Excerpt from France, Vol. 8 of 8
It was now more than seven months since Napoleon left France. He had been living in a distant country, almost without communication, isolated by the madness of his undertaking, and was now returning, condemned by human reason and divine justice. The rumor of his defeat had preceded him, though without unfolding the extent and gravity of his disaster.
On reaching Paris the emperor addressed a message to the Senate, in reply to their solemn professions of devotion: - "Senators, what you tell me affords me great pleasure. I have at my heart the glory and power of France, but my first thoughts are for all that can perpetuate tranquillity at home, and place my peoples forever out of danger of the distractions of factions and the horrors of anarchy. It is upon those enemies of the happiness of nations that, with the will and love of the French, I have founded this throne, with which, henceforward, the destinies of our country are bound up.
"Timid and cowardly soldiers ruin the independence of nations, but pusillanimous magistrates destroy the empire of law, the rights of the throne, and social order itself. When I undertook the regeneration of France, I asked from Providence a fixed number of years: to destroy is the work of a moment, but to rebuild requires the assistance of time. The greatest need of the State is that of courageous magistrates.
"Our fathers had as a rallying cry, 'The king is dead: long live the king!' These few words contain the principal advantages of the monarchy. I think I have deeply studied the disposition which my peoples have exhibited during the different centuries; I have reflected upon what was done at the various epochs of our history. I shall continue to consider them.
"The war which I am waging against Russia is a political war. I began it without animosity I should have wished to spare her the evils she has done to herself.
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