Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/481

 The First French Republic 443 V. The Abolition of Monarchy The demands for the suspension of Louis XVI, who was generally believed to be in traitorous correspondence with the Austrians and Prussians, became numerous in the summer of 1 792 ; but it remained for the duke of Brunswick to assure the downfall of the monarchy by his proclamation, which became known in Paris, July 28, and seemed to furnish the agitators with a complete justification for the revolt which they were already plan- ning and which they carried out on August 10. Their Majesties the emperor and the king of Prussia having intrusted to me the command of the united armies which they have collected on the frontiers of France, I desire to announce to the inhabitants of that kingdom the motives which have determined the policy of the two sov- ereigns and the purposes which they have in view. After arbitrarily violating the rights of the German princes in Alsace and Lorraine, disturbing and overthrowing good order and legitimate government in the interior of the realm, committing against the sacred person of the king and his august family outrages and brutalities which con- tinue to be renewed daily, those who have usurped the reins of government have at last completed their work by declar- ing an unjust war on his Majesty the emperor and attacking his provinces situated in the Low Countries. Some of the territories of the Germanic empire have been affected by this oppression, and others have only escaped the same fate by yielding to the threats of the dominant party and its emissaries. His Majesty the king of Prussia, united with his Imperial Majesty by the bonds of a strict defensive alliance and him- self a preponderant member of the Germanic body, would have felt it inexcusable to refuse to march to the help of his ally and fellow-member of the empire. . . . 411. The proclama- tion of the duke of Brunswick (J ul Y 2 5> 1792). Accusations against those who have " usurped " the power in France.