The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-14
A TRIBUTE TO WASHINGTON.
Talleyrand's Remarkable Eulogy of the
Father OF His Country.

Talleyrand's Remarkable Eulogy of the
Father OF His Country.
From the New York Tribune.
Somerville Pinkney Tuck, United States
Assistant Commissioner-Genera to the
Paris Exposition OF $780, while in Europe
en- a special mission, having for its object
q search for documents and other evidence
relating 10 the French spoliation claims,
discovered at Paris among the archives Of
the Ministry OF Foreign Affairs n paper
written by Talleyrand bearing on the
death OF Washington. The document
reads as follows:
Report OF Taleyrand. Minister OF For
eign Affairs on the occasion OF the death
OF George Washington:
"A Nation which some day will be a
great Nation and which today is the
wiscst and happiest on the face Of the
earth, wecps ut the bier Of a man whose
courage and genius contributed the most
to free II rom bondage and elevate it to
the rank OF an Independent and sovereign
power The regrets caused by the death
OF this great man, the memories aroused
by these regrets, and proper vcneration
for all that is held dear and sacred by
mankind, impcl us TO give expression 10
our sentiments by taking part in an event
which deprivcs the world Of one OF its
brightest ornaments and removes to the
realm OF history one Of the nobest lives
that ever honorcd the human race.
"The name OF Washington IL insopara-
| bly, linked with u memorable epoch; lac
adorned this epoch by his talents aud the
/ the nobility OF his character and with vlr-
I tues that even envy dared not assail. Ills
/ tory offers few examples OF such rcnown.
| Great from the outset OF his career, patri-
otto before his country had become Il ma
| ton, brilliant aud universal despite the
| passions and political rcsontmcnts that
would gladly have checked his career, his
/ fame IN today impcrlshablc; fortune hay-
| Ing consccmtcd his claim TO greatness,
/ while the prosperity OF II people destined
/ for grand aChicycmcntsis the best evidence
! OF fame ever to increase.
Ills own country now honOrs his mem.
/ DRY with funeral ceremonies having lost "a
citizen whose public actions and unassuln-
! ing grandeur in private life were living
! example OF courage, wisdom and unscll-
ishncss, aud lmncc-whch from the
lawn OF the American Revolution hailed
with hope u nation hitherto unknown that
was describing the vices of Europe, which
fofesaw all the glory that this nation would
bcsiOw on humanity, and the enlighton-
ment Of governments that would cnsue
from the novel character OF the social in
situations and the new type ol horoisln, Of
| which Washington aud America were
models Of the world at large France,
repeat, should depart from established us
! ages aud do honor To one whose iame Is
beyond comparison with that Of others.
"The man who amid the decadcnce ui
modern ages first dared believe that ho
could inspire degenerate nations with
courage 10 rise 10 the level OF republican
virtues, lived ior all nations aud all cen.
turtles. aud this nation, which first saw In
the life aud success VI that illustrous man
forcboding Of his destiny aud therein
recognized future to be- realized aud du-
ties 10 be- performed. has every right 10
class him ~ fellow citizen.
81, therefore, submit TO the first Consul
the following decree: Bonapafte, flnt
Consul oi the Republic, DEGREES ~ iol-
! lows
ARTICLE IA statue is TO be- erected 10
Gen. Washington.
article This statue IL To be placed
/ in one OF the squares Oi Paris, to bc chosen
/ los the Minister oi the Interior, and IL
shall be- his duty to execute the present
decree"
There il no evidence that any action
was ever taken on this proposed decree by
Napoleon aud Il IN probable that tile mat
ter was entirely forgotten In the press oi
Affairs at that exciting time. \ copy Of
the original of this prophetic State paper
has been lately procured 10y Nj. Tuck Tor
the Department Of state.