Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-06-16

easlness. No ailment is insignificant to
man Of such advanced age, and it
will be indeed loss for France when
that grand figure, once so prominent,
lately so effaced, disappears from the
country which he helped to make great
He belongs, says the New York Sun,
to that plead Of Marechaux de France
in which Pelissier and Canrobert were
his contemporaries.
Marie Edme Patrice Maurice de Mac
MahOn was born on the 18th Of July,
1903, at Sully, the ninth Of the eleven
children Of the Marquis de MacMahon,
lieutenant general and personal friend
Of Charles x. He left St Cyr TO serve
with Pelissier, Canrobert and Chan
GARNER, in the regiments sent to Africa,
distinguished himself i'm those arduOus
campaigns, and was raised to the rank
Of general after his daring exploits at
Constantine. He reached Malakoff in
time to carry the works and display
heroic valor; it was there that he
spoke the now historic words, which on
the bastionS OF the captured Tower"
rang above the thunder Of the Rus
L
shall remain
Passionately fond Of Algeria, the
land in which he had won his first
laurels. MacMahon fOrsoOk it in 81
in order to 90 and pacify Kabylia
and presently to receive the appoint
ment of governor Of that province
by the emperor. Notwithstanding
as the triumphant record of strategy
and military science-saw the general
assume the title Of duke and marshal
Of France and achieve the highest
honorS. Then came 1870 with the fatal
rev rises obscuring the glorious pages
of a life on which were inscribed so
many victories; yet the brave soldier
remained mdauntcd and undsmaycd;
ne advanced in the direction of Weis-
Sembourgh and FroeSchWeilcr, where
100000 PrlSSianS awaited 10000
Irenchmcn; he saw the remnant of
those fine Squadrons of the eighth and
ninth CuirassierS decimated by the dra-
gOonS Of the enemy, and as th"y fell.
Wr"nching from the Emperor William
The involuntary tribute, oh les braves
gems MacMahon would have operated
a junction with Bazaine, thrown back
Prince Frederick Charles beyond the
Mouse, and pursued the Prince Royal
marching on ChalonS.
Other advice prevailed. 1t was not
to be. Napoleon III. entered Sedan to
be trapped with 10000 men. and,
fortunately for AIacMahon, he lay ser
icr>ly wounded before the rendition of
a In MIN IaI no
at the head of his troops he would
have conquered or persisted, but never
hay" been captured alive. When he
bcWailcd that he had not died before
this humiliation to his flag, the last
surviving TurcoS who had fought with
him ut Froeschwciler gathered around
him with tears on their SWarthy
checks, for they had loved him since
the days in Africa. and said in their
broken French: Die! You won't die;
you see we are still alive" The mar
shall WAS carried off in an ambulance
n prisoner TO Germany, and returned
to Franco Il brokcn-hcarteh man. to-
whom military service was henceforth
but i glorious memory.
When the peace was proclaimed
MacAIahon became. almost without his
knowledge, Il politician. After the
elections of January p his star arose
luminous and steady over the political
horizon Of France. He offered in his
person a singular spectacle of a man
whose only passion was to serve his
country under arms. serving her from
1873 to 1877 in the highest civic fllnc-
tons. His period of presidency was
perfectly clean and loyal; he may have
erred on minor questions. offended one
party or another. laid himself open to
the cenSureS of the press, but his rcpu-
tation of a perfectly honest man was
as undisputed as that of the soldier
of Malakoff, of the victor of Magenta,
or of the prisoner of Sedan; it can be
summed UP IN the word-immacul
He submitted rather than accepted to
be elevated to the presidential chair
He descended from it with equanimity
to return TO his country home of Sully
St Ledger, near Autun.
He has often said that he would never
see the government of his choice: born
and bred in strictly legitimist views,
walton of France lay in 4 monarchical
restoration. For one brief moment he
helped to see the realization of that
dream. and confidently expected the
hour when the Comte de Chambord,
seated on the throne of his fathers.
would grant him "A small military com
man" The dream was rudely dispelled
when the manifesto of SalZburg elected
from the national assembly the vote of
the Septennate.
But. whatever part MacMahon has
played during the eighty-five years Of a
well-filled life, he has in the past and
present been Surroundd by the homage
and respect Of his countrymen' Every
head is barred before the whitehaired
old man, who carries his age so brave
ly, walking erect still, reading without
spectacleS, riding on horseback and
putting the final touch to his memoirs.
Claire. was quietly married in 1890.
Canrobert, whose only daughter.
a few weeks only after her mothers
death, is equally worthy of the dignity
Of marshal, conferred on him for his
glorious services in the army His
name appears on the roll of thirty eight
battles, sieges or attacks, beginning
in 1855 with Oued Sig, in Africa. and
ending in 1870 with Ladonchamp.
Among them stand out in relief the
dazzling names of Isly. Alma. Balak-
lava, Inkermann, Sebastopol. Magenta,
SOlferino GrayelOtte and St Priyat