New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-20
p,y vopx DAILY TRIBUNE SUNDAY rssTwELvE PAGES

rome able TO attract distinguished recrults' no
must have ample powers including the selection Of
his own subordinates and " of course ne wouiu to
quire large pccunary CONSIDERATIONS ino u
ncnt parsonage whom DE Broghc oeS'gn"'o" ~.
this - saeri6coo was-himself "The main point
of tho mission with which YOU have been III
trusted" he wrote TO De Kalb, Will CONSIST III On
rlaining the advantage or rather the absolute
necessity of the choice" Of such n man hut ' !""
must not appear to know whether he eh'cI'"'''' ,'
wish for such position" 1t IS credl'apo " ~
Kalb that he had hardly reached America "o'"'
recognized the absurdity of the De Broge scheme
and dropped it, {" 1t is impossible he "Io'' :" ~, nv,
Count TO execute the great design have so g'"aS
cor,e to '.nbscryc. NJ dc Nallort will tell you th't
fine proiect in question is totally impractcaole;
wouId lac REGARDED no less an act OF crying MUS
,io o,,o;,st Washington than rs an outrage on TIC
honor of the country
Drane had exceeded his powers in making engage
ments with French officers, and the numerous gen
tlcmcn who came over in consequence Oh HIS Ui'''
of rank and employment found Congress UNIV Hi'"s
and indeed unable to ratiiy these precip't"'o
pledges De Kalb was indignant; ana WIeh az i"''
the promised commission rs mNor-eeu'l"l was
granted him he was at first ndlsposed To Accept !"
Upon the whole his conduct under these uIsaei'o-
olIo circumstances was sufficiently frank and dlghl-
fed: and it may he said of his whole career !"
America that although it was never enlightened by
enthusiasm for the American cause, or by lh' spun
of self-Sacrifce which impeled LAFAYETTE 1t was
honorable, useful and manly lie dld not iIho ',io
service he complained in his private letters that nc
could not 1--we on bis pay and often protested tha'
he had no idea of wasting ms private fortune on INC
coloni,ts. he rcpcatcdly asked to be recalled ana
epployed in France. and never forgot to.urge MS
services in America as claim for promotion Ia INC
French army: but he bore the scyereNt haidsl!PS
with exemplary patience, he mantahcd inc p'S'
relations with American officers. he Kept alo'l Ir"
intrlrues and did the duty which he had uhueI-
taken with perfect singleness Of purpose. Ills lSt
impr,s,ions of Washington are thus gwen III leuer
to De Broglie
have not yet told You anything OF the chaIafIt .
Of General Washington lie Is the most anabIe;
kind hearted and upright of men, bul rs e,H'i" "
he is too slow too INDECENT. ana lar 700 Noah ~,
sides he has tnge OF vanity III ms CoHl, . .,,
and everest mates himself. In my ohh'h NH4N''Vi
succr,S he may have will be owing 20 Go9d uJ" anu
to the bunders of his adversares rather man -
his abilities ! may even say ln,l ~ r ",S ~
know how to improve upon the eroS>eSt piuHu'i7 81
The enemy He has not yet overcome ms Ola PI'Ju-
dice against the French
His LATER estimate of the American commander
was much more just. In letter to Henry LauienS'
which Mr. Kapp prints from the manuscript he
writes:
cannot
iuQton. that ne must be very lu0d'st num- uiu
tho greatest friend to the cause, for ioipcafius pun
inc complaints on that account, that tl' 'hiut '',
not be appr-cd of our situation ana take au'"l"fo
If II tic will rather suffer in the opinion OF tLe
world than hurt his country. h mli'iHE "t, ,'r.
how far he is from having so cOnsdcIapie ~ oln'l
Ii. all Europe end great part OF America p'Ht'' IN
! has This would show NJ the same i'Iuc' no U.I i
| and doe. more every dav than could he eNPt,Fu
| from ans general in the world, IN the same CHcun
! Stances and that / think linn the only proper P't
son luobOdV actually being or serving lh ANU ''
| cNccptcdi by his natural ana Hcgui'u Cpl'cI,S
li4 Rra,crv rood sense, upriphtuvss ana honesty,
10 keen up the spirits OF the army ana p'"P't H1'
! that I look upon him 100 the sole d"I'hh'I "l ' F,
country scausr. Thus iuucl thought my sen 0pIR'
~ 4ay on that head. ] only coud WISH. 100 ny PlI
yatc opinion. hc would tax" moIr upon Nul "I, ~,
trn. more ~ hl. own cftcllcnt Judgment tllh ~
councils but this leads ne ont of mN way
I'm thc.c criticisms, as well as 10 all the other i'
marks UPON the men and actous of th" Rc'"iuil'h
which occur in hi. correspondence. wc discern ib'
sincerity and moderation which were among po
KalIs most conspicuous traits. llc was neither u
pruiu. nor a hero: but hc was brave. able expert
cuccl cautions. discriminating and honest .oIdip,
a little punctilious, bgt with u singular po"" OF
adapting himself f. novel circumstances ana rs.
sociatious. aud OF Judging unfamiliar types "l 'hu
actor lie was of far m0Ic practical service j" iH'
cooni,ts than many foreign olhc'r who loufhi "I
them with mono generous sentiments. DE kalb was
not soldier Of sentiment He wa, ambitious an"
cutcrprisiug, but his aspirations never t'aI'' DE-
yond professional advancement and j" highest
ain M Tine venture for which lac CAV" lus Iir' was
TO earn prcfcrmcut in the French army ana SUD
stautial rewards from the French King Mr. N''P'
whose Judgment of him is generally sound declares
th,t he was a perfect military ieali-t and warmly
a,p,lds his rigid sense Of duty. This praise Is well
deserved if We understand the word duty III some
what narrow sense. For De Kaib, as We have
already said, was "a striking type OF the St"lehtior
ward soldier by trade, who cares little what cause
he serves. but loves lis profession ris own sake
and rates fidelity 30 hi, professional Obligations as
| the FIST of military virtues