[From The Patrie, May 3, 1865.]
Were we right in saying that not one of the manifestations, on the occasion of the death of Mr. Lincoln, by persons ever desirous to thrust themselves forward was equivalent to a single one of these simple and dignified measures taken by the government?
The sittings held yesterday in the senate and the legislative chamber will answer for us.
In the first place, there is the letter addressed by M. Drouyn de Lhuys to our chargé d’affaires at Washington, which is as remarkable for its mode of expression as the depth of feeling evinced in it. Its language responds to public opinion, outraged as it is by the assassination of the 14th of April; it is also the kind of language which should be held by the minister of a government remaining neutral in the struggle by which America was divided.
In the legislative chamber it was M. Rouher who did homage to the memory of Mr. Lincoln, and in the senate M. Vuitry discharged that office. Then the presidents of the two chambers became in eloquent terms the interp reters of the sentiments of their colleagues.
The manifestation, therefore, was complete and truly national. MM. Rouher, Vuitry, Schneider, and Troplong vibrate in America with the force they deserve. M. Rouher desires to see in North Americans “an allied and friendly people;” M. Schneider desires peace; M. Troplong acknowledges, with truth, that “America has passed through more grievous trials than ever fell to the lot of a country founded on liberty!”
May the future justify the confidence of the minister of state! May it satisfy the desires of M. Schneider, and may the trials spoken of by M. Troplong as having been endured in North America speedily cease! That is the wish which we also entertain from the bottom of our hearts.