The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-08-04

place himself in a position to become
arbiter between the two extremes in the
coming National Convention. One, and
by no means the least, of the uses of such
a command that he had in view was to
rescue the navy from the skeleton
clutch" of Jean Bon ST. Andre ard his
group.
The supper to which they now went
had been ordered beforehand by Barere
at the Cafe TimOn the famous rendezvous
of the Central Jacobin Club. 1t was Il
grand affair. At the table sat CarnOt,
Cambon, Vergniaud Marion, Collot, Bill
laud, Kersaint, Gensonne Barbaraux, Lou
vet and others of that brilliant group, in
all p, including the host, Barere, and the
guest of honor, Paul Jones.
No one, except Jones himself, appre-
hended that his end was so near. He
coughed a little, but was otherwise strong.
Barere had made that supper for the pur-
pose OF formally presenting Jones to his
as his candidate for Admiral OF the French
navy.
AT this, which proved to be his last
supper" says Capelle, call were delighted
| with the~apparent mending of the Cheva-
| lieT's health. Barere and Philippe were
particularly cheered by his showing of
| strength and recuperating energy. They
toasted him as the coming Admiral of
France. But he parted all their compli-
ments politely and finally said:
"'Gentiemen, pardon me, but let me say
| that this is no time for Jest or raillery, no
| matter how well meant how gentle.
! You all know my sentiments. l do not
| approve, | cannot in conscience approve
all that you have done, doing, and,
alas, intend yet TO do. But | feel that
ought to take advantage of this-per-
haps my last opportunity to define clearly
| my at.itrdc.
"'WIlatever you do now, France does. II
you t. / my good friend the King, France
/ kills h because, as things are now
| ordered, tEc group of which great ma
once sad: II am the State" You can say
| that YOU are the State with more truth
| even than he could.
My relations with the people across
| the Channel are known to all Their
encnl cs must be my friends everywhere:
| these when they hate, must love. AS
| all here know, as all France knows, the
progress of the French people toward
| liberty and the promise that progress
gives OF new strength and new might to
| the French Nation, fills the rulers of
England with alarm and resentment. The
day when this alarm will turn to hostility
| and this resentment be expressed by
| blows is not far off.
| "When that day comes, If am able to
| stand a deck, l shall make no point of
cal opinion. ! shall only ask France to
| tell me how ! can best serve her cause.
| "You have brought back to my ears the
sound OF many voices giving forth the
| luSty cheers OF courage in combat. Some
of those faces were Of the American
mold but more were faces of Frenchmen
| Some OF those voices sounded in my
native tongue, but more in the language
| OF France. The richards crew was, as
you know, considerably more than half
Frenchmen.
81 cannot be immodest enough to say
! that found it easy to teach them the art
OF conquering Englishmen. But l trust
you will not think me vainglOriOus if
say that, in that combat, l at least did
what, unfortunately, some French Off
GERS have not of late years done-I simply
let my Frenchmen fight their battle out.
"Now, | promise you that, if live, in
whatsoever station France may call me
to lead her sons, shall always, as have
done, when meeting the English or any
other foe, let my Frenchmen fight their
battle out. ~
This was the signal for an ovation
But it was the last one. Rising from