Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/611

 Unification of Germany a7id Italy 573 either she must dominate as far as the Cottian Alps, or Italy- must be freed to the Adriatic ; for every corner of territory which remains independent in that whole region is a menace to her authority. Hitherto moderation has been the rule of my conduct ; now an aggressive policy becomes my duty. Let France arm herself and say to Europe with determination: "We do not wish for conquest, but we are resolved to maintain without flinching our national and traditional policy; we observe treaties on condition that they shall not be violated to our disadvantage ; we respect the territory and the rights of neutral powers, but openly avow our sympathy for a people whose history is bound up with ours, and who groan under foreign oppression." France has shown her hatred of anarchy; she has been pleased to give me an authority strong enough to render powerless the abettors of disorder and the incorrigible mem- bers of former factions who have not hesitated to form alliances with our enemies ; but she has not, on that account, abandoned her function as a civilizing power. Her natural allies have always been those who desire the improvement of humanity, and when she draws her sword it is not in order to domineer, but to liberate. The purpose of this war is, then, to restore Italy to her- self, and not simply to change her master ; and we shall have upon our frontiers a friendly people who will owe their in- dependence to us. We are not going into Italy to foment disorder, nor to disturb the authority of the Holy Father whom we have replaced upon his throne, but to protect him against that foreign oppression which weighs upon the whole peninsula, and to participate in establishing order there which shall satisfy all legitimate interests. We are, in short, about to enter that classic land rendered illustrious by so many victories. We shall find there traces of our forefathers, of whom God grant we may prove ourselves worthy. ... ' Napoleon. Palace of the Tuileries, May 3, 1859.