The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-03-02

Under tho above title, O chapter OF the his
tory Of our war for independence that has been
too often overlooked or cursoriy dealt with Is
made the subject Of careful and systematic
inquiry in a monograph by Mr.. EDWARD ].
LOWELL tHarpers) The authors materials
have boon industriously gnrnered from the sole
authentic source Of information. to wit. the
archives and literature Of Germany. He has
proflted. OF course. by the journal Of the
Baroness Riedesel. who was an eyewitness Of
some interesting events and Incidents and no
acknowledges weighty obligations to the writ
ings Of Friedrich kapp and Max Won Eelking
who were his precursors In this field OF research
But he Is far from being nero translator and
epitomizer OF their books. He has not accepted
the results of their labors without notification;
for all his important facts he has gone for him
selrto the original authorities. to the treaties
State documents. and manuscript narratives
which are collected in the imminent rooms and
libraries'of those parts Of Germany to which
the British Government had recourse for aux
Hilary troops. The task undertaken by Mr.. Low
ell has been thoroughly performed. Regarded
from the point OF view Of the general reader the
book which he has given us sets forth in n conf
pact well-or'iered. and animated story the out
come Of q patient study Of q special theme.
which. although Its scope at first sight may
seem narrow. has really an important bearing
on the estimates OF the resources which the re-
volted colonies found arrayed against their
own. and ought not to DO neglected by the social
observer who would account for the prejudice
with which. in some parts Of our country u
German emigrant was viewed. almost down to
our own day.
Two reflections will at once suggest them.
selves to the reader OF Mr.. Lowell's book. One
Is the unreasonableness Of the indignant out
cry raised by the American colonists against
Englands employment OF mercenary troops.
Admitting however. the existence Of the detes-
taton with which the German auxiliares were
regarded. and recognizing the fact that half a
dozen German potentates sent about thirty
thousand OF their subjects to fight against us.
while the equally absolute King OF France saw
fit to send far smaller number OF his sub
jects to fight upon our side. how are we to &C
count for the behavior Of tho Federal aHthori-
ties at the recent commemoration OF the battle
OF Yorktown In bestowing equal honors on the
French and German flags. and on tho repre-
sentatlves Of the French md German nations !?
As for the alleged iniquity involved in the
procurement Of German merccnaries for SER
vice In America. 1t appears that hardly
any voices were raised in Europe against the
proceeding. except those OF advanced French
Liberals like Miraboau and the Able Raynal.
hHu luOSo VI VIC WING oppOSlLlDu IN tho
British Parliament. The censure pronounced
by Frederick the Grent on tic man. selling
princes" was not likely to mako much i'm
preston upon those who recalled his own
readiness to hire Germans to fight against
their brethren. The proceeding would nat
urally be looked upon by the mass OF
men al justified by tho unbroken GUS
tom Of centuries. German troops had been
for sale throughout tho wars Of religion in
France and the Low Countries; during the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries they had
repeatedly been hired to fight under foreign
colors against their fellow countrymen.
large contingent OF Germans served In return
for English guineas In tho armies led by Marl-
borough. and after Electors Of Hanover had b.
come Kings Of England considerable bodies Of
them were continually In English pay. The
American had not word Of protest to offer
against the material assistance which the
mother country drew from this source during the
long wars with France. whose capital object was
tho overthrow OF the French power In Canada.
| The Continental Congress would have greeted
hessian auxiliAries tcould they have OBJ
| tanned them as cheaply) quite as cordially ~
| they welcomed aid from France. Indeed, 1t
| must have been rude shock to tho American
survivors OF Braddock's defeat and Of many q
French and Indian massacre. It must have run
dlr0CtIY COunt0r 10 tnO most lnV0RrAt0 tfa0t-
lions and prejudiees Of the colonlsts. to be
suddenly called upon to fight In concert
with their age-long enemies against the flag
which they had helped to plant at Louisburg
and Montreal. But the Continental Congress
needed funds. and 1t could not be expected to
decline the ofYor Of fleets and armies. that were
to cost them nothing backed rs this Was with
largo advances OF money and profuse supplies
OF military stores-overtures and sacrifices
which 1t suited the statesmen Of Versailles to
make In the prosecution OF their purpose to
fatally weaken England by stripping her OF heI
hard won empire In America.
But. however churlsh 1t may seem tc
minimize the debt OF gratitude which We
owe to France for an utterly selfish In
terposition. 1t is clear enough that we art
under no obligations to the petty German
princes who. from motives identical with
those that actuatsd the court OF Versailles. t
wit. tho furtherance OF their own interest. saw
At to hire out their subjects for the work o
supprcssing the rebellion In America. So fa
A. any German States interiered at all In ou
struggle for Independence. directly and Of
hciently. their action was against US
while to French support. however prompt
l cd. WAS certainly Qua the victory Mt York