The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-21

us some sent as generous free will offer
ings, some sold to us in the ordinary course
Of commerce, some received from her in that
general diffusion of ideas of which France
is one of the most important European
centres. The influence Of France on Amer
lean thought and American life has been
incessant and strongly marked. 1t began
with her friendship and invaluable assist
ance in our Revolution. The noblest OF
her gifts-the pure. generous, heightened,
youthful Lafayette-the intimate friend
of Washington, in whose house at Mount
Vernon an apartment is still pointed out to
tourists and visitors as the room OF La
fayette, was the earliest and brightest OF the
benefactions which we received from France,
and the one which has done more than all
others to knit the two countries together in
affectionate unity. Next in the order of
time following the volunteer services of the
youthful and generous Lafayette was the
treaty by which France first recognized our
independence, Immediately after the sur
render of Burgoynes army at Saratoga, and
thus introduced us into the family OF ma
tions. The sincerity of that invaluable ser
vice was attested by sending a French
feet to our coast under the command of
Count Rochambeau to cooperate with the
patriotic founders of our Republic in its
struggle against the mother country. In
later periods of our history the benefits we
have received from France have been of a
different description, coming in the ordi-
- 10 - cd too "a
and exquisite finish of her finer manufac-
lures in wool, in silks, in laces and gloves,
and the choice products OF her vineyards,
have given her the command OF our markets
in articles most esteemed by our prosperous
classes, while the skill Of her modistes have
made her the queen OF fashion in this as
in all civilized countries. She has,
indeed, taken a great deal OF our
money, but we have had full compensation
in the diffusion Of taste and elegance in FEM
mime attire and in Frightening the exterior
Of our social life. We recognize even the
moral benefit of her beautiful and expensive
fripperies, for although they may have
seduced some vain people into style OF
living beyond their means, their general
effect is beneficial. The wealthy classes will
spend great deal Of money in some way.
and the kind Of importations made from
France cultivate taste and diffuse elegance
and replace coarscr forms of indulgence.
We must, therefore, recognize France as
benefactcr, even in what she sells to us.
But there is q per contra in this pleasing
account with France. We have imported
everything with advantage from her except
her ideas. Batting science, which knows no
nationality, French ideas have never been
suited to American circumstances. When
the great French Revolution had advanced
beyond the control of that class of minds
which co-opernted with Lafayette, the warm,
impulsive sympathy which our countrymen
had given to the first stages Of the move
ment was not wholly withdrawn. Our first
marked division into political parties grew
out of the events Of the French Revolu-
ton. In the early stages of that
Revolution-the greatest event of mod
ern times-our whole people gave their
plaudits and good will to the French repub-
licans. Their movement was regarded as
glorious counterpart of the American Revo-
luton, and Lafayette was hailed as bright
connecting link between the two. When
Lafayette sent to his revered friend, Wash
ington, the keys of the demolished Bastile,
there arose o general shout of enthusiasm
from the American people. The succeeding
horrors and atrocities Of the Reign Of
Terror shocked sedate Americans, but did
not detach our whole people from the cause
of the revolutionists. Washington and the
sober men who had most Of his confidence
were filled with horror but large body of
the American people, under the lead Of
jefferson, stood by the revolutionists in
spite Of their inhuman excuses. That
diversity of sentiment respecting the French
Revolution was the origin of our first polit-
ical parties. Our countrymen divided on
foreign question which did not much con-
Germ them except as O matter of sympathy
or antipathy. Our domestic political con-
tests were waged for many years on a ques-
ton arising out of the internal government
Of France. The outrageous abuse poured
out upon Washington during the later years
of his administration was O consequence of
Jefferson's active sympathy with the French
Revolution.
Jefferson's sentiments were a natural con-
sequence Of his residence in Paris MS the
American Minister in the first stages Of the
French Revolution. Like all American
residents in Paris, from his own time down
to our own, he was charmed with the social
life Of that pleasant capital, rs his predc-
cessor, DIR. Franklin, had been before him.
jefferson brought back from Paris his ac-
quired French tastes, especially Us to modes
OF living, which led to the grotesque sar-
oasm Of Patrick Henry that Jefferson was
recreant American who had ''abjurcd his
native victuals." II was not merely his
French tastes which made Jefferson the