Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-10-10
FOUR FRENCH ALLIES
NOTED PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN OUR GUESTS.
FRiEND5HIP STRENGTHENED
EXileS from France Have Been
Americas Most Firm Supporters
Their History and Lineag e-Ac-
cepted Our Hospitality, Fought
Our Battles and Married Our
Daughters.

The events Of more than a century
appear to have combined Il
strengthen the ties Of friendship be
tween America and France, for boil
nations have tended in the same di
rection in the great matter of better
government for the peoples of the
world. France has liberaliZed the pol
itics of the old world, and rhrougt
her tremendous revolutionary cOmbatS
conquered a place for constitutional
government in nearly every one OF
the older states Of Europe, giving
liberty in a measure to every people
in that quarter of the world, as the
United States have to every state OF
the western continent. We Sympa
thize with the French in the effor
they are making to establish similar
institutions in Europe. After a strug
gle of nearly one hundred years the
French have at length, in the face OF
difficulties within and without, par
TALLY succeeded.
During our revolutionary struggle
for liberty and independence our re
lations with the French officers were
largely those of social intercourse
and were cemented afterward by mar
riages and ties Of kinshiD. There are
many families in America which
trace their origin to the time wher
the festivities following the event a.
Yorktown prepared the way to events
not less happy.
The Chevalier de la Luzurne, a dis
tingufshed officer in the revolutionary
war, succeeded NJ. Gerard. He hat
the honor of presenting to congress
the pictures of Louis XVI. and his
unfortunate consort Marie Antoine tie
sent by the king in testimonial o.
friendship. They were taken t.
Washington when the seat of govern
ment was removed there and were
burned by the British in the war O.
1S12-14. Luzurne was succeeded b!
NJ. Barbe de Marbois, his secretary O.
legation, as charge d'affaires, and he
in turn by Louis William Otto. Mar
QuiS de Moustier. Upon the adven
Of the Robespierre faction to power
the troublesome citizen Genet arrived
as ambassador. He behaved with 81
little prudence or propriety tina
Washington demanded his recall, AM
Citizen Fauchet was sent in his place
: Francois Jean, Marquis de Chastel
lux, member of the French academ,
and "marechal de camp" in tn
armies of the king of France, cam
to this country in 1880, with the ranl
of major general, under Count d.
Rochambean. He remained in thi
country about three years and wo1
the good opinion of all.
The young, handsome and intelli
gent Jean Pierre BrisSon de WarviH
came to the United States in 17SS-SG
He was a quick observer, and Wash
ington said of him that she was in
telligent, discreet and disposed t
receive favorable impressions O
America" He was a sincere reput
lican. and during the reign of terro
the guillotine ended his checkered lif
in Paris on October 81, 1893.
Viscount Francois Auguste de Cha
teaubriand Travelled eXtensivel
through this country in 1871, and re
turned to France at the end of 179.
ignorant of the great events that ha
taken place during his absence i
! America. He saw his nearest rela
tives perish by the guillotine, and h
remained alone, the last Of a nobl
i race. These horrors cast a shadoy
over his whole life. He never wa
a happy man, though he acquired III
dying fame as poet, author an
! sta teSman.
| Several eXiles came from Franc
i during the reign of the "terrorists.
The ViScount de Noailles, a brother
in-law Of Lafayette, and a soldier O
the revolutionary war, where he ha
! held an officers commission unde
! Count de Rochambeau. came back.
fugitive. in 1893. Like many othe
noblemen of the time. prompted b
! the liberal principles which had lie
him to offer his word to the cause Q
| freedom in America. he had side
/ with the people in 1879, but when b
! saw Louis XVI. prisoner an
doomed to the guillotine, he went t
England. and thence came to Ame7
! lea. where he remained until bette
times permitted HIN to return to hi
native land. He at one time PR
I iecte9 settlement on the Susqut
hanna. but abandoned it for want c
funds He was very poor while i
! America. and during the latter po7
ton Of his stay lived off the charit
Of his friends.
! The celebrated diploma list Charlie
/ Maurice. Prince de Talleyrand Per
cord. bishop of Autun. was an A.
tive supporter Of the French revolt
ton. He diG not. however. advocat
the g17il'ntine AS the maiustav nf III
erty. and after the fall of Louis XIV
he fell into Giscredit and thought
safe to come to America. Here \
entered into important merca1ti1
, speculations made money. and too
out napers of naturalization. He r.
turned to France. however. afte
the end Ct the -eign Of terror and a.
qufTed the reputation of being til
most cunning and unscrupulou
diplomat in Europe. The celebra te
! axiom attributed to him. "Speec
was given to man TO enable him I
disguise his thoughts" gives the ka
! 10 his character. He was a grea
wit. and his bon nlots are ofte
quoted. He was tie uncle of tn
] Ma1.n11iS Ia CaStolLano tho tlna,. E