Page:A Scene from Contemporary History.djvu/3

512 insolent, Turkey left without support against the Czar and forced to abandon the proscribed, Kossuth dying in a dungeon of Asia Minor,—behold where we are! France bends down her head, Napoleon shudders with shame in his tomb, and five or six thousand rogues cry—Long live the emperor! Is it all this that you call your glory forsooth? (Profound agitation)

M Be Ladevansaye—It is the Republic which has given us all this

M the President—It is also to the Government of the Republic that one attributes all this as a reproach

M Victor Hugo—Now,about your empire, let us talk of it I wish to talk of it much (Laughter on the left)

M Viellard—Nobody thinks of it, as you know very well

M Victor Hugo—Gentlemen, murmurs as much as you like but no equivocation I am told nobody thinks of the empire I have a habit of tearing away masks

Nobody thinks of the empire do you say? What signifies then these paid cries of—Long live the emperor! A simple question,—Who pays for them?

Nobody thinks of the empire, you have just heard it! What signifies then these words of General Changarmer, those allusions to the pretorians debauched, applauded by you? What signifies these words of M Thiers, equally applauded by you,—The empire— it’s a fact accomplished?

What signifies this ridiculous and begged petition for the prolongation of powers?

What is the prolongation if you please? It is the consulat for life Whither leads the consulat for life? To the empire Gentlemen, there is here an intrigue! An intrigue I tell you! I have the right to sift it I shall sift it Come, let us let the broad light of day upon it

France must not be taken by surprise, to find itself one fine morning saddled with an emperor without knowing why' (Applause)

An emperor! Let us discuss the pretention a little