Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-04-02
NAPOLEON'S ORDER II
THE LEGION Of HONOR AND HOW
II WAS FOUNDED.

OesPAte inc n101cu1e 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
mad left a gap which it was not easy to
hll. They are mere geegaws," said
Monge, the chemist, who had taught
the revolutionists how to make gun
powder out of plaster of paris. Gee
gaWs, If 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 conseil 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. l am pleased with
your dinner. You have indeed distin-
guished yourself. l will award you a
saucepan of honor" Nine. de Stael
was also satirical upon the subject.
"Ah, one of the decorated?' 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 def
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; Lalande, the as
trOnomer; Culver, 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. 1.-The king Of
Naples had him exchanged for Nea-
politan general who was a prisoner in
Sicily" Every well; there is no harm
In letting this English colonel go. He
is not dangerous" 1t seems not un-
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 suppressing 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 it 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
unpopular than he was already by
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 VIII.
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. HI
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 abou
his business and found his daughter
another husband, not a very good hus
band, but the best husband he coul(
procure on the spur of the moment
His choice fell upon Nj. Daniel Wilson
|
political supporters and was a financie
of some mark.
No sooner was M. 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
selle, which really covered traffic IL
decorations. The whole story cam'
out in a state trial toward the end O
1887. 1t was proved that Wilson has
made regular practice of selling tn
Legion Of Honor, or, rather, Of invit
ing people who wanted it to bribe hin
to use his influence to obtain it 70
them. His overtures were presenter
through his jackals, Generals dAud
Ian and Caherel and Mines. Limousil
and Ratazzi, and the whole party hal
to stand in the dock together.
Wilson was sentenced to two years
Imprisonment, fine Of 5000 franc
and five years deprivation of civl
rights. He appealed, and the court o
cessation annulled the judgment. TIL
accused, said the judges, was obvious
~ guilty Of everything that he wa
charged with, but as his offenses wer
not anticipated by any punitive law h
could not be punished. So he retire
to the country and tried to live dow
his bad name. As he ultimately GO
himself elected conseiller general. on
must suppose that he succeeded In thl
object.-Pall Mall Gazette.