before the jury by Jules Favre, his
counsel, he coolly declared that the object of his crime was to remind the
Emperor of his former secret engagements in favor of Italian independence;
that he was only one of the conspirators who had charge so to remind him;
and that, although he had failed in his aim, others would come after him
who would not fail. "Sire," he wrote, "let your Majesty remember--so long
as Italy is not independent, the tranquillity of Europe and that of your
Majesty are mere chimeras." French authors remark that it is painful to
enquire what measure of influence these threats may have exercised on the
subsequent resolutions of the man to whom they were addressed, and still
more painful to be compelled to recognize the unworthy motive of fear at
the first link of the fatal chain which inevitably led to Sedan, where
this same man had not the courage to seek a manly death. God only could
see his secret mind. But it is impossible not to observe very sad
coincidences. Immediately after Orsini had penned his memorable testament,
the imperial policy was completely changed. The declaration of Orsini is
as the dividing point between the two portions of the Emperor's reign, the
former openly, reasonably conservative and glorious, the latter sometimes
decidedly revolutionary, sometimes vacillating, contradictory, or
unwillingly conservative, and finally terminated by a catastrophe
unexampled in the annals of France.

(M64) All who take an interest in public affairs cannot fail to remember
the startling words which the Emperor Napoleon III. addressed to the
representative of Austria, on occasion of the diplomatic reception at the
Tuileries, on New Year's day, 1859: "I regret that my relations with your
government are not so good as in the past." This language of Napoleon
astonished all Europe. It was as a sudden clap of thunder on the calmest
summer day. Ten days later, Victor Emmanuel gave the interpretation of
this mysterious speech, at the opening of the Piedmontese parliament, when
he declared that "he was not unmoved by the cries of pain which reached
him from so many parts of Italy." Finally, the marriage of Prince
Napoleon, the Emperor's cousin, with a daughter of the Sardinian King,
removed all doubt. France was made to adopt, without being consulted, the
enmities and the ambition of the Cabinet of Turin.

On the 4th of February appeared a pamphlet which increased the alarm of
the friends of peace and order