The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-09
TALLEYRANp's TRIBUTE.
A Long Forgotten Report on the
Death Of Washington,

WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-Mr. Somerville
Pinkney Tuck, United States Assistant
Commissioner General to the Paris Exposi-
tion of 1889. while in Europe on a special
mission having for its object search for
documents and othef evidences relating to
the French spoliation claims, discovered at
Paris among the archives of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs paper written by Talley-
rand, which has particular interest at this
time in connection with the project now un-
der way In charge Of a committee of ladies',
presided over by Miss Bayard and Mrs.
Nathan Appleton, the object of which is to
raise a fund for the erection of a statue of
Washington In some public place In the city
of Paris. The following is translation Of
the paper in question, the original of which
is Nos. 172 and 173 of Volume 81 of the man
uscript series known as 'Etats- Unis, 1899
1S00,' years seven and eight of the French
Repubic):
Report of Talleyrand, Minister of Foreign Az
fairs, on the occasion OF the death of George
"A nation which some day Will be great ma
tion, anu which today is the wisest and happest
on the face Of the earth weeps at the bier of
man whose courage and genins contributed the
most TO free il from bondage and elevate 1t 10 the
rank of an Independent aud sovereign power. The
regrets caused by tn death of this great man the
memories aroused by these regrets, ana a proper
veneration for all that is held dear and sacred to
mankind. tmpe us to give expression TO our senti-
ments by taking part In an event which depriyes
the world OF Que of its brightest ornaments and
removes 10 the realm of history one of the nobest
lives that ever honored the human race
"The name of Washington is inseparably linked
with a acknowledgement The adorned this epoch by
his talents and the nobility of his character and
with virtues that even envy dared not assault
History offers few examples of such renown.
Great from the outset of his career patriotic be-
fore his country had become a nation. brilliant
and UNIVERSAL despite the passions and political
resentments that woul gladly have checked his
aap ia fnda sl,aLI
having consecrated his claim TO greatness, while
the r0sperity of a people destined for grand
achievements is the best evidence of fame ever
to increase.
"His own country now honors his memory with
funeral ceremonies, having lost citizen whose
pubic actions aud unasSuming grandeur In pri-
vate life lwere living example OF courage, wis
dom and unselfshness, and France-Which from
hnn e eawn ~ spe hailed with
ing the Vices of Europe, which foresaw ali the
glory that this nation would bestow on humanity,
and the enli shtenment OF governments that would
ensue from the novel character OF the social in
Stitutions and the new type of herOism of which
wash washington and America We're models of the
from established uSages and do honor TO one
whose fame is beyond comparison with that OF
"The man, who, amid the decadence Of modern
ages, first dared believe that he could inspire de-
generate nations with courage to rise to the level
for all centuries and this nation, which first saw
In the life and success OF that illustrious man a
Vi HIS utStlb9t auu tneTeiu recognized
afuture to be realized and duties 10 be nerformed
has every right to class him as fellow clfizen /
therefore submit to lhe First Consul the following
decree:
'BonaParte First Consul of the Republic, de-
cress as folloas:
".'ArticleI. A statue is to be erected to Gen
eral Washington.
"'Artice IL This statue is to be placed in one
of the squares of Paris, TO be chosen by fhe Minis
ter OF the Interior aud Il snail be his duty 10 exc
cute the present decree"
There is no evidence that any action was
ever taken on this proposed decree nv Nano-
leon, and 1t is probable that the matter was
entirely forgotten in the press Of affairs of
| that exciting time. copy Of the original Of