The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-09-28
Lafayette.

Lafayette.
The New York Graphic correspondent
after witnessing the ceremonies at the
unveiliDg of the statue of Lafayette, in
New York City, calls up some reminis-
cencts of that distinguished Frenchman.
Lafayette figures in history as the as
sociate of three memorable careers, Wash.
ington, Louis XVI, and Louis Philippe.
He was the most intimate with Washing
ton of any man, not excepting Knox, or
Hamilton, or Green. Their names are
indissolubly linked, and Washington al
ways took priority in Lafayette's mind
and was considered by him, who observed
the whole career of Napoleon, to be the
greatest of men. No Marshal of France
or Continental statesman ever surpassed
in this great Frenchman's mind the char
acter of Washington, and there was no
Frenchman whose career spanned so
many periods and men as Lafayette. He
was born in 1857 and died in 1884, surviv-
ing Washington for thirty-five years. He
visited America four several times = in
1777, 1880, 1884, and 1924. To WASH
ington he sent the first trophy of the
French Revolution, the key of the
Bastille, at the hand of Thomas Paine,
and it is now feature at MountVe Vernon,
together with the bust of Necker, the
Minister who with Lafayette strove to
save the rule and life of Louis XVI.
1t is a noteworthy fact that the pres
ent stable and sound Government of
France-a monarchical republic-was
made by a man whose literary work has
successfully refuted every imputation on
Lafayette-President Adolph Thiers.
His history of the French Revolution
maintains Lafayette to have been its
only disinterested leader-the Washing
ton of struggle for republic on French
soil which lasted eighty years and was
only settled at last by the conquest of
Paris-the city which banished Lafay-
ette.
The relation of Lafayette to Louis
XVI was even nobler friendship than
that for Washington, because it was be-
slowed on an enemy. The vacillating
King and his discourteous Queen re.
PEELED the undiscouraged offers of friendly
aid from the soldiers hand, and their
allies placed him in the dungeons of
Olmutz for years. He repeatedly saved
their lives, and nearly lost both life and
fame to save them.
To Louis Philippe, Lafayette was more
truly kingmaker than Gaunt or War
wick. He was cheated, and died bitterly
repenting the act, and his last words, ut
tered on his death-bed, were for this rea-
son sad echoes to his CHEEKY life: "He
is knave and we are the victims of his
knavery." The King had just begun to
fortify Paris as Lafayette breathed his
last-those ramparts over which the
Commune fought the republic. But in
course of time the false King was run
out, the republic and empire Of Napoleon
the Little succeeded it, and then by the
refining uses of adversely came a good
republic-a France which could send a
statue of the dead Lafayette to America.
William III. Seward published at AL
bany and collected them into book Ger.
tain European letters, amongst which was
an account of his visit to Lafayette about
1882. He took u chaise from Paris and
rode TO the Generals estate, La Grange,
in Auvergne, about two days ride.
There the old Marquis entertained him
and Stewards father with eulogies on
Washington and denunciations of Louis
Philippe. And it is singular that at
this moment, freshly planted on their
pedestals, we should be dedicating
statues of Lafayette and Seward, guest
and visitor. They stand facing the same
street nine squares apart.
know of no public statue of Lafayette
in France. He never had great oppor-
tunities as a soldier, and the times have
never until the present come around to
his standard of French liberty. But there
was a statue of Lafayette in Frarce,
which led to his nomination as chief
of the National Guard. 1t
was sent to the City of Paris by America
and was placed in the Hotel de Vile.
Bailly-the author of the phrase falsely
ascribed here to Calhoun, that Deputy's
place is one which no good subject has
the right either to seek or refuse---had
Just been named Mayor. "And who
shall command the National Guard?"
asked many voices. They saw over La
fayettes head the American bust of him
self, and cried with raptures, "Choose
Lafayettep 1t is pleasant. also, to know
that the National Guard of New York, or
volunteers, were so named
for Lafay ette's National Guard.
Lafayette's portrait, painted by AIRY
Schaffer in 1922, was presented by the
subject to Congress in 1924, and is in the
House of Represe His bust,
with Wasbington's, was painted on ivory
by the Marchioness de Brienne in 1889,
and his portrait by Sully and Peale. His
bust is in the Virginia State Capital.
The principal square at Washington City
is named Lafayette. Colleges, hotels,
countries, cities carry his name all over
America, and Congressman and Cover
nors wear his name for prenon. Lafay-
cite Foster ba, been acting Vice-Presi-
dent of the United States.
The noble Frenchman called his son
George Washington, and while in an
Austrian prison sent him to America
to be provided for by Washington. The
boy, however, was intractable and
sullen.
The name of the father is not merely
that part ofit we use. He was baptized
Marie Paul joseph, Rock, Yves, Gilbert
Mother De Ia Fayette. His income when
he joined our army at the age of nine
teen was $27, 900 per aunum and his
wife's much greater. Her name was
Anastasia de Noailles, the daughter of
Duke, and when her husband came to
America he left her about to become
mother. His wife's brother had nearly
accompanied him, but he brought over
instead Baron de Kalb to be his inter
prefer, and several Polish, German, and
French officers.
Another strange coincidence is this.
Lafayette left his army Of twenty-three
thousand men in Sedan to cross the lines
with few staff officers and surrender.
He had been denounced as a traitor in
Paris, and his troops wavered in fealty as
successive commissioners from the Ja-
Goblin Government came out to them.
The first three the Mayor of Sedan, as
Lafayette had ordered him, put under ar
rest. Eighty wears afterward at Sedan