New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-07
ON THE DEATH OF WASH
INGTON
REMARKABLE TRIBUTE BY THE FRENCH MIN.
lister TO THE CHARACTER OF THE
First PRESIDENT

FIRST PRESIDENT.
Washington Jan. 6.-somerville pinkney Tuck.
United States Assistant Commissioner General to the
Paris Exposition Of 1880. while In Europe on special
mission having for its object search for documents
and other evidence relating to the French spoliaton
claims discovered at Paris among tho archives of the
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs paper written by TaIley-
rand bearing on the death of Washington Tho docu-
ment reads as follows:
the occasion Of tbs death Of George Washington
A Nation which some day will be a great Nation
o OF e esS ss S Ss ap ns ON whose
and genius esVaa 4 % Tho he most to free
by the death Of this great man. the memories
aroused 9 these 5sS e sss1 and ana
kind mpei US to give expression to our sentiments by
taking part in event which dspryes The world q one
history one of tho noblest lives that ever honored the
The namo Of washington IS nseparably linked with
memorable epoch; he adorned this epoch by his talents
and the nobility OF his character and with virtues that
even envy dared nSI asss History to oes few ex
career, patriotic before his country had become o
nation brilliant and universal despite the passions and
HIS career his fame is today impershable; fortune
having consecraed his claim to greatness, while tho
prosperity OF people destined for grand achievements
Is the best evidence of fame ever to increass
His own country now honors his memory with
ceremonies,
actions ard unassuming grandeur in private life we're
a living example OF courage, wisdom and unselfsh-
ness and France-whch from the dawn of the Ameri-
can Revolution hailed with hope nation hitherto
unknown that dlscardng the vices of Europe,
which foresaw all the glory that this nation would
bestow on humanity, and the enlightenment Of gov
ernments that would from the novel character
OF the social institutions and the new type Of hcrosm,
OF which Washington and America were models Of the
world at large-France, repeat, should depart from
established usages and do honor 10 one whose famo
Is beyond comparison with that OF others.
Tho man who amid tho decadepce Of modern ages
first dared believe that he could inspire dcgenetate
nations with courage 10 rise 10 tho level OF ropbli
can virtues lived for all nations and all centuries.
and this Nation, which first saw In tho life and sue
OF that nustrios man forebodng OF his destiny
and therein recognized a future to be realized and
duties to be PERFORMED has every right TO class him
rs fellow-ciiizcn.
IL therefore, submit TO tho First Consul the follow
ing decree Bonapar'c, First Consul OF the Republic,
decrccs follows:
Article lst-A statue is to be erected to General
Washington.
"Artice od-Th,s statue Is to DO placed 10 one Of
the squares OF Paris, TO be chosen BY the Minister
Of tho Interior, and II shall DO his duty TO execute
the present decree"
There Is evidence that any action was ever taken
this proposed decree by Napoleon and II Is probable
that the matter entirely forgotten in the press
OF affairs Of that exciting time. copy OF tho
original Of this prophetic state paper has been lately
procured by Mr. Tuck for the Department OF State.