The National tribune., 1898-01-13

SERVED IN THE WAR OF THE AMERI-
CAN REVOLUTION-HIS VICTORY AT
WATTIGNIES-AT FLEURUS-A MEM
Der OF THE COUNCIL OF FIVE HUN
DEED-MAJOR- GENERAL IN SPAIN.
HIS CHARACTER.
Jean -Babtiste- -Jourdan, though in act
i've service till the overthrow OF Napoleon,
performed his greatest military achleNe-
mcnts in the carly struggles of the Repub-
lie along the Rhine, and hence occupies
less space than his real merit deserves, III
these sketches Of the Narshals.
The so of a surgeon, he was born April
90 1762, at Limoges, and entered the army
when bat III years old. loung, ardent,
and OF an age in which new impressions
are most easily made, he came To this coun-
trv. and fought side by side with the pa
triots of the Revolution, till the close OF the
war
Entering on his military career in a war
of liberty against deSpotlSm he naturally
adopted the principles embodied in our
Declaration of independence, and became
a stern republican, and continued SO
throughout all the violence and blcodshed
he afterwards witnessed in Erance-eVen
20 his death His character as military
man could not have been formed under
better leaders than Washington and Lafay-
cite.
Those who condemn the French Revolu-
-tion and the French Generals who made
Europe tremble, would do well 10 remem-
Der where many of them derived their first
ideas of equality that alarmed the
deSpots OF the Continent. That fearful
waking UP which France had was caused
in great measure by our st rring appeal TO
the world and our brave resistance 10 arbI-
trary power. The terrific ard protracted
struggle that covered Europe with armies,
was but the successful strife on our shores
transferred to wider and more extended
field. The French armies carried back
with them our declaration of rights, and
hurled it, like fire brand, amid the des-
potiSms of the Continent. When tyrantS
thought To qUench it forever, they rushed
TO its defense, and whirled it aloft with
shouts of vengeance, till Europe shook
with the rising sound of arms.
The French Revolution, with all its hor-
rors. was the legitimate offspring of our
Declaration of independence, working amid
the rotten monarchies, and ignorance, and
oppression and despair of the old world;
and those philanthropists who mover weary |
of singing the praises of Liberty IN this |
land of peace and plenty, show themselves
but bigotS, when they turn in disgust and /
horror from her more painful and revolving
ASPECT there.
THE SPIRIT OF LIBERTY.
"Ariosto tells pretty story OF fairy,
who, by some mysterious law of her nature,
sons, in the form of a foul and poisonous
snake Those who injured her during the
period of her disguise were forever cx-
cluded from participation in the blessings
she bestowed. But 10 those who, in spite OF
her loathsome aspect, piticd and protected
her, she afterwards revealed herself in the
beautiful and celestial form which was
natural to her, accompanied their steps, |
granted all their wishes, filled their houses
with wealth, made them happy in love and
victorious in war
. Such a spirit is Liberty. At times she
takes the form of hateful reptile. She
growls, she Misses, she stings; but woe TO
those, who in disgust, shall venture to
crush her. And happy are those who, hav-
ing dared 10 receive her in her degraded
and frigbtful shape, shall at length be re-
warded by her in the time of her beauty
and her glory
have made these remarks here, be-
cause they come more naturally under the
sketch of .Iourdan. who derived his first
lessons of freedom from US, and was one OF
sMacaulay.