New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-31
HISTORY OF THE WORK OF THE FRENCH
AMERICAN UNION.
Victor Hugo wrote.

Copyright, 1850.
The account which have been asked to prepare
Of the work of the FrenchAmerican Union. of its
history and its accomplishment is somewhat
delicate thing for me to do because of the difficulty
of treating properly sabject in which AIN obliged
often to speak of myself Apart from this consld-
Grafton, however, l willingly accept the task OF
preparing this account. because it allows ME to
rectify many errors and to give correct information
TO those interested in this:question.
If then the reader secs the 4" or the me"
sppear Frequently, he will excuse me. 1t will be
the narrative form alone that will be the cause OF
Il, and he will understand that have no desire 10
speak of myself and will see that the mo appears
only as much as is necessary for the deveopheht vi
tho subject which / am to treat
The origin of the work of the French-American
Union il of 80 modest character that it would be
very difficult to search it ont i'll did not recount 1t
myself That makes necessary little recital OF
some circumstances In my own life
One evening twenty years ago had been dining
Mt tho home of my most regretted and illustrious
friend NJ Labouaye, and his guests were smoking
in the conservatory of his charming retreat Ola
yigny, near Versailles 1t was a gathering of men
eminent 10 politics and in letters. The talk fell
upon international relations. upon the sentiments
of Italy toward France. Some one said that graft
tude could not exist among nations. that the least
material in crest that the lightest political breath
vould break every tie of that sort coming to the
limited States the remark was added that France
could no more count on the remembrance OF the
past.
NJ Laboulaye observed that in the case of Italy
there had never been popular tradition of friend
ship that in 1859 service had been done her. but
abe had been made to feel that France had repaid
herself for it. and that fact was sufficient to make
the remembrance unpleasant to the Italians III
was q wholly different thing in the case of other
nations or peoples with whom there was genuine
Cow of sympathy, caused, it might be, by expert
ences common othe two nations, it might DO by
affinity Of aspiration or by the influence of certain
feelings which served as a bond OF union.
Coming to the American Nation. he said that it
had more sympathy for France than for any other
European nation: that this sentiment did not
bear the stamp of gratitude but was based uDon the
remembrance OF the community OF thoughts and OF
struggles sustained with common aspirations.
The Frenchmen who fought in the United States
applied thsr blood for the principles that they
hoped to see prevail in France and in the world.
Tho first volunteers won't away in spite OF tho Gov
srnment and all the world recalls the difficulties
encountered by Lafayette at his departure. There
is then he said, in that struggle for Independence
not simple service rendered to afriendly nation,
but a fraternity of feengs community OF efforts
and of EN- ,tions, and whom hearts have beaten
together something always romans, among nations
as among individuals.
The proof he added is that in the United States
they hold up to honor the remembrance of the CON-
men glories they love Lafayette and his volunteers
~ they revere the American heroes. In the public
mind this remenbr lnce is much clearer than that
of the political action Of the French Government.
No one in the United States speaks of the Treaty Of
Versailles which made the United States what they
Ana
date of that treaty. On the other hand. every ONE
recalls the names andthe deeds OF the French
soldiers There, said NJ Laboulaye, Is tho basis OF
the sentiments which felt in the United States
toward the French. indestrnotible basis. senti-
mont honorable to the Americans as to US. aud If a
monument were TO be built in America as amemoria
of their Independence, should think 1t very
natural If it were built by united effort IL 1t were
E q. common work OF both nations.
cite these wordsifrom memory since they have
never been put in print so far as know; but THU
conversation interested inc so deeply that II
remained fixed in mymemory. and III am not aoie
IN give the Precise form of 1t. at least the idea
are exact, because they NAV be found In th'
addresses of NJ. Laboulaye in regard to the WORK
tho French American Union.
This conversation came back to my mind Ions
Alne afterwnrd, at the period oflthe war OF 1870.
was with the army In the East, where we struggled
for long months against the eneIny;and against oui
Norx-Under the name Of the French American Uni 81
r. designated In Franco tho society which mas