ldier re-entered upon the avocations of peace a better citizen
than he was before he became a soldier [renewed applause]. This
was the grandest lesson of the war. It shows that the power of a
nation to maintain its dignity and integrity does not result from
or depend upon its form of government; that the greatest national
strength--the power to mass the largest armies in time of war--is
entirely consistent with the broadest liberty of the citizen in
time of peace [enthusiasm]. Permit me, in conclusion, to propose
a toast which I know will be heartily responded to by every true
American--"The old friendship between France and the United States:
May it be strengthened and perpetuated!"' General Schofield's
toast was drunk with great enthusiasm, and upon his taking his seat
the applause which followed his remarks was deafening."

The situation of Napoleon's government at that time was extremely
critical. The opposition was powerful and aggressive. The
intervention in Mexican affairs was very unpopular in France, and
yet the national pride of the people would not permit the Emperor
to yield to menace even from the United States, nor allow his army
to be driven by force from Mexico without a supreme effort to
maintain it there. Napoleon could not have submitted to such
humiliation without the loss of his throne. In short, forcible
intervention by the American people in the Mexican question, or
the public threat of such action, arousing the national pride of
France, must have led to a long and bloody war, resulting, doubtless,
in final success to America and probably in a revolution in France.

Such a result would have been a just punishment to Napoleon for
his conduct toward the United States and Mexico during our Civil
War. But why involve the people of France and the people of the
United States in this punishment? Why make enemies of our ancient
friends? Our sister republic of Mexico must be relieved from
foreign domination, at whatever cost; but strife and lasting enmity
between the United States and France would be a fearful price to
pay for even so great a good as the freedom of Mexico. Manifestly
such extreme measures should not be resorted to until all peaceful
means had failed. Considerations of this nature determined my
course while in Paris. I had sufficient opportunity in two interviews
with Prince Napoleon, and in several conversations with officers
of high rank on the Emperor's staff, to make kno