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MURAT AND ITALY -- ADDRESS TO HIS SOLDIERS, APRIL 30, 1815
Murat and Italy -- Before the King of
Naples left his capital he organized a Regency and prepared every
thing for a dashing expedition and the security of his kingdom.
It is said, that since he took up arms to resist the treachery of
the "high allies," they have offered again to guarantee
his kingdom to him, "in the name of the Holy Trinity,"
if he again will act against Bonaparte! But they have deceived
him once, and he appears determined not to trust them again; and
in that he acts wisely. Some accounts raise his army as high as
125,000 men, with 180 pieces of cannon; which it is probable it
may amount to, for all Italy seems in insurrection against
Austria, &c. and the Italians are flying to his standard by
thousands. He has called upon them by proclamation to assert
their independence, and resist the divisions of their country by
foreigners; saying, "let all foreign domination be expelled
from the Italian soil." He seems to aim at the consolidation
of the whole country under one government, on the principle of a
"national representation," and invites all to join his
80,000 Neapolitans -- this is dated at Rimini, March 31. The
Italians call his army "the army of Italy." On the 21st
of April he was in the neighborhood of Genoa, where he might
expect many recruits; for the people of that ancient republic
were exceedingly incensed at their cattle like transfer to the
King of Sardinia, by the Congress of Vienna -- The city was
garrisoned by English and Sicilians, who have probably been
expelled by the people or captured by Murat. We are not
distinctly informed of all his proceedings; but it would appear
that he had driven or defeated the Austrians in all directions --
and that Milan might soon be invested by him or fall into his
hands. The Austrian governor general, Field-Marshal Bellegarde,
has denounced him in a proclamation to the people, especially
because he "is new in the category of kings," and calls
upon them to rally round their "legitimate" sovereigns.
It appears that Austria had designed to erect her possessions in
Italy, say Lombardy and Venice, into a kingdom, to be governed by
a viceroy; retaining the iron crown and the order of that name
&c.
The following is Murat's address to his soldiers:
Rimini, April 30 -- SOLDIERS! The cry of
war resounds again among us. The voice of honor and glory calls
us to the combat. Let us then run to arms, and march to meet the
perfidious enemy, who has violated the sacred faith of treaties.
Austria had desired, nay even invited our alliance, so necessary
to the success of her arms in Italy. As soon as she believed that
she could, with impunity, dispense with your co-operation, she
wished to annihilate your rights, guaranteed by the most solemn
promises. In her fury, she turned against you the same armies
which we had protected, a year ago, on the banks of the Secchia
and to the Po. Soldiers! We will combat in the same plains which
were witnesses of your valor. We will deliver from the presence
of your enemies the same provinces, which become the purchase of
your triumphs, were yielded by you to Austria as a
pledge of conditions which she has not fulfilled; and which, at
this time, subjected to the imperious laws of force, call with a
loud voice upon your arms, as the avengers of the Italian name,
you will deliver them for ever from the detested yoke of Austria.
Under your banners, upon which are inscribed the words, "Honor
and unsullied fidelity," the Italian souls, inflamed with a
generous ardor for liberty, and rage while reading upon those of
your enemies, "bad faith and perfidy," will assemble.
What cause was ever more holy than ours? We will fight for
liberty, for the independence of the country, for the triumph of
the liberal ideas, which your enemies reject, and for military
glory, the first source of the power and grandeur of nations. Let
our only cry of war, amidst the tumult of arms, and in the midst
of dangers, be the independence of our country.
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-Napoleon Bonaparte
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