The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-03-17


nounce upon the fate OF Marshal Ney! Per
NIT me- Sire. TO ask your Majesty, where
were these -accuSers when Ney was march
ing over the field OF battle? All II Russia
and the allies are not able to pardon the vic
tor Of Borodino. can France forget the hero
Of BeTesina2 Shall j send to death one to
whom France owes her liie-her families,
their children. their husband, and parents.
Reflect Sire; il is, perhaps, the last time
that truth shall come near your throne.
1T is very dangerous, very lmpolIuc TO
push the brave 10 despair. All. if the un-
happy Ney had accomplished at Waterloo
what he had so often done before. perhaps
he would not have been drawn before ii
military commission. Perhaps those who
to day demand his death would have I'M
plored his protection
Noby said. brave Money. in this trying
hour Of France, when each was seeking TO
preserve his own head or fortune. This
single act should make him immortal.
Drawing the hatred Of the King and the
vengeance Of the allies. he on whose life
was no stain. here inteTposed himself be
tween an old commandments and death.
His place, his fortune, and his liberty he
regarded light As ar when put IN the bal
ancc with his honor and with Justice.
To any hut a Bourbon's heart this APP
peal would not have been in vain, and
that unhappy race would have been saved
another stain on its character, and Eng
hand dishonor which she never can wipe
from her history.
DEPRIVED OF HIS RANK.
This bold refusal Of the Oldest Marshal to
BE- President Of the Council OF War to Try
Ney. accompanied with such a noble APP
peal 10 the King. and deep condemnation
OF the allies. awakened, as was 10 be eX-
pected. the deepest indignation. The only
reply To IL was a royal order depriying him
n. ~ t.lI nd Ia
him without trial. 10 three months i'm
prisonmcnt. This order was cOunterSigncd
by Marshal 81. Cyr. 10 his everlasting dis
grace. lie had better died on the field Of
has fame or been shot like Ney. by lIngly
nlurderers. than put his signature TO such
a paper II all tie Marshais had entered
their solema protest against the act, as
Money did. il is doubtful whether Ncy
would have been slain.
Tie disgrace and Imprisonment Of the
old Marshal. without even the farce OF Il
trial. was in perfect keeping with the
despo.ic Injustice that had beforehand re-
solved on Ney's death But what pitiful
exhibition Of kindly violence was this
shutting up an old man over sixty years Oh
age whose head had waitencd in the
storm of battle. and on whose name was
Do stain or even repToach, Tor daring, in the
nObleness 81 his nature. 10 refuse 10 con
denim an old companion in arms, by whose
side he had fought so long and Draycly for
France and for freedom.
when power departed from Napoleon
most 81 his Marshals in their eagerness Ia
save their hard earned honors. and rank
and fortune, showed themselves wanting
AN some Of the noblest qualities Of man.
But Money, unmoyed by all his re-
verses. still kept his honor bright and his
integrity mistaken and the night that he
Raid his gray hairs on his prisoner pillow
witnessed Il nObler deed than the day
that looked on his most victorious battle
field.
Louis XVIII. was not long in perceiving
the bad policy OF this petty tyranny: and
when the three months imprisonment was
ended. ne reinstated him in his rank and
i'm 1920 named him Commandant Of the
Ninth Military Division. and soon after
IheValier Of the Order Of St. Esprit
In the inglorlOus Spanish war Of 1923
Money. then nearly seventy years OF age
was appointed over the Fourth Corps. He
marched into Spain. fought several bat
ties, and finally sat down in regular siege
before Barcelona.
The capitulaton OF this city. after some
severe fighting, ended the war and Mon
eey returned 10 France, and received the
grand Cross OF ST. Louis, and seat i'm tho
Chamber OF Peers.
In the late revolution Of 1890 Monce,
took nospaTt. He had LONG forcsecn tht
storm which Charles Y. by determining {,
keep up the Bourbon reputation for folly
WAS gathering over his head. and saw
without regret the overthrow of his throne
His age and sorrow for the death Of hi,
only son, who in leaping "A ditch in
hunting excursion accidentally discharge
ms gun and killed himself had driven hin
from public life. But when the Bourbon
throne went down again. he replaced Will
Joy his old cocllade Of 1882