The National tribune., 1883-12-20

for her respect and her faith in the Nation
which she helped to found more than a century
ago
The memory of Lafayette is not more warmly
cherished 10 America than in France. That
the FfeneiS governments forbade Lafayette to
go TO America; that Lafayette succeeded finally
in going only by Disgusting himself as courier
and escaping 10 Bordeaux, where he waited
half year before ventuFing to sail away-aH
this is forgotten. That Lafayette first predicted
the success of the revolt Of the American
colonies that Lafayette. in concert with Frank
lin, obtained the effective cooperation Of the
army and navy Of France daring the last
eighteen months Of the Revolution that La
fayette commanded the closing campaign
that Of Sirsinia-a2ainst Lord CORVALLIS and
that the English general AID his army sur
rendered before the combined forces Of France
and Amerlea-ail this Is proudly remembered
by the people OF the French Republic When
the Lafayette statue was unveiled a few weeks
sgO at Puy, much stress vas laid en- the
speeches of the occasion On I.alavcttcs heroic
and most Efficient aid 10 America and the
speech of Mr.. George Walker the American
consul general in France in describing the
enthusiasm of Lafayette FOR the high princi-
pias which cur country was destined to enzhodv,
incidentally and unintunti0raily expressed the
present enthusiasm OfeJntgibut0rst % the Liberty
statue foF the same principles and for our pres
ent honest struggle to lave according u them.
it IS the French people. not the government,
who have subscFlbed the large fuI3d necessary
to carry out the beautiful idea of gift from
the young Republic 70 the clder one. and they
have given promptly. freely, with the best q
grace IN the world, H0s money only, but inter-
est and enthusiasm. in support OF the artists
eudetvor to embody his ideal Of that liberty
which is the vital principle Of both Republics.
Tie brow Of the great face is calmly serious al
most stern. The mouth Is clear ens hrra. and
more grave than sweet. The whole figure Is
superbly full of calm strength. The hair IS
simply bound, not flying loose after the con-
ventI0nal god 3ess-Of-Gberty fashion In speak
ing Of this severity, Monsieur Barthoidi HIM
self has said: have been eensured for The
stern brow and rigid couture; but that IS my
/ ideal. Responsibility and order are OF the
essence Of liberty. The face of my stasue must
be not more sweet than serious, and in al her
/ traits, calm order must rule"
/ Ia ali the disorder Of French politics, in tie
Incompetence and s0rroE fol crudity Of our
I own national life, the discovery is a staTtliag
one-thst the old ideal of the Republic tbs
noble ideal that animated Lafayette and The
/ founders Of America, has yet that potent
! vitality which inspires = nation and an artist
/ And it IS a beautiful thing that France, the
J land which, in our great crisis, sent as a man
/ to help Us create a nation, sends Us now. in
/ our great prosperity. another gift. a superb
/ work Of art, to call rs back to the dideal from
/ which, In her estimation, We have somewhat
/ fallen away.
/ NATIONAL LIFE OF THE TWO COUNTRIES.
/ In the national life Of the two countries the
last century has developed a mighty difference
The men and women who form the French
/ Republic ara children of the men and women
/ whose earliest attempt 10 form republic called.
/ They are richer for their inheritance Of the
+ experience and tradition Of French forefath-
I ers upon French soil; the national inheritance
I IS a single Inheritance their traits are coTa-
mon more or less to the whole nation. and may
be thought Of as French traits. But who ara
the children OF the men Of the Revolution?
/ Only little portion Of the men who make the
American Nation Of today. There are Nor
mons IN Utah whose ancestors In theiF WELSH
homes had learned not a wOrf of English when
Lafayette helped Washington found the AMER
lean Nation. There are SeandinaVians IN
Michigan and Minnesota who viii never Learn
our language. There are negroes in the South
whose ancestors were savages in Africa when
France was already the most civilized country
in the world. There are Dutch towns in Peau-
sylvania which have never become thoroughly
Amerieanized, having been founded By men
whose rulers sold them for the purpose II
crushing our hOped-for nation ont Of existence;
and these men rule rs not by the weight sf
their massive vote alone, but by the moral alsd
social atmosphere which they have uneou-
sciously created IN the Republic. and by the
demand which they unconsei0usiy make upon
US, If the old high spirit IS 70 breathed into
them or their children if their dead weight Of
ignorance and alien feeling IS to be kept from
dragging Us downwards, away from the plane
of liberal self government on which our Anglo
Saxon forefathers stood. That we have fallen
away from orr old ideal, that We need 3 spur Is
easily seen if we do but compare our municipal
government with that Of England, whose
progress has not been checked by millions OF
incoming foreigners, but whose selfg0vern-
ment has steadily improved, carried on by
men who have grown richer in tradition and
experience; and, while we are bravely facing
our heavy task, and striving with cur best Gu
ergy to lift cur burden of ignorance and hold
ourselves TO a high standard, there IS keen
pleasure in the thought that France keeps her
old faith IN US, and looking with keen but
friendly eye upon our struggle, our difficulty,
our erudity and those traits OF cur character
which must of necessity be repugnant 70
French taste, still says IN the words Of Mon
sieur Bartholdi: Many strangers are among
and many of them know nothing Of the early
history, but the real America exists in spite Of
this. Liberty viii go once more from the old
world to the new, and, sooner or later, all the
ships Of the world wiz sail under her torch
FIX.