When your ancestors burst over the Alps, were
they not free? Yes; free to conquer. Let us imitate the example of
those indomitable myriads; and, flinging a defiance to Europe, once
more trample over her; march in triumph into her prostrate capitals,
and bring her kings with her treasures at our feet. This is the liberty
worthy of Frenchmen.
"'Frenchmen! I promise you that the Rhine shall be restored to you; and
that England shall rank no more among the nations. I will have a marine
that shall drive her ships from the seas; a few of my brave regiments
will do the rest. Henceforth, the traveller in that desert island shall
ask, "Was it this wretched corner of the world that for a thousand years
defied Frenchmen?"
"'Frenchmen, up and rally!--I have flung my banner to the breezes; 'tis
surrounded by the faithful and the brave. Up, and let our motto be,
LIBERTY, EQUALITY, WAR ALL OVER THE WORLD!
"'NAPOLEON III.
"'The Marshal of the Empire, HARICOT.'
"Such is the Proclamation! such the hopes that a brutal-minded and
bloody adventurer holds out to our country. 'War all over the world,' is
the cry of the savage demon; and the fiends who have rallied round him
echo it in concert. We were not, it appears, correct in stating that a
corporal's guard had been sufficient to seize upon the marauder, when
the first fire would have served to conclude his miserable life.
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