New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17
PFPI-RIJCAN VIRTUE.

II must be conceded to Barras that he had
sense OF the fitness of things which many OF his
contemporaries lacked 1t was his misfortune
"a COMPARED with Talleyrand and Fouche. for
exampl, that he pretended to be guided in his
political conduct by certain principles He
could not have taken office Of any kind under
Napoleon or Louis XVIII without publicly
abandoning the opinions which actuated the
portion of his life that gave him pride For the
conqueror OF Robespierre to yield such point
was impossible. Mere self-conceit would have
constrained him TO maintain his original atti-
tude After the storm over, and he had
nothing to do but remember the past, 1t was
his right to praise his own consistency. even
though he must conceal his original motives
If self-esteem led him to do what another man
would have done from conviction. he has still
the obvious merit of doing as he did. His plea
that he never acted otherwise than as a Re-
publican is unanswerable. The volumes In hand
comprising the second half Of his memoirs. begin
at the moment when he was one or the most
popular men in France. 1t was really only
result of his earlier achievements that ne was
then enabled to expel his colleague in the d.
rectorate Carnot. instead of being driven out by
Cornot and to pat down on the 18th Fructidor
what he interpreted as Royalist uprising
He was even much of a faVorite' mat
General Augeraau, his principal Instrument
in this little political triumph. wished MN 10
declare himself dictator. He philosophers with
a lofty virtue that has flavor OF antiquity
upon the blindness Of people who could not see
that a man might be willing to save his coun-
try or preserve the form Of government ne pre-
ferred without deriving personal advantage
from the AFFAIR. This is not the way says he
grandly. by the pen of NJ. Rousseln de Saint
Albin 'in which the vulgar herd understands
great polltical acts; II IL unable to comprehend
that mar can make display Of authority Win
out increasing his own, or even without usurp-
ing the sovereign power. This was not the
last time that Barras was urged 10 make hiih-
self dictator. Up almost to the day when Bona
narte initiated the consulate suggestions OF the
kind were repeated and emphatic Geherai
Jourdan and Bernadotte. later TO be KING oi
Sweden with some hopes also OF empire at the
time of Napoleons Ethan exile. at diHeren'
times pressed Barras 10 assume the sole ruler
ship of the Republic NJ. Duruy smiles at the
thought. LAS Barras's ambition does not soar
SO high" is his remark, he is content 10 ENJOY
the good things Of life. Supreme power for this
,ndolent and sceptical epicurean Never.
Feasting. an ostentatious style of living pretty
women of easy virtue and money are all That
Barras asks for
Tbera is also another reason one which many
a fu-blooded man can appreciate. Barras hated
to see men die; above all he hated to be the cause
OF their death. 1t was with genuine sign Vi
relief that he exclaimed after the 18th Fruc'idor'
mot a drop Of blood is shed on this memoraoie
day which saves the Fatherland' AND again
II is with an emotion totally unmixed with MS
usual cyncism that he refers to the death OF the
victims Of the 9th Thermidor. II ever men de-
served the guillotne 1t was RoDesplerre anu
those who were in his company But II was
man. Fouquier- Tinvie, not less bloodthirsty
than they who had to take the ordinary meas
ures for their execution. When this man, stained
with blood. asked where he should SEND the men
sentenced to DEATH Barras replied: ITO the Pace
dc Ia Revolution, and let them be the last.
The man was a soldier only by accident: he was
politician by instinct and he knew Well that
no man could govern the France OF his time
without bloodshed He never says this. but he
never misses the opportunity to tell how he OPP
posed his colleagues In the Directorate whenever
they seemed bent slaughter. 1t was ne un-
doubtedly who saved the life Of the English Ad-
rn,rai Sidney Smith. He was persistent OPP
moment OF extreme measures that involved blood
shed He seemed to think that this was owing
10 a virtue of his mind. NJ Rousselin de Saint
A,bin does not contradict him. neither does NJ
Duruy AS matter OF fact. Barras and both
his editors have unconscously dwelt more than
4. necessary on a popularity which was not
mental but physical Many a man has inter-
nre,ed n bodily sensation as moral excellence.