The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-12-20
NAPOLEON'S ORDER.
THE LEGION or HONOR AND HOW
rT WAS FOUNDED.

Despite the RIdicuIe The Project at
First Invited Its inauguration
Proved That Napoleon Knew
French Human Nature.
France owes the Legion Of Honor to
Napoleon. All orders Of chivalry had
been abolished by the revolution and
had left a gap which it was not easy to
I'LL 'sThey are mere geegaws," said
Monge, the chemist, who had taught
the revolutionists how TO make gun
powder out of plaster Of paris. Gee
gaws, II you will" the first consul an
swered, 'but people like them. Let us
approach the question frankly. All
men are enamored OF decorations
the French more than any. They posi-
lively hunger for them, and they have
always done So"
This was at Malmaison In 1902. In
May the copseil d'etat was invited to-
consider the project Of the institution
of the Legion of Honor. 1t was ridi-
culed by many, notably by Moreau,
who as victor Of Hohenlinden was bit
terly jealous Of the victor Of Marengo.
At dinner party he sent for his cook
and said to him in the presence of his
guests: Michel. am pleased with
your dinner. You have indeed distin-
guished yourself. / will award you a
saucepan of honor Nine. de Stael
was also satirical upon the subject.
"Ah, one Of the decoratedw she used
to ask each guest who was shown into
her salon
But Napoleon had gagged human ma
ture correctly. His Legion of Honor
did meet felt want, and it was defi-
nitely inaugurated on July IA, 1904.
Among the eminent men of science
and men of letters on whom it was
then bestowed were included Laplace,
the mathematician; Laiande. the as
tronomer; Cuvier, the naturalist, and
Legouve. the poet. The most notable
name omitted was that of Bernardin
de st. Pierre, just then in disgrace for
championing Nine de Stael, whom Ma
poleon had banished, but he got the
decoration later on the entreaty of
Queen Hortense.
After Jena Goethe was decorated. A
little later high promotion in the order
was given to General Lamarque, to
whom Sir Hudson Lowe had surrender
ed at Capri what did you do with
him?" asked Napoleon. .sThe king Of
Naples had him exchanged for Nea-
politan general who was a prisoner IN
Sicily" VERY well; there is no harm
In letting this English colonel go. He
is not dangerous" It seems not I'M
likely that Sir Hudson Lowe remem-
bered this sarcasm when he was Ma
poleon's Jailer few years afterward.
After Napoleon's downfall the Ques-
ton Of suppressfng the Legion of Hon
or arose. Chateaubriand, whom Napo-
leon had not decorated, strongly urged
Its abolition. So did Puzzo di Borgo
Marshals Victor, Marmont and Mac
donald opposed. After debate 1t was
decided to recognize and retain the or
der, not on any high moral or patriotic
grounds, but because Louis XVIII.
could not afford to make himself more
stripping people of their decorations.
Chateaubriand and Lamartine consent
ed to accept the red ribbon, but it was
also conferred upon great number Of
worthless personages and so brought
into contempt
There have been many Legion Of
Honor scandals since those days, but
one Of them surpasses all the others in
magnitude. This is, of course, the Will
son scandal the history Of which.
though intricate, is worth recalling.
The trouble may be said to have be-
gun on the day on which Mile. Alice
Grevy fell in love with an opera singer
who need not be mentioned here He
wanted to marry her, and she wanted
to marry him, and the papers were be-
ginning to couple the two names In
manner most embarrassing to the pres
ident Of the republic The president,
however, sent the opera singer about
his business and found his daughter
another husband. not very good hus-
band, but the best husband he could
procure on the spur of the moment.
His choice fell upon NJ Daniel Wilson,
who had long been one of M. Grevy's
political supporters and was aSdnancier
of some mark
No sooner was NJ. Wilson established
at the Elysee than he proceeded to en-
rich himself by various means Among
other things. he founded paper called
LIE Moniteur de pExposition Univer-
seile, which really covered traffic in
decorations. The whole story came
out in a state trial toward the end of
1887. 1t was proved that Wilson had
made regular practice OF selling the
Legion of Honor, or. rather, of invit-
ing people who wanted it to bride him
to use his influence to obtain it for
them. His overtures were presented
through his jackals. Generals d'Aud-
Ian and Cafrerel and Mines himousin
and Ratazzi, and the whole party had
to stand in the dock together
Wilson was sentenced to two years
Imprisonment. a fine Of 1900 francs
and 1--WE years deprivation Of civil
rights. He appealed, and the court of
cessation annulled the Judgment. The
accused, said the judges. was obvious
Iy guilty Of everything that he was
charged with, but as his offenses were
not anticipated by any punitive law he
could not be punished. So he retired
to the country and tried to live down
his bad name. AS he ultimately got