Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-08-24
HISTORY AND THE HESSIANS.

HISTORY AND THE HESSlANS,
The enthusiasm of our people mani.
tests itself on all occasions of great
excitement, often to an unreasonable
extent. The war between France
and Prussia has given an opportunity
of displaying our character. II would
be well enough for our people to re-
fleet little, and read Historical re-
miniscenccs of the dark days Of 1776,
when the combined hosts Of British
Indians and Hessians wero engaged
in scalping our grandfathers. The
New York World says.
1t is curious telegram which comes
TO us from Paris announcing that
Count Gutenberg, the agent in that
CITY Oi the Uraud D.lso of Iusav-
Darmstadt, has requested tho Ameri.
can Minister to take under his pro.
lection the Hessian subjects whom
fate, or their mere free will, or their
foreknowledge absolute of the events
of the war, may restrain from rush
ing TO the aid of the FatberIand and
keep as residents in France.
1t is not surprising that Count En-.
zenberg should have asked this favor
for he was long a resident Of the Uni.
ted States, and he knows how thor.
oughly cosmopolite is the bird of our
freedom, how forgiving of injuries,
and how generous TO tho down trod.
den. Nor is it either surprising or
improper that the favor thus asked
should have been promptly granted
by our envoy.
If the German sympathizers for
American political ends who are Just
now making such a noise among us
really controlled the policy of the
government, the favor could not have
been decently asked nor wisely &C.
corded. We owe it to our position as
a neutral power, and to the good
sense Of the American people in in
sisting upon such position, that we
are able TO exert our national authori-
ty efficiently in times like the present
for the benefit of such otherwise hope
less nationalitcs as the Hessian.
But who in l7T6 could have dream
ed that the flag of the United States
would ever be invoked as their palla-
dium Of safety by the people of Hesse?
II is no fault of that people or of their
rulers that the flag OF the United
States now waves in the air at ALL
If Hesse and the Hcssians could have
bad their way some three generations
ago, there would have been no lcga-
ton Of the United States in Paris to-
day to open is sbeltering doors to
their DEFENDANTS
1t was hard saying of Lord Grey
that "nation knew no chivalry." One
might almost believe it true who secs
how carelessly certain class of
Americans have come to think and to
speak of the saving help extended to
our fathers in their hour Of sharpest
need by the government of Louis
XVI and the oountrymen of Lafay-
ettc. But it is surely rebuked by tho
magnanimity which throws the folds
of the stars and the stripes over the
grand children Of the mercenary cut
throats whom an English king found
it so easy TO hire in Germany for the
suppress sion of liberty in the New
World.
1t is exactly ninety-two years ago
since the hearts Of this people were
made glad by the news which came
TO Washington, amid the chill horrors
of Valley Forge, that France-her
rulers and her peoplc-bad recognized
as Independent States these United
Colonies, and that they were willing
TO aid us with men, with money, and
with materials of war. Lafayette
had come sooner; but Rochambeau
was now set on his way, and soon af.
ter the little village city Of Rhode Is.
land, where peaceful and luxurious
wealth now recrcates itself saw the
lilies of France floating from her men
of war in that beautiful harbor. Old
warriors from Fontenoy, and silken
knights like Lausun, and palmer sol.
diers like Cusline, came on shore.
ready to share hardships and priva.
tions VITA the halfclad, ragged Ameri.
cans. Lincoln mot Abraham, for
there are Others in our story besides
tho immortal rail.splitcr) and Ro.
chambeau, stood side by side when
the British flag was finally struck at
Yorktown and Laurens and Lafayette
had stormed CORVALLIS last rcdoubt.
From that day to this, in tho land
which gave us such friends when we
most needed them, there have been
sad and bloody chances and changes,
but till lately it was clear that our an.
cicnt sympathios had survived them
all. 1t was an impulse of gratitude
/ towards the France which helped us
in our hour Of trial which made US
rejoice at the good the first revolution
promised, and made us mourn when
the dream was 90 bloodily broken
We reioiccd over Dumouriez victories
at Nalmy; and we sorrowod for
Waterloo, though we had no more rea.
son to like the first Napoleon than
the third. We hoisted our flags and
rang our bells when the Bourbons fell
in 1880, and again when, eighteen
years later, the dynasty Of Orleans
ran away in a cab. Our minister was
the first TO recognize Larmartine's
fancy government OF February and
we were content when Cavaignac put
down the mob of June. The return
oftho Napoleonic dynasty was not alb
solutcly distastolul to the American
people and when Irish Mcmahon
slormed the MalnlSof ahead of the
English in war, and Ferdinand de
Lcesops made his canal success in
peace, we felt proud Of France rs of
our ancient friend and ally. Even
the error Of Napoleon Ill as TO the
Southern Confcderacy had something
more manly about il than the "wil.
ling to wound and yet afraid to strike
conduct Of Great Britain. We felt
even that there was something more
picturesque in French sympathy with
tho South than in tie spirit Of some