Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-02-11
Death Of Heart Martin.

Henri Martin vas one of those whose svmps
thies and sims we're broader than his native
land With soul governed BY probify. in
tezrity, and truth, and heart feeling Warn
ly iss kinship with the good and liberal OF al
countries, through many years be made hi
sposiess career full of ardor. always seeking
the welfare of the human race, while alive,
With enthusiasm for the liberty, Advancement
and best government Of his beloved country
A believer in free institutions in the darh
DAYS when corrupt and imperial despotisn
vas doing it, utmost to stihs the best
thought and aspirations Of his country, he
naintsined his individual independence
asainss all the ssductions which ofcial powel
then scattered With unstinted hand, though
his spirit may have been sometimes clouded
10 the long and painful waiting for better
era. The inroad Of the invader and the sur.
render Of Sedan, terrible as the lesson was to
France, by blasting forever the sitting scourge
Of SapoIeonic Imperialism. revived in Martin
the full measure Of his liberal hopes. and
gave him opportunity Of political actisn in
aiding TO provide republican institutions for
| his country Never timid nor hesitating, he
advised and worked for . real and enduring
republic; not one which could easily lapse,
or be readily converted into monarchy.
While contending thus loyalty for advanced
liberal ideas, be was a believer 10 no Utopia,
the dupe OF no impracticable dream. He
wished for q genuine, yet truly moderate re-
pubic. Sharing not in the zeal nor bitter
ness Of faction, with a stout and loving heart
he would have France intelligent, free and
generous, After the establishment OF the
republic he served in various important Ca
pacIties, until he a. chosen Senator, which
position he held until his death in December,
at the age Of seventy three. He was true
friend of the United States and one Of the
first promoters Of the Barthodi statue. warmly
commencing it a. . fitting offering from
France to tine great nation to whose birth and
young life she had so powerfully contributed
Though never . visitor to these shores, he
understood US far better than many who have
lived in our midst and wrote of Us on their
return to Europe, and every true American
should mourn his death as a sincere friend.
But it ia as q shining light of literature,
an ndefaiigsble student of erudition, the en-
lightened and liberal historian, that Henri
Martin will be chiefly known to fame and en-
titled to the admiration and love of the intel
ligen, and the good of all lands. Because
of his great learning and persevering
studies in literature and history he
was elected the successor of Theirs in the
French Academy, becoming thus one of the
Forty Immortals, having been previously .
member Of the Academy Of Moral and Polti-
cal Sciences, and variou. other learned and
literary bodies. His great historical work.
a continuous history of France, beginning
with its remotest spring, in Roman times. to
the present period. twentv-three octave vol
umes in all-is q monument of his learning.
his patient and enduring labor, his devotion
to his country and to truth, of the purity Of
his moral IDEAL of the cstholicity of his tenn
per, the broadness of his sympathies. and of
his remarkable fitness as q writer and teacher
of history. This great work is the product of
his patient labors and ripest thought during
more than forty years. 1t gives a clear and
comprehensive view of the political, theolog-
icsl, and military experience and struggles of
the French people through their successive
centuries of national life. as well as of their
social experience and progress, their agricul-
ture, commerce, arts, literature, philosophy
and science While written in liberal spirit
and characterized always by sympathy with
what is noblest and best, the author holds the
scales Of historic justice with firm and i'm
partial hand. Throughout is evinced sin
cere love of truth. To this end he exhibited
clear understanding of the essential and
controlling facts and events, and does not
fail TO bring forth the essential and pivotal
testimony and allow it to speak in its exact
language. Always q Frenchman, this does
not forbid him to see what belongs to other
countries, and the force and value Of univer-
sal truths. Always republican in his con-
victions and aspirations, he holds calmly to
his rule Of treating all parties, theories, and
forms of government, dynasties, and states
men. with fidelity and utter absence of parti-
ran bitterness. He has not failed to unmask
the hideous deformities. the Satanic deprav-
ity of the fret Napoleon, and to depict the
corrupting iniquities of the latter imperial
chief and his satellites, but even in this part
OF his work he has not forgotten his duty to
history, and refuses to dip his pen in gall.
He fully realizes that the sternest DEGREES
against the Napoleonic dynasties by the just
of all lands is secured by bringing from the
archives the exact testimony of the facts "a
they trsnspired. Thus is brought out in clear
and startling light the character OF him whom
his devotees named the Man OF Destiny, the
cold, selfish monster of the nineteenth CEN
fury, the Gaiteau of nations, amply sustain
ing the moral estimate of Napoleon made by
DIR. Claiming in his elaborate essay of many
years ago. which was then thought to be ex-
,reme.
We commend these volumes of history for
the reading and study of young men
and women inclined to peruse French