Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-08-16


One of his fast friends was Thomas
Jefferson, formerly Minister Of the United
States Mt Paris. They were in constant
intercourse and jefferson ON his return
home still wrote to DUPONT In 1880. re-
membering his American friends, and his
own country having fallen under the do
minion Of Bonaparte he came with his
family to the United States.
He arrived in time to witness the
election Of his friend, jefferson to the
Presidency, in 1900 jefferson gave him
the warmest welcome, and asked him to
draw up his scheme for universal educa-
ton in the United States. which was pub
lshed and republished Soon after he put
it in his power to render service to mis-
adopted country This was in 1903. when
it became perfectly clear TO the admins
tration that the United States must own
and control the mouth of the Mississippi
river, the natural outlet for region of
country Of b0undless extent. and already
the only outlet so the markets Of
the world for hreeeighta of the bulky
produce Of the country. jefferson made
up his mind to gain this point at any cost.
and If possible, TO get possession of the
whole territory west of the Mississippi.
then called Louisiana, though extending
to the Pacific ocean
Besides appointing James Monroe spec
ial envoy to France, he gave TO Dupont
de NemOurs an unacknowledged mission
to cooperate with Monroe and Livings-
ton, and If possible, to procure an inter.
view with Napoleon, and appeal to his
reason on behalf Of the wishes Of the
United States.
Among the ablest and most earnest
letters ever written by jefferson are those
70 his old friend Dupont, on this subject.
They were designed TO be read to Napo-
leon-at least the leading passages. The
President charged him TO con these let
ters over and over until he was familiar
with every idea i'm them, and II there was
any danger of their being seized or cap
tured. to consign them to the flames.
Happily public events conspired with
Jefferson wishes, and the little band &c
American negotiators had a comparatively
easy task. B0naparte wanted money
moro pressingly even than Jefferson
wanted Louisiana, and ia few DAYS the
business was done, the United States
paying Sl5000,O0O for the whole
territory OF Louisiana equal in extent to
half dozen European Kingdoms.
Besides these services to us, this excel
lent man rendered another Of
great value ! believe have said
before in this column that the best
service man can ordinarily render
the world is to rear in it family of vir-
tuous and Intelligent children This is
the cornerstone of my faith. When
DUPONT deNemours came to this country
IN 1888, his SONS came with him and they
remained IN the country after the return
of their father TO France One of these
hQl b.,1N stt, ~
royal powder mills of France where he
obtained practical knowledge of the
manufacture of gunpowder. The French
Revolution interrupted his career He
was imprisoned three times, and shared
i'm other ways the trials and misfortunes
of his father Soon after reaching the
United States lrenee Dupont noticed the
mieriorlty of the gunpowder then made
here. Encouraged by President jefferson
he determined TO establish a powder m Ii
I'M Delaware. He chose Delaware because
he had observed the effects upon the
white race of slavery in Virginia, where
Jefferson wished the mill to be estab
lished
The DUPONT powder works. near Will
mington, founded by irenee DUPONT in
1852 were continued and increased by his |
sons and grandsons The establishment
Is still among the most important Of It's
Kind, and IS still under the principal
management of Henry Dupont, one of the
sons Of the founder
10 was thus that the important and
interesting family Of the DuPOnts was
founded in the United States. Besides
the admiral, 50 much and 50 long dis |
tingsished in the navy, the family has |
given other sons to the public service as
well as to private business, several Of |
whom resemble in features and benevo- |
lent expression of countenance their
worthy ancestor
DUPONT de Nemours remained in France |
during most of the reign of Napoleon, !
though declining all his offers of public |
Office. He was utterly opposed to Bona |
parte, MS he was to the despotic principle. |
In Paris he became president of the i
Chamber of Commerce. and wrote indus |
triouslv upon questions of finance and /
political economy He welcomed |
the return of the Bourbons |
i'm 1914 and accepted Office |
under Louis XVIII, but when Bona |
parte returned from Elbe he abandoned |
Europe crossed The Atlantic again. and |
rcjoned his sons i'm the United States.
He spent the evening Of his life near
the Dupont powder works ia Delaware /
where he died in 1914 aged IS wears. II |
IS impossible for q man TO be more ama-
be- or more disinterestedly devoted to the
public good, than ne was during his LONG
and eventful ife.-New York Ledger. |
Aunrftaf 1909