New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-26

the prodigality with which nature gave military
genius Of the first order TO France at the mo-
ment when the Revolution was impending. The
coincidence is startling. 1t is almost equivalent
TO a proof that the Revolution was provided TOT
beforehand as something that must take place.
The eulogists of MarCeau and Hoche. captain
Johnson among the rest. are willing to believe
that II either Of them had lived to guide the
destines " the nation. no imperial despotism
like that of Napoleon would have been though
or There is also hereto or two in the world
who imacnes that even Washington. Indifferent
as ne was to mere possession of power might
have prolonged his dicta torship in country Ike
France striving for order as he had first strlNeh
for indepcndencc Captain Johnson calls Ma
polnon the fail Of Europe and the most terilnle
ci,,z.n that ever scpurGnd a state. But ne was
in his earlier days as much Repuph'ah az
any of his brothers I'm arms He lived TO prove
that his co lvictions were easily changed Ho'he
and Narceau died before the gradual rise Of am
bition could tempt them away from the Demo
cratic enthusiasm OF their youth. But there is
nothing aside from words and from certain
Quality of mercy and kindness in the dispos-
ton Of both that would prove them incapao''
OF Selling a despotsm if il were offered them'
Captain Johnson's book will be scanned III VAN
for any NOR, definite ideas or this subject in
MarCPaNS
youth. to be replaced by loss benevolent feelings
in old age.
Narceau had good reason for dlsliking the no
hles Of the Old Monarchy They were IN MS
WAY. His whole soul was turred to the profess
sion Of a soldier He entered the army at the
age Of sixteen. and at once displayed singular
aptitude for military life. But he soon learned
that promotion above The lowest grades was I'M
y, biCb MI
blemen whether they were capable or not. ana
oven moderate rank was accessible only for
men Of the middle class who had money. As
Marceau was poor his skill soldier and his
attention TO his duties won him nothing better
than tie privilege Of mstructnG certain I'M
beetle and reckless Young officers in the resl-
men: TO which he belonged. To these Weli-borh
creatures Marceau and his comrades We're as il
beings Of another species. His disgust win 'he
service was great. But the Revolution changed
all this at stroke. Merit was free. II might
bring a man To- the guillo'ine. but at all events
il no longer added 4 sting to the contempt of
class whose brains had been frittered away in
long line Of ancest ,rs. The conte mptuous class
lad disappeared. blown away BIZ the popular
tunult as MOSQUITOES are whisked off from
sandy coast ny q Whit of air from the sea From
The date of his enrolment in Tia Na'ional Guard
AT the age Of tVentN-thlee.
So youthful did he look that his appearance
before the Committee Of Safety in his uniform.
according 10 the rules Of tho service. vas al
most the signal for a riot. As he stood in the
hall Of tho National Convention. awaiting the
opportuniiv 10 call upon the Committee. hN be
came the object Of angry comment II was
novel experience 10 the man who had put down
the fornidabl rebellion of the Royalists in La
Nendee Was it any wonder. asked one deputy
OF another. that the armies Of the Republic were
before the Committee of Safety in his uniform.
Of a general? one bitter word followed another
til the hall was in uprOar. and the subject
vas about to be brought before the Convention.
when the notorious deputy Bourbottc entered the
chamber Now this Bourbotte had once done
his best to bring MarcHau TO the guillotine. but
IN the Vendcan war he was saved in the nick of
time from the vengeance of party Of RoyalistS
10y the man he had injured. and from that mo-
;nent. contradicting the popular proverb. had
been his most faithful friend. To l}ourbotte.
indeed Marceau owed much of his advancement.
What is it all about" asked Bourbotte. That
yourg officer" was the answer. What Mar
oeau. My friend Marceau" Whereupon there
was first embrace in right French fashion,
and then wilder tumult than ever in the hall.
with shouts for Marceau and for the Republic.
and illusions To the recent victory Of Lc Mans.
which had destroyed the last remnant of the
Vendean forces.
If youth enhanced the glory of Marc-aus
achievements as a commander it also confused
the estimate that must be put on his words and
acts in point Of humanity. There is no DOUBT
that the indiscriminate slaughter Of the Ven
deans ordered by the Republican leaders and
eagerly carried out by the soldiery with the ap-
He prevented 1t whenever he could. and protest
ed against it and over again. His name
lives to this day less in his deeds of arms than
1n his efforts to save the Nendean girl Angelique
des Mesllers from death and worse than death
He saved her for few days. but the guillotine
cheated him when his back was turned. ON the
other hand. there the same false note in
his reports that sounds through most of the Off
cial literature OF the Revolution. Captain John
son has translated some Of his letters from lie
Mans 10 the Minister of War. II is not some
amateur general and professional rutian like
Rossgnol or Turreau. fresh from d Partisan
drnkshop. il is Marceau who writes: Il can
assure YOU that more than three thousand fana-
tics bite the dust this moment" In an official
document he is not ashamed to write Of & gallant
enemy as "rascals' and "brigands" and rob
bers" Doubtless these phrases were conces-
sions 10 the rhetorical spirit of the times. But
when moderation Of language would really have
been mark Of the genuine soldier, IL is strange
that Marceau did not govern his pen What IS
80 be considered is whether a man capable AT
twenty-three Of this artificial resentment and
denuncation would not have been capable at
thirty of taking advantage Of the State, II he had
lived 10 enjoy the opportunity.
Fortunately. Marceau had other experiences
besides those of bitter and shameful civil
He showed i'm meeting the leaders Of foreign
foe that he could forget the excitement Of the
battlefield in the geniality Of friendly conversa-
ton. There were men arrayed against him in
i,a;ties along the Rhine who loved him as dearly