The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-20


History.
We print this morning an elaborate report
of an interview between correspondent of tho
HERALD and the illustrious and venerable
Guizot. The importance of the views Of
a man like Guizot at time like this. whom
the welfare Of France 80 closely identifies.
itself with the peace and progress of MANKIND.
cannot be overrated. Especially will Amer
cans read with interest the opinions of a
Frenchman who. among other litefag1 attain
ments, has made himself q >oierspher Of
Washington. In our efforts r., throw light
upon the condition of Frc.nos and Continental
affairs the range of the AyaA1p's INQUIRIES has
extended from men IHe; Bergeret and Cluseret.
who were at the,ykead of the Commune. to
men Like the Govt do Chambord. who claims
TO reign by tb,, grace Of God as tho descendant
OF inc b9vrbons; from Gambetta. who pro-
c.ainlea the dfchfancc of the Empire. to the
eInes'. prince of the House Of Napoleon. To-
d'y we have the views of one who does not
! belong to either of these GLASSES. who stands
apart, above. alone in the clear. sublime
empyrean of honorable ago. removed from
envy itself by his years. and from all am
bilious hopes by tho fruition of long and
useful life
What o history is summed up in the life of
Francis Guizot! What history! what q
romance! To us his name is familiar as
famous man of France; but he WAS even more
famous to our fathers and grandfathers. Does
it not seem an age, for instance, since Lord
Byron died? Yet Guizot was child before
Lord Byron was born. What long, long time
it is since Napoleon the Great flashed out his
splendid and inefficient career Yet when
Guizot came into the world Napoleon Bona
parte, smooth-faced cadet from the military
school, was having hard struggle with life
in his garnet in Quai Cont. In that glorious
time, when the young bright eyes of Guizot
first looked out upon the sunny skies Of
France, Louis the 'Bienfaisant," OF the Well
doer, and his darling Queen, Marie Antoi-
nette of Austria, were seated on happy thrones,
blessed with nations love and before them
such long, peaceful, honorable reign In
that day, let us say It, one Mirabeau WIS
earning q precarious existence in unlovely,
unwholesome fashion. Talleyrand was say
ing mass as on orthodox bishop when
he could tear himself away from the salons
of the Faubourg Saint German. There was
also Macmillan Robespierre, but he was
little trihing lawyer in the country town of
Arras with conscientious scruples against
punishment by death. Lafayette, young
man, fresh from New Jersey and Virginia
campaigns for American independence, was
seeking opportunity and advancement, and
not very high in court favor we are sorry to
say, because Of his utilization with rebels and
republicans Paris Was under the shadow of
the Bastile. DIR. Benjamin franklin was
living in the enjoyment of his worldwide
fame, rejoicing to see his country free even
more rejoiced because his friend-and 'the
friend Of mankind" General Washington
had been chosen President of the new Repub
lie. In that day George the Third was King,
and his Minister was William Pitt Frederick
the Great had just closed his extraordinary
career, and travellers were in the habit of
visiting with curious eyes the terrace
at Sans-Souci, where, Spring or
two before, the Olympian King might
have been seen sauntering, in company
with his old generals, playing with his dogs
feeding the carp, flashing deep anger or high
command, like snufy old lion on the
watch, and such pair of eyes as no man or
lynx OF that century bore elsewhere
Our readers will remember that one Danton
lived III France, and was a considerable man
In his time. Well, this Danton and his party
found their way to the guillotine one April
day in 1884, as was for some time the sad
fashion in French politics Three DAYS after
among those who fell with the party of DAN
ton, was the father of Guizot, who died under
the revolutionary axe, leaving his son old
enough to know and mourn his fate. So
near are we to the past-so near, when it
seems SO far And as the guillotine was in
q wild mood Guizot fed, in the arms of an
anxious mother, to spend his youth by the |
shores of beautiful Lake Leman-troubled,
repelling France stretched out before him.
it's deep green shining through Alpine
mists over tumbling, cavernous hills
capped with snow. When he returned
to France Napoleon was being crowned En-
peror at Notre Dame-a Pope all the way
from Rome to bless sacred Imperial Mai
esty and the world radiant with its glory.
These We're glorious golden days. Austerlitz
shining out upon the eager, proud eyes of sew
enteen, who grew into manhood with Wagram
and Friedland and Jena and names of like i'm.
port thunderous and far-reaching- clangin
the air even until this hour. What must il have
been to our young Guizot, he Frenchman in
the mounting days of youth, and Frenchmen
carrying the tri-color from capital to capital ?
But it seems that Guizot had clearer eyes than
even Chateaubriand, who was his friend, and
saw through this blaze OF imperial glory to