New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-08


work was done. and in letter to LOUIS
! XVIII written with mastery force and marked
BY no little rnthos, he says that he no
longer feels himself in harmony with his sur
| roundings and had better retire to private HE
| new generation has grown up, with a nc"
spirit. new methods. and new aims Democracy
| ia coming TO the front lie himself belongs TO an
era well nigh finished. and he cannot adjust him
tclf to the modern situation. Moreover the
pleasant relations which for many years he en-
| loved with Lord Palmcrston have ceased to exist
Pamerston is tired Of him, and no longer IN
| sympathy with his policy. Some younger man.
therefore, had better take his place. ror me
moment no important European question is press
ing. He has settled all that could be determined
for the present, and he Graves his final dis
missal.
This is really noble letter, and it is easy TO
| believe Louis when. in his reply he declares that
| il had moved him greatly. Nor docs it require
| any stretch OF the imagination to accept 1allcy-
| rands statement Of his own feelings. The man
| who had experienced everything. from the Ancien
| Regium," through the Revolution 70 the Empire.
and thence by way Of the Bourbon Restoration TO
the time of democratic agitation and reform, might
| well feel that he had outlivcd his usefulness,
and had come 10 lag behind the swift changes
which were passing upon and Transforming
| the world lie had known it, No man
| indeed has ever given greater proofs Of versa
tility than Tallcyrand. lie had found 1t possible
TO serve every master France had had durnShalf
ccntury-and half century which embraced
every form Of government from mob-ruc TO alb
| solutism. As he truly says in the letter TO the
King, he was no politician and especially no par
| tisan and il may be held that nc did no great
violence TO the truth OF history in maintaining that
| the interests of France had ever been dominant
with him.
His lust Of money must be conceded nut is IL
| so certain that he was vcnal and corrupt? Tn
| doubtedlv he accented great sums from princes
| and governments but where Is the evidence tha'
he at any time betrayed his county at the lnsti
cation Of foreigners? These Memoirs. NJ all
events constitute a superb defence ana vihdica'loh
of his diplomatic career and so FAR as we are a"aio
| the criticism Of thosN among his couh'rNneh WIN
! low. him least has hitherto failed TO tosFh "po"
him any historical misrepresentation III thci. reo'
lections Whatever other effect they may nave
the Memoirs must tend Ia mitigate IN" harSn,''N
of the verdict agains5 Tallcyrand found py 'n"sc
who were either his contemporaries o" too nearly
his contemporaries, TO Judge MN hnP"H"'' -
mon wholly trustworthy evidence. Indeed We
cannot hope to comprehend him at all truly "'cSS
we begin by putting aside the veil OF myth WIN
own times have invested and obscured ms person.
o,itv Meantime il may bc borne in mind thai OF the
| Greatness of his genius and the cAfh' OF MS
scrviccs to France there can be no question: ihc
facts az recent history canno; he diS'oG''u ny
rumor gossip. or magn traditions; anc larry
rand never showed his astutene-f more c""'"
than in resting his defence upon thoS' pucH'i""'
which are thus placed above ana Wyonn '"e ~,
Nucncc of popular fancy and eNagscra""'' "r'
are susceptible OF absolute proof lie mas "S '"'
choice of methods dieniied the record oil MS c'ie,
and =, tbc same time completely balicd the
choulish shirt which delights in rendins ana De
foulirg the reputation Of the dead.
At the close of the Memoirs the Duo de pros''
has added an interesting study oil inc Duc Wv
Cboiscul which was included in the general
trust. and 80 evidently meant Tor puol'',i'"'
The essay is written with mucf litcrafT a'''N'
and is picturesque and vivid. The most Emporium
aspcct. however for the historical student ooi-
ssts in its revelation Of the author own tho"S"'e
on the diplomacy of the past. Ills crpieh''' VI
| the Due de Choiscnrs management oi iorr.s"
affairs is particularly acute and pcnetrating' Inc
DIXIE is sharply blamed for his narrowncSs OF per
ccn,on in regard TO the rise Of Russia among the
| orea, Powers lie was however, nj best rather an
advcnturcr than a statesman, and his faII a' '"e
worry hccht of power, when surrounocu ICY o""''
more brilliant than that of Louis the Fifteenth
cxroscd his real weakness for he was never
recalled from exilc-not even when Ills ioH d"
master had passed away ara new ME. S'' WI
Tho throne. II was On Barry who overthrow The
great Ministcr-Du Barry, whose own rise h' ha'
watched with 60 scornful an indifference That MS
very insolcnce sowcl the seeds Of hatred on me
part of TIE favoritc which was 10 prove 'a'"' ="
him.
| This historical episode is well done as 10 show
| what Talleyrand might have achieved had n
turned his attention TO literature. II serves to
round out an photographed work which, how
ever it has disappointed seekers after scandal ana
srnsationalism, must liz regarded by all students
of history and men OF affairs as an Invaluable
contribution 10 the history OF the important period
| during which the author lived and acted, and
| which OF the same time Eliminates personality
| the compass Of whose intellectual achievements
| deserves the name of greatness, whatever may be
| the final Judgment passed upon him iii other
| respects.