The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-10-29

THE FRIEND OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND AMERICA
FREEDOM
The surrender at Yorktown, which constituted
of the most glorious pages of our history, has
long furnished theme for the historian, and
painter and the poet. Some of the first pens and
pencils nave neen Droughs 70 pear upon tne ,h suo
wise, 1t has been brought before us, the name,
LAFAYETTE, stands forth in bold relief and attracts
attention beyond thai of any other brave soul
that could not then claim to be American by birth
The Marquis de Lafayette was born i'll 1857. and
was one of the most extraordinary and influential
men of his time. He was, in the fullest sense.
member of the French aristocracy, and a gentle
man of fortune. His percOcity may be inferred
from the fact that at the age of fourteen he dis
played marked literary ability, and wrote with
great fuency. When but sixteen he married. and
three years afterward, moved by love of liberty
on hearing of the struggle in which the American
wife home and Kindred, and draw his sword ON
the side of the oppressed. Here was sacrifice at
the shrine of human freedom. Young, noble,
wealthy the friend Of Princes and the beloved of
an adOred and beautiful wife, he separated him.
self from all and the advantages pertaining to his
rank, to share the dangers and the fate of the
brave handful of half starved half naked patriots
who dared to stand up for right in the face of one
of the most powerful Nations in the world.
His freedom of action in this relation, however,
was embarrassed, inasmuch as the King who OBJ.
jected to his leaving France, ordered his arrest
as to prevent him carrying out his noble project.
But here the French monarch was powerless. fol
the object of this persecution, having fitted out
ship his expense, escaped to it in disguise.
after untold privations, and after having once
been recognized by young girl who found him
asleep on some straw, but who never once thought
OF betmysng him.
He had heard of the loss OF New York and New
Jersey to the Americans. but this only served to
increase his desire TO hasten to the relief of the
latter. And so, although pursued by two French
cruisers, and menaced by the English n-of-war
on the coast, he escaped all dangers and landed
safely on the shores of South Carolina Here
everything was novel and delightful tc him, as he
70 1,fe
arrival and here he soon met Washington, for
whom he formed an Instant and abiding friend
ship, so impressed was he with the true nobility
and commanding virtues of that great and mighty
msn
Wnen Lafayette first saw. the poorly armed
Jagged and hasa iSbfes dn OF Amerca d in LINE pe
his surprise. But with penetration beyond his
years he perceived in this stern, selfsacri6cing
and dogged array all the elements of future sue
cess, and in this conviction often seemed to i'm
part strength and hope to any whose spirits
tended droop beneath the weight of the reverses
and great privati0hs that pressed upon them.
Washington also soon began discover the true
metal in the young Frenchman of nineteen,
whose sword invariably leaped from its sheath at
the word OF command. Hence. when but twenty,
he was made Msjor-General.
Lafayette's sufferings In our cause was severe
and his iaeors terrible ne T was woahnea al
when, although scarcely able to move. he wrote
letters constant ty to France imploring It's states
men to attack England in India and the West In
dies Before his wounds were healed he re-
| joined the army He performed in winter jour-
| ney on horseback of 400 miles to Albany; he
commanded at Rhode Island: fought like lion,
and bore all the hardships and privations of war.
After this he was seized with violent fever, and
seemed for weeks at the point OF death On his
recovery he sail for his native land. from Bos
| ton. in 17S0. fet lf 4dl
On returning to France, he was received with
ReMs While ey the King him and
| him back to America with a promise OF ships,
money, clothes and men. Once again he rejoined
Others. He now commanded in Virginia with
| skill and bravery against CORVALLIS, and witt
his illustrious chief, planned the campaign whic
resulted in the taking of Yorktown and the clos
After the surrender of CORVALLIS. Lafayette re
to spee nc ae te aae keS11 o
Americans, began to move In its tortuous grooves,
He was now the favor te of the people, and was
Ell tn e snd
| spheres of the hour. while the armies of Europe
lay in front of him, ready to crush his Repub
lican projects. He was overpoweIed and con;
:tnsS :sei shelter on foreign so but insted
shelter in iss1a ,eaaly the sIao@ sense wa
of Olmutz, where he remained for five years. Fol
more tkan half that period he was cut off from
/ even learn whether his wife and children were
still alive. At length his wife, VINO had barely
escaped from the guillotine, joined him with hel
their son having been sent to America to the care
of Washington Nor was it until the armies O
France under Napolean began to shake Europs
that they were released,
? He now became header in every move pertain
ing to the advancement of liberal government
Il and cultivated large farm at La Grange nea
| Paris On hearing OF the death of Washington h
| wept bitterly; and in 1924 25 after an absence o
;, forty years, he egain visited America, but thi
time with his son. His reception was magnifcen
beyond measure-the gratitude of generous Ma
i ture permeating 1t through and through. Ill
visited once more all the old historic places, ant
| met many of his comrades in arms, with sucl
intense emotion that 1t would be almost profana
tion to attempt to put II in words; % his retur
TO France he still stood firm in the principles h
had espoused and fought for; but the time of hi
I departure was drawing nigh; for he breathed nj
} last in hope and in peace, at La Grange
. in 1884,. leaving behind him characte
for all that was noble; self-sacr
cpg rsce Sss been and the shne Of many
American pilgrim, and 1t Is still filled wit
, "reminiscences of the land he loved and aided $
= | well. He left one son, George washington, an
7 two daughters. Edmund Lafayette, who WI
visit America this FALL is the son of that son, an
Q | the last of his name The portrait which we Civ
!. craving published by his family.
o " And row that the magnates OF our land al
standing in the broad blaze OF two glories :
9 | Yorktown-that OF the .pass-and that OF tn
,, present-sure,y 1t viii require no gieat ehort
J the imaxination to lean to the belief, that r
! small share of the radiance that surrounds thel
i Is an emanation from the unseen spirifs OF u
! islustriOus heroes who assisted In laying II
e foundation of this great Commonwealth Cou
we but penetrate the vail: Washington, Lafsyetut =
! to be seen by us; but as this is impossible 1T on
remains for us to feel that they are present, a!
y to exercise that faith which does not walk
- sight alone. tyF s<<