Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-25
SECRETS OF A LIFE.
Talleyrand's Memoirs Will Let in u
Flood of Historic Light
UPON THE TINES OF NAPOLEON.
Women Will Find in Them Strange Tale
of Marital lnfelicity.
THE NOTES OF MADAME DE 'REMUSAT
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH. ,

WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.
The publication of the long delayed
memoirs and diaries of Talleyrand will
probably throw new light upon, and arouse
fresh interest in the life of the great
Napoleon, who for years was glorified as the
"hero of France" revlled as'the 'terror of
Europe" and esteemed by the wide world as
the greatest soldier of modern times" In
his will, Talleyrand gave orders that his
memoirs" should not be published for 30
years. This indicates that ne must have left
revelations in black and white concerning
his cotemporaries that would hardly do credit
to their fame and stories of French history
that were kept "hushed up" through defer
ence to friends and families who would have
suffered by their disclosure.
Talleyrand, in church, society and State,
was distinguished for his shrewd sagacity
and marvellous tact. No one, it is said, was
more thoroughly versed in the art of
diplomacy, or more skillful in managing
men. He won his way to rank and wealth
by his talents as o time-server and his genius
for deceit. His acuteness in the game OF
politics, his mastery of fnesse, his prompt
ness to secure an advantage, or to dilly-
daily when activity was not desirable, made
him one of the most famous men of his
time. He seems to
Have Had No Conscience
to deter him from wrongdoing. The
Golden Rule and the Ten Commandments
had no more place IN his code and creed
than they have in American politics to-day,
according to Ingalls,. He was educated as
priest, and attained to high dignities in
the church. His immortality was disgrace
to his calling, but did not prevent his secur-
ing the honors and revenues of its high and
holy Offices. So openly immoral was his
lite, and so glaring his abuse OF his Office as
Pope, but he afterward managed to have the
ban removed.
As Minister of Foreign Affairs he was of
great use to Napoleon. His frmness and
moderation, as set against the thirst for
glory and the arbitrary despotism of the
successful general, were needful checks in
negotiating treaties of peace, and in pre-
serving the interests of France. Napoleon
gave him credit for his talent for diplomacy,
but always regarded him with distrust and
suspicion. On lis side, Talleyrand had the
measure of the mind and the vanity of the
"child of destiny" Both men seemed to
read each other. The conceit, selfshness
and towering ambition OF Napoleon were so
plainly shown that Talleyrand found fattery
a most able assistant in the management of
matters, when the cool sense and fine fnesse
of the diplomatic minister were met by the
haughtiness of despotic power.
Could Manage His Tongue.
Talleyrand himself was one of the silent
men, whose policy was that of turncoat or
Judas. Like some of the politicians of
to-day, he knew how to keep his mouth Shut
But with all his tact and powers of decep-
tion he did not impose on Napoleon, whose
own lack of moral principle led him to
doubt the honesty of all men. He assumed
that the leading motive of mankind was
self-interest. He had no faith in sincerity
His measure of the superiority of man
was his ability to lie, and he was fond of
telling that in his youth ian uncle had pre-
dicted that he would govern the world be-
cause he was an habitual liar"
The ability to hatter acceptablv and to
lie cleverly were to his mind the virtues OF
a statesman. He was always credulous of
evil, and malicious gossip always found in
him ready listener. Talleyrand, with all
his quick insight, complained that this
''devil OF a man deceives one on all points"
How he deceived the people of France, how
he gave them glory instead of liberty, how
he counted thousands of precious lives as
nothing beside ambition, is we'll known by
history. Talleyrand's memoirs, even if they
were devoted to his praises and filled with
stories of his greatness, could not alter the
name and fame he has made for himself.
The Diary Is Faithful.
But it is likely that, while the famous
Minister of Foreign Affairs seldom-if ever
opened his mind, or showed his hand in
public in those days, he has yet given full
vent to his opinions and emotions in his
diaries, as was the fashion in courts, where
it was as much as life and place were worth
for people to air their views on men and
affairs. The famous diary of Pepys, pub
lished a century or two after it was written,
is held in highest value as presenting q
picture of the times OF Charles III. Written
without the slightest idea of publicity, it
depicts the events and portrays the char
aeters of the people of his time with truth
to nature ana sincerity OF detail that make
it one of the most interesting volumes of
English history.
That the memoirs of Talleyrand bear hardly
upon the dynasty of Napoleon is to be in
ferred from the fact that instead of being
withheld from publication for 80 years, as
he by will directed, they were suppressed
for over 20 more by the influence of Napoleon
III. and the powerful families that composed
his court. 1t will be interesting to compare
these long locked-up notes with the "me-
moirs" of Madame De Remusat, whose hus-
band was
one of Talleyrand's friends, if he had any,
and who shows how the "Bishop of Autun"
was in league with the Revolutionists,
while at the same time he was secretly favor
ing the monarchy, and how while ostensibly
supporting the sovereignty of Napoleon he
was quietly engaged in endeavoring to se-
cure his downfall and the restoration of the
Bourbons.
Always With the Winners.
His aim was ever to worship the rising
sun and thus take care of number one. But
even the most sskillful of liars and knaves
occasionally come to Grief as did Talley-
rand, when he was prescribed in France,
driven out of England, and sought in Amer
lea new field OF operations. His character
seems TO have preceded him, for Washing
ton declined to receive him. By adroit in
trigue, however, he soon managed to get
back to his native country, where by the in
fuence of Madam de Stael, it is said, he
was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs,
an Office which he held successively under
the Directory, Napoleon and Louis XVIII,
and in which he made himself a name sec
ond only to that OF Napoleon himself.
The latter, while cordially despising him,
vet made use of his talents and rewarded
him with principality. He finally fell
into disfavor with his despotic master, and
was deposed from Office. With the craft
and cunning of his kind, he then gave him.
self up to secret conspiracles against Ma
poleon, even going 30 far, it is said, as to
plan his assassination. For this treachery
he was rewarded-with his old office, but did
not long retain it.