The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-05-12

, ton. sneak the words OF s0berness when
nrociaim hero that without France, without
That grand apostle Of liberty, Lafayette,
Yorktown would never have been name
In history, and American independence
would never have been established. Goo
bless France and the Freuch people forever.
Amid all their sufieriBgs aud trials. through
wears OF blood aud tears, their struggles all
have been In defence OF liberty.
have said that without France mere
would have been no Yorktown In history,
and no republic on this continent now
have 10 say 10 Frenchmen here that w'tnout
Yorktown there weuld have been no French
republic. The example OF the great repuo,
Tic established on this continent by the aid
Of Frcnchmen has created at last republic
In France strong. stable, ana prosperous,
and which, hope, will last TO the remotest
ages.
say. then, that two OF the most powerful
and enlightened republics In the world
France and the United States-had their
birth at Yorktown. Let them unite In the
celebration OF the grand event.
The names OF Washington and Lafayette
will shine together forever as twin stars IN
the armament OF history. They are the
names which will be invoked throughout
,fent arc sought TO be established.
The blood OF America and France flowed
in the same stream on the plains OF York
town. The green arm Of spring Is now
decking the sod under which sleeps their
comminglcd dust. Partakers OF the perils
of the great battle which won American In
dependence and gave a republic TO France,
shall they not be partakcrs, too, IN COM
memoraiing the glory Of that grand eyentI
trust we shall see at Yorktown In Octo.
Der next the descendants Of Lafayette ana
Rochambeau and De Grasse, and OF the OLD
soldiers Of France who so CALAMITY charged
the redoubts OF Yorktown. trust we snail
see on the blue waters OF the York the naval
vessels OF FraUce occupying the same posi-
ton which the gallant DE Grasse held, and
prevented the escape OF Cornwallis's army
and compelled his surrender. Let the regl-
ments OF France which we expect to wei.
como occupy the same place which their
fathers held on the plains Of Yorktown one
hundred years ago, and let the ships OF
France he IN the same grand river where
Admirsi DE Grasse disposed his fleet; and
let the ihunders OF artillery from land and
river proclaim to the world the union OF
two great republics which had their birth at
Yorktown.
But have been betrayed into making a
speech without intending it. | have this
only further to say The centennial OF
Yorktown will be an occasion OF the assem-
bling OF the people of the whole country
for the common purpose OF celebrating that
grand event which established American
independence and made this the greatest and
freest country on the globe.
Meeting together at the shrine OF the
birthplace Of liberty, all sectional and party
animosities will be buried. The "bloody
chasm" between the North and the South
(alas too long open) will be bridged over
by the arch of a liberal patriotism. which
will span an undivided country over which
one common 1ig shall float.
The centennial day at Yorktown will be a
day for the renewed conservation OF pa
triotc devotion aud for new departure in
favor of a liberal and national sentiment.
In the august presence of such an occa.
sion sectional strife and party animosities
must cease aud die out. And every Ameri-
can citizen, whether he comes from the
bleak shores of New England, or from the
green hills OF the sunny SouIh, or from the
prairies of the West, or from the golden
sands of the Pacific slOpe-wherever born
or of whatever race or color or nationality
he may be--can stand up as freeman and
put his hand upon his heart and say, Il
thank God l am an American citi2en.'