The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-10-05
Yorktown Mt England.


an English journal express the opin-
ion that there is no reason why an
invitation should not be extended
to England and to the descendants
of Lord CORVALLIS to take part in
the fete. The suggestion is worthy
the irreverent humorist who depre-
Gated the invidious distinction made
by the government in asking the
descendants of La Fayette, Roch-
ambeau and De Grasse, justly re-
marking that Lord CORVALLIS con-
tributed, as a matter of fact, the
most of the glory to the Yorktown
event. There were many agencies
contributing to that inspiring victo-
ry. Louis XVI. of France, the de-
scendant of a thousand years of
kings, with great reluctance gave
the order to send his great mobiles,
his household regiments and the
flag of lilies to lend grace and coun-
tenance to revolted democrats. But
the Ministry of Louis was denomi.
mated by the longest head and the
most adroit negotiator of his time.
Ministers-Maurepas and De Ver-
genes-were wisps of straw in the
hands of Franklin. He walked
through the narrow streets Of Paris
and the young spirit of democracy
drew free breath. He appeared
in the resplendent ante-chambers Of
Versailles; and the courtiers crush
ed each other to see the ungilded
agent of the new Republic. The
King received him with formal po-
liteness. 1t is doubtful whether
Louis didn't in his heart of hearts
hate the rebel Minister as bitterl !
as poor old George III. Louis, it is
true, brought himself to an appear
ance of rejoicing over the American
victories, while George III. making
no pretext, treated Franklin kindly.
So far, therefore, as national comfy
enters into the question, we should
do as well to ask England to join
not SO much in the celebration of
triumph over a people as the defeat
of bad Ministry and a stubborn
King. If the Yorktown affair in
October is to mean anything, it
will mean not vulgar clashing of
tom-toms over the mere brute tri-
umph of force over force on the
great Virginia seaboard ; it will be
rather the awakening of a profound
peaceful reminiscence of the devo-
ton, chivalrous and animating,
which enabled the armies of a king
dom and republic to push steadi-
ly on to a conquest whose results
have been as profoundly beneficial
to the conquered as to the conquer
Ors.
Nor can it be forgotten, in recall
ing those memorable last events of
the seven years of patriotic offort,
that England made peace through
the force ofideas and public senti-
ment rather than by the self-ac-
acknowledgement of the impossible
ty of conquering the colonies. King
George was, even in 1872, the rich
est sovereign in Europe. He had
all Europe save France and Spain to
draw upon for troops and he had
the riches of the Indies to subsidize
his brethren, the venal princes, ru-
lers of the helots of civilization. A
liberal Englishman should, there
fore feel no more reluctance to par
ticipate in the Yorktown celebra-
ton than he should in drinking the
health of William of Orange, who
was under any construction an in
vader and astranger and dispossess-
ed the oldest line of English kings
to take the throne. Every year Of
cur existance as a republic has
shown the wisdom Of the separa-
ton of the two countries. In COM
merce we have aided the mother
country. In war we are check to
her enemies. In all that relates to
the well-being of people America IS
an aid, not Q menace, to the land
from which we are separated, as
children separated from father and
mother when the marriage vows
have been exchanged. Phiadetphia