President . When questioned upon the matter he replied that * ' Vive la Republique ! " was the device in most consonance with the feelings of the citizens of Strasburg . Many of the Strasburg ladies , however , seemed to enjoy the sight excessively . The famous spire of the cathedral was illuminated , and the delicate lines of the Gothic architecture , traced in flame , had a magical effect .
At eight the next morning commenced a round of receptions in the great room , where the President appeared in great state , surrounded by the Ministers , General Magnan , the aides-de-camp , &c . More than 350 old officers of the Empire , all decorated , had come from all points of the department to salute the nephew of Napoleon , to whom they were presented in rapid rotation as they filed off . They were headed by General Leclerc . The President addressed remarks to some , and caused pecuniary assistance to be given
to others . After the officers came the non-commissioned officers and the soldiers not decorated ; of whom the number was so great that they could not be assembled in the room , but were ranged in the courts of the Prefecture in four long tiles , along which the President walked accompanied by the Ministers , the Prefect , and General Magnan , followed by an aide-de-camp , who distributed pieces of gold . Five hundred francs was given to a blind soldier led by his granddaughter . The number of these old soldiers was from twelve to fifteen hundred .
Finally they filed on ; crying out , " Vive Napoleon Vive l'Empereur ! " On his return to the great room the President received from 350 to 400 mayors and deputy-mayors of the communes of the department . To some of these functionaries he spoke German . Many were dressed in the singular local costumes . The crowd outside received every retiring deputation with shouts of * Vive la Republique ! " The leading incidents of the second day of the President's stay at Strasburg were the grand review of
the troops and the National Guard , and the speech at the banquet of the Chamber of Commerce . The review took place at two , on the ground where Kleber ' s statue is erected . The National Guard was very numerous , and cried " Vive la Republique ! " while the troops set up the rival shout of ' * Vive le President ! " The President went and returned on horseback . He was accompanied by General d'Hautpoul , General Magnan , the Prefect , and a brilliant staff . The Ministers of Public Works and Commerce
followed in a carriage . The Polygon , where the review took place , is a vast space between the Rhine and the gate of Austerlitz . An immense crowd of people bordered the whole way from the city , and raised the shout of "Vive la Republique . " At the moment of his arrival at the Polygon a young medical student advanced and cried " A bas le President ! " He was immediately arrested . On the reception of the authorities at the prefecture General Magnan several times addressed the functionaries or the officers of the National Guard , " Pass on , gentlemen , to the right of his highness . "
At Mulhausen , delegates of the workmen of M . Hofer , ex-representative , one of the convicted of the High Court of Versailles , wearing crape on the arm and having their banner in mourning , presented to the President a petition for the pardon of M . Hofer , signed by more than 3000 persons of Mulhausen . His reception throughout the remainder of his progress up to his arrival at Paris , was in the main
favourable . At Chalons « sur-Murne , on the night of the 27 th , it was everything he could wish it to be . Indeed it was more brilliant than any he had met with throughout his tour . Cries of ' Vive Napoleon !" and Vive le President ! " were heard upon all sides ; while the streets were splendidly illuminated , and the houses decorated with flags . The authorities of the town gave a ball on the 28 th , in honour of the occasion , at which Louis Napoleon was present , and freely entered into conversation with all parties .
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532 © f ) £ 3 Lt&tltX * [ Saturday ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 31, 1850, page 532, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1851/page/4/
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