The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-04-20

seldom as L could help. tneTe'
fore begin without title, and with
out dedication, for l recognize in
the Duchesse de Dino (his niece
alone the obligation of defending
my memory"
AS is pointed out in the notice of
the Memories in the Times, M. de
Samte- Beuve wrote long ago, "a
consummate actor, n. de Talley-
rand, more than any other writer
of memories, will write TO disguise,
not to reveal his life, he has the
readiness always to know what it
is be would say, and even more
what it is be would be silent on"
The Times says the Memories
are disappointing, and even for the
most part dull, disappointing, be-
cause incomplete and fragmentary,
and uncandid, dull, because except
a few personal tracts and anecdotes
they contain, they can only be re-
garded as the sophisticated records
of forgotten intrigues compiled by
the deepest and most INSCRIPTIONS
intrigues of his time. Mr. White
law Reid reproduces the portrait
of Talleyrand, as drawn by French
historians, somewhat as follows.
A profigate priest who owed his
start in life to an ill-favored joke
about the immortality of Paris.
A bishop who was forced into the
public journals to explain that the
money he had recently made In
gambling was not won in gambling
houses, but in clubs, and that it
was only 100000. and not 60 or
100000. as reported.
A confidential friend of Mirabeau
yet accused of poisoning him.
For years Minister of Napo-
leon, and his intimate, suspected of
plot to assassinate him.
Minister of Foreign Affairs under
the Directory, he plotted for the
coup d. etat of Napoleon, con-
spired with Russia and Austria to
defeat his plans, plotted for the re-
turn of the BOurbons, and while in
office under Louis XVIII. schemed
for his overthrow, and for the ac-
cession of Louis Philippe.
The Constituent Assembly for
babe his return to France. Pitt
expelled him from England. Wash
ington refused to receive him in
America. The Pope excommuni-
Gated him.
Yet he again became Minister of
Foreign Affairs in France, returned
to England Us Ambassador, threat
ened the American Minister Plene-
poJentlary In Paris, received tue
Pope's benediction and died in the
odor of sanctity.
Now 1T is only fair to hear what
Talleyrand has to say for himself:
As l now, in my S2d year, call to
mind the numerous events OF my politi-
Cal life, which has itself been long, and
weigh them, on the eve of entering into
eternity, find as the result:
"That of all the Governments I have
served, there is not one to which have
not given more than have received.
"That | have never abandoned any,
until it had, first of all, abandoned it.
SELF
"That have never considered the in
terests OF any party, my own, or those of
my friends, before the true interests OF
France, which besides are never, in my
opinion, contrary to the true interests OF
Europe.
This judgment, for which am alone
responsible, will, l hope, be confirmed
ny ali impartial minds; and should this
justice be refused me, when / am no
longer living. the conviction of its truth
will yet serve to brighten my last
days. :"
We must still, says the Times,
look elsewhere for the real Talley.
rand, and perhaps, as he himself
has so willed it, history will always
look in vain. For his apology we
must turn to the saying of Goethe
that 1.-THE man of action has no
conscience.
For his character we need look
no further than the scathing cpl
gram of Victor Hugo:
Noble like Machiavel. priest
like Gondi, unfrocked like Fouche,
witty like Voltaire and limping
like the devil"