Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-03-05
HER HUSBAND REPROVED
An Interesting Incident During the
French Revolution, When Monroe
Was American Mnister-A Touch
ing Episode Connected With Lafay-
cites Visit to Jefferson.


following narrative is especially inter
esting. 1t is taken from an article
by MGrat Halstead, published in the
Cosmopolitan Magazine of October,
1897:
AS heroine of the French revolu-
ton, Nine. de Lafayette suffered more
keenly, perhaps, than anyone. Admira-
ton for and loyalty to her husbands
principles satisfaction suspense,
agony, the whole gamut of emotions,
were lived over, day after day, month
after month, always dominated by an
answering devotion-happiest of all
when she was permitted to share his
prison cell. There were long, hope
less days when she in prison was
alone, separated from her children, in
absolute ignorance of her husbands
fate-with the knife of the guillotine
ever above her head. There was the
supreme agony of the time when she
learned her beloved mother, sister and
grandmother had been sacrificed be
cause of the name of Lafayette.
James Monroe, Minister.
By the time the revolutionary war
was over and the government of the
United States had been organized at
New York the French revolution was
shocking the world. James Monroe,
a soldier and statesman, a man of
fortune and intellect, had been dis
tinguished among the group of illus
trious Virginians as one who feared
that the republic might be so strong
under the constitution as to be mon
archical He was a senator from his
state. the close friend of Thomas JEFF
ferson, and had married the beautiful
Tory belle, Miss Eliza Kortright
daughter of Lawrence fortnight, who
had been a captain in the British
army Washington found Hamilton
and Jefferson the representative men
and leaders of opposing principles
There was public occupation for both
and, feeling himself easily capable OF
impartiality, he sent John Jay, the
friend of Hamilton, to England and
James Monroe, the friend of Jefferson
to France.
The arrival of Monroe at Paris on
August 2, 1894, closely followed the
fall of Robespierre. The French ter
ror' had been such that the nations OF
Europe were not represented in
France. The position of the Amer
can minister was consequently unique
in its responsibilities, demanding ex
IRENE delicacy. Monroe was received
by the national assembly, before whom
he delivered an address which was in
broad sympathy with the French re
public and received rapturous wei
come.
This speech was destined to have g
great influence upon Monroe's career
He awaited news from home with
some trepidation, and when it arrived
it was in the form OF reproof. Ed
mund Randolph, the secretary of state
wrote that he did not perceive in the
instructions of the minister of France
anything that imposed upon him the
expression of ''the extreme glow o.
some parts of his address"
Monroe's Determination.
Three months after Monroe hat
reached Paris he wrote; 81 was eX
tremely concerned upon my arriVa
-~-,fe to find that our countryman, MI
Paine Thomas Paine), as likewis'
Mime. de Lafayette, were in prison
the former of whom had been confinet
nearly nine months and the latte
about two. / was individually en-
treated by both to endeavor to obtail
their enlargement. | assured then
of the concern Americans had in thei
welfare and the regard entertained b,
the president, and told them that
should embrace every opportunity
Rut il was difficult to take a step oil
ficially for either, and impossible il
behalf of Nine. de Lafayette" MOI
roe added that he would do what h
: was able to do without compromisin
the credit Of the government-tha
Nine. de Lafayette might confide wit
certainty in this. and, 'in case any e1
tremity was threatened, l would go be
yond that line and do everything in M
mower. let the consequences be wha
they might to myself, to save he
With this she is satisfied" And h
said further he could not think sh
would be speedily released, and h
had assured her he would supply he
with money; this she had mot accepte
vet. but soon will be compelled.
February :, 1895, three months late
Monroe wrote to the secretary {
state: 4 am happy to inform you ths
Nine. de Lafayette was lately set
liberty. and, although could not max
a personal application in her favo
vet it was done in Accommodate
with that which was informally mad
She attended Immediately at my hons
to declare the obligations she owed
our country, and of which she man
tested the highest sensibility. 81
was destitute of resources and r
quired aid for present support an
debts"