The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-07-14

NORTHUMBERLAND BARERE.
In the Spring of 1880 all indications
pointed to the establishment OF repre-
sentative institutions and responsible
Government in France under the system
of constitutional monarchy. The fierce
forces that three years later broke out IN
the volcano of the Reign OF Terror were
then Scething indeed, but SO far below
the surface of affairs that they gave only
now and then d faint shiver OF the earth
quake.
Zones believed, with Mirabeau-who by
the way had been his friend for years,
and was one of the counsel he employed
in 17S4-11s5 to settle the prize money
matteTS-that the outcome OF the stu
alton in 1850 would be constitutional
monarchy in France, with the wise and
generous Louis XVI at its head; and
that France under the stimulus % such
newfound freedom must develop a popu-
lar patriotism and public zeal that
would make a new Rome of her-to which
England could thenceforth play only the
part OF Carthage.
AS yet but two acts of open revolution
ery violence had been committed under
the new regime. These were the storm
ing and demolition of the BastiIe, July Ii,
1889, and the compulsory removal Of the
King and Court from the Royal Palace at
Versailles to the Tuilleries, in Paris, on
Oct. following. But both these acts
were easily guSbltdDle. Inc BdStile
ought 10 have been demolished as soon
as il was built, and the National AS
sembly had right to demand that the
Chief Executive Of the Nation should
reside at the Capital.
Meantime, until his untimely death in
the Spring Of 1871, Mirabeau, holding in
one hand the control Of the Assembly and
in the other the childlike confidence OF
the King, operated as a balance wheel
powerful enough to compel even the ter
rifle forces about, under and over him TO
work without apparent jar or Jolt
1t was at such time and under such
conditions that Paul Jones broached to
such men as Mirabeau, Philippe Egolite
Gate tie Duke de Chartres), d. Estaing,
Barere then Modcratist of the Moder-
ates) and many others, his project for the
reconquest Of the Canadas. or course, il
was kept a matter Of the innermost
council, but it met the enthusiastic APP
prevail Of all.
The part Jones hoped to play in this
drama suggests itself He knew the
French Navy almost better than any
French Admiral knew il. He believed, or
at least dreamed, that at the head OF a
great French feet he could repeat on a
grand scale the success he had achieved
with French ship and a crew more than
half French Of Flamboro Head II years
before.
Jones reasoned naturally He knew
that when he had met the English at sea
he had always beaten them. He knew
that, only two years before, he had taken
Catharine's motley, irregular and saualid
fotilla in the Black Sea and, though
hampercd by an incompetent and Jealous
superior, he had out manuvered, out
fought, reduced TO ;mpotency and almost
destroyed the Turkish feet that had domi-
mated those waters for more than three
centuries. He had a right, then, TO believe
that, with such a French feet as existed
in 1880. he could restore permanently that
temporary command of the sea which
enabled Washington TO win Yorktown and
with it the independence Of the United
States.
Nothing less than this was the dream of
conquest and glory that filled Paul Jones's
mind in 1880. That year and 1891 passed
away in comparative tranquility Now
and then excuses would break out here
and there in France, but all hopeful men
regarded them as only casual or local
ebullitons OF popular unrest, which time
and the progress Of events toward sound
and stable Government based on free
institutions must soon efface.
Meantime Jones's health improved. By
the Spring OF 1871 his lung trouble had 81
far abated that his physician allowed hin
10 make a trip to London, which he hac
long desired.
VISIT TO ENGLAND.
OF his departure from Paris for this tril
he says: when Philippe (Egalite) ant
Barere badc me bon voyage they sait
loosely that the next they expected 4
hear of me was that my body woul,
ornament q gibbet on the battlements @
Dover Castle or my head would garnish
pike-staff on London Bridge"
Of his visit he says that the Englisl