Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-11
George Peabody.
Letter from Victor Hugo and Louis Blanc.

irOEl tlctOF HugO ana LOUIS BLANC.
The London Times of the 18th ultimo
publishes the following letters
HAUTEvILLE, December 2, 1869
/ MONSIEUR: Your letter. came to me
December2 | thank your. 1t brings me
to this souvenir forget the Empire and
think of America. Twas turned toward
night, | turn toward the day You ask
word from me on George Peabody. In
your sympathetic illusion you believe me
to be what am not-a voice from France
| am, | have said before, but a voice from
exile. No matter, Monsieur noble APP
peal like yours can be heard; little as / am
| ought to respond, and be so.
Yes! America has reason to be proud of
this great citizen of the world and great
brother of all men, George Peabody
Peabody has been happy man who would
suffer in all sutferings, a rich man who
would feel the cold, the hunger, and thirst
OF the poor. Having a place near Roths-
child he found means to change it for one
near Vincent de Peul Like Jesus Christ,
he had a wound in the side; this wound
was the misery of others it was not blood
that flowed from this wound; it was gold
which now came from heart.
On this earth there are men of hate and
men of love- Peabody was one of the
latter 1t is on the face of these men that
we can see the smile of God. What law
do they practice? One, alone; the law
of fraternity-divine law, humane law,
which varies the relief according to the
distress; which here gives precepts, and
there gives millions, and traces through
the centuries in our darknessa train of
! light, and extends from Jesus poor TO Pea
body wealthy.
May Peabody return to you, blessed by
us. Our world envies yours. His father
land will guard his ashes, and our hearts
his memory. May the moving immensely
of the seas bear him to you. The free
American flag can never display enough
stars above this coffin--a comparison which
| cannot avoid making. tits just ten years
to-day since December2, 1856, address,
ed, as single suppliant, a prayer for the
condemed of Harper's Ferry to the illus
! trious American nation; to-day it is glo-
riticaton | address her. Since 1859 great
events have been accomplished; servitude
has been abolished in America let us hope
that the other servitude-misery N.--will
also one day be abolished over all the world
and while waiting for the second progress
to come and complete the first. let us
venerate the two apostles by joining in
the same sentiment of gratefulness and
respect, John Brown, the friend of the
slaves. with George Peabody, the friend
of the poor.
| take your hand, Monsieur,
VICTOR HUGO.
COLONEL BERToN, president of the
American Committee, Loudon.
LONDON, December 1869.
nf
George Peabody proved himsefto be is IL
public calamity in which the whole civil
lized worried ought to share feel, there
fore, in duty bound to express, i'll answer
to your appeal, how deeply mourn, as II
Frenchman and as man, for the illustrious
American whose life was of such value to
the most needy of his fellow-men.
1t was but natural that in a country like
this, where so much is thought of long
lineage and station in life, George Peabody
should receive, rs the only fit token of
public gratitude, the same kind of respect
which is paid 10 kings, princes, and men
of noble BIRTH as well as men of noble
deeds, and that his mortal remains should
be committed to a temporary restlng-place
beneath the nave of Westminster Abbey,
to be sent afterward in II ship of war to
his native land--the land of freedom.
Nor is there anything to complain of in
this national mode of testifying to the high
estimation in which the British nation held
the eminent philanthropist. Yet cannot
help lamenting that there should be for men
of that stamp no particular sort of homage
better calculated to show how little, com
pared to them, are most of kings, princes,
noblemen, renowned diplomatists, world
famed conquerorS. 1t was not the kind
hearted Republican trade who was honor
ed by the fact of being consigned to rest
in Westminster Abbey, but rather those
who were considered to be worthy of
sleeping there their last sleep on account
of their rank out of their virtue.
The number of moulners assembled
within the precints of ihe sacred eaifice,
their silent sorrow, the tears shed by so
many, and in several parts of London the
radiness of the shopkeepers to give ex-
preston to their grief by closing their
shops and lowering their blinds-these
We're the homages really in keeping with
the affeetionate admiration due to one
whose title in history will be this-the
highest richma can aspire to--the friend
Of the poor.
am. Sir. obedienay yours.
LOUIS BLANC.
COLONEL BERIoS, Chairman American
.