New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17
LII
CHARGES OF DOUBLE

But Barras is not 20 be allowed 10 have his
own way OF telling this remarkable tale. NJ Duruy
refers to the memoirs OF another Director Gohier.
TO show that the affair was less simple than II
looks in Barrass narrative. He also appeals 10
the autobiography OF Alexandra Dumas as con-
frmng the opinion that Barras, while condemn
ing the offer OF the King, was really endeavoring
to restore the Bourbons ut the same time that
SieyeS was negotiating with Bonaparte. In the
view Of the case Barras simply alert enough
to abandon his plan without compromising HIM
self when he saw that the movement toward
Bonaparte and the Consulate was irresistible.
In later years Barras was to be on very good
terms indeed with the Bourbons. Worse than all.
he. OF the bitterest OF men toward all who
injured him. was to entertain Fauche-Borel-
witness Dumas's reminiscences-as an habitual
and honored guest at his cottage OF Chaillot.
Bonaparte evidently considered the case against
Barras a good ore. for he is recorded by Barras
himself to have said: Had l known the 18th
Of the affair OF the letters patent of Barras
should have had them placed on his breast and
had him shot" Thus the Republican consistency
upon which Barras prided himself was preserved
only by his failure to carry out his own purposes.
But there may still be offered for him the ex-
cuse that he foresaw the end OF the Republic and
preferred the rule Of the BOurbons TO the tyranny
OF a military autocrat. His memoirs contain
numerous expressions Of this preference. II
he could not save the Republic. II the pdmlnistra-
ton of public business had become as confused
and corrupt as he himself represented Il to have
been he might well without political criminality
look about for other means Of uniting the Nation
and restoring peace. Unfortunately he did no;
defend himself on these lines. On the contrary
in his later years forgetting the picture which
he himself gave Of the weakness and vacillaton
and incapacity Of his colleagues In the Director
ate, e maintained that the Bonapartist upheavaI
was unnecessary. that the Republic. owing to It's
victories without might easily have maintained
itself wthin-that, in fact. it was moving slowly
but surely toward peace. prosperity and the in
divisibillty which 1t had hitherto asserted main
" on its offcia. stationery. His Bonapartst
editor proves without difficulty that this utopan
view Of affairs was ilusory. But. in any case
Barrass plotting up 10 this point was crime
only against Bonaparte. not agains. France. nor
even against Republicanism, which confessed
ly morbund.
But NJ Duruy has another accusation to make
against Barras. 1t IL that he not only plotted
with the Bourbons. but that he contemplated
with Bonaparte and that he won from the latter
a substantial reward. NJ Duruy acknowledges
tina. the evidence upon which he relies Is only
circumstantial Were IL not Tor BerraSS pre-
tence Of omniscience. perhaps the accusation
would never have occurred to him nor to any
one. II Barras had said that Bonapartes plot
successfully carried out on 18th Brrmaire was
a complete surprise to him then the evidence
against him would have been trifiing. People
might have wondered that he had so little sus-
picion OF q man whom he hated and who had
come to Paris so hastily from Egypt, but there
the wonder might have ended. But Barras
prded himself on knowing all about the plans OF
Bonaparte. He comedies that he was at fault
only in the data. He thought that what hap
pened on the 18th Brumaire to occur two
days later. Meanwhile he gives a detailed record
Of his own dongs. descending even to minute
correction OF those who said that he was in his
bath when the news came Of Boneparte's first
move on the 18th. He was not In his BATH the
state Of his health might have warranted him in
being there but he was really only shaving him.
self. The upshot Of the business was that the
man who was too quick for Robespierre and for
Carnot was one Of the most leisurely persons In
| Paris when he had to do with Bonaparte. He
writes out his resignation in the coolest words
after his fellow Directors have been disposed or