The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-01-05
America and France.

York, attended by the leading men OF th'
city at which the following resolutions wei
passed:
Resoired, That while We dep!ore and col
denim the war of rivalry and ambition b
gun BY the Emperor Napoleon upon &c
many for the purpose OF fastening his dy
NASTY upon France, We also earnestly d.
plore and condemn the var OF vengeanc
md Of conquest nov waged by the Empei
or Frederic William for the purpose of fsi
tening his dynasty upon Germany.
Resoiced, That the armed people c
France fighting to-day for ssltgovernmeu
and for the ipviolabiiity of their nations
life deserve the full, hearty, and uGqualife'
sympathy of freemen in every land.
Resotced, That with Liebknecht, Bebel
and their democratic associates in the Pal
liaments OF North Germany, we denounc,
as "a hypocriticsl falsehood" the assertion
that France has no government with which
Germany can treat, believing with thos
brave German democrats, both that NJ
government not supported By the people
could possibly achieve whs. the repnblics T
governnen. of France has achieved Stree
me disaster of Sedan and that what tb1 re.
publican government of France has sfhieSed
no monarchical government in Europe couio
have attempted.
Resolved That in the ignomihious downfall
Of the Napoleonic empire We hail the ex.
tRction OF personal soveTument IN france,
aud that in the triumph OF the French re-
public we see the cure and the only sure
hop, OF the extinction of personal govern
rnent throug bout Europe.
These resolutions ehould speak TO the
hearts OF every true liher,y-loving American.
Who does no. remember OF the darkest
period of the Revolution in 1877, when New
oEk was occupied by the British and Fort
Nashingson had surrendered, and the dis
Gstrous retreat Of our army through New
Jersey and occurred, a young French officer
not twenty years of age, in vessel fitted
out at bis own expense, resisting she persus-
sions of friends, crossed the ocean to draw
his sword for American independence By the
side Of Washington. Wha. hope
and courage Lafayette gave to the cause
Of American independence history tells us.
10 1878 the Count D'Estaing came with e
ilaet OF sixteen vessels, and in $50 Rochem
beau landed in New Jersey with 5000 men.
This aid came 20 America in the time of
her soress need. Can we estimate i.s
value There are those who believe Il
saved. perhaps. the cause Of our revolution
md after nearly q century how easily this
debt can DO paid, ], will uot cost one
dollar, no. dime. Kind words, an approx
Jag smile, cheering message from the land
q W ashfnpfN7 n nj I,oFa
would stir the hopes and kindle "a memory
that would fill with 10y millions Of hearts,
this il gil that is asked, and il is not given
II was'no: go in other days. Our history
has made different record In 1896, when
The French Minister presented the coIors of
rance, 10 Washington, he gsid " Born in
land of liberty my anxious recollection,
ny sympathetic feelings. and my bes. wish
es are irresistibly excited, whenever, IN auY
country, / see on oppressed nation un:uEl
the banner OF freedoms. end later. IN ISIS,
when the Spanish provinces CT South Amer
ca were struggling for independence, their
cause was espoused by Henry Clay, and
others in the American Congress. q words
81, burning eloquence and fezvor did Daniel
y ebster aud other American statesmen
plead the cause of Greece And Greece,
more when she saw the light Of the Ameri
can republic gliding the ruins of her temples
aud playing on the broken affairs that he'd
'@: the foot OF oppression for twenty centur-
is. Poland saw that light within for the
last lime she hung out her bannes on the
Gei2Ets of WARSAW. And when hcssuth
came to our shores what welcome and
Grafton we gave him. The sympathy of our
people rolled towards him ike food, and
ee were wild with enthusiasm while he re-
hearsed to us the story of his coun.rys op-
preston in tones OF vierd and enchanting
gloquence, aud uttered these simple but
thrilling words :" For myself ask moth
ing. bu! for my poor, down.trodden Hun
gary would beg from door to door" And
80 it has been TIL now. But now, when the
the most stupeudous struggle the world ever
Witnessed for free government is trans piring,
what is the position of our country France
turns from the frowns of kings and emper-I
ors to US for encouragement. Does she
lind it? America averts her face, and
us.ers only words OF harsh criticism and
unfeeling rebuke. Well might France, if
aot upborne by her own great will, and the
immortal spirit of freedom, fall before the
mailed hand that has grasped and bears her
down, and exolsim in her anguish, And
you, too, America =
But says the political demogogue hunt
ing for German votes, France canno. Gus
tain republic! Her people are not pre-
pared for it ! Yet France is "a republic
md the world has never seen such skill
rapdity and courage "a her new builders
have shown in laying the foundations and
rearing the walls Of the Temple, over iae
very grave that was opsued for her sepul-
chre, and every stone OF the temple will
s:gnd, for it is cemented with the blood o.
Ireuchmen. And for every one of her chill
lreu slain it will rise higher. uotil it touches
above thrones and dynsaties, as the Alps
towers above the riven and scattered rocks |.
~ their base. The republic of France can T!
not live? It will not die No such calami /
y can befall humanity. Quench its lie. /
and what becomes Of that great industrial .
mass that is just beginning to feel the ex. /
utipg throb of freer and better condition.
that oppressed with debt, taxea, and var.
has ass risen TO assert its rights? /. has
CROPPED its way to the prison door, its foot Is
on the Threshold, it gees the light Of hearcn ],
pure and clear, it breathes air fresh and
L. Cad. pa,,o .bon ..