Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1886-10-13
Lafayette In America.

WASnlnStOn correspondent Oh INC
Louisville Courtcr-,Iournal writes: Con-
grcss learning that Gen. Lafayette had
expressed an anxious desire to visit this
country, the Independence of which his
valor, blood, and treasure were so in
strumental in achieving. requested the
president of the United States to ascer-
tain the time when it would be most
agreeable for him to perform this visit,
and that he offer to the general a
conveyance to this country in one of our
national ships.
Gen. Lafayette declined this offer of
public ship. He sailed from Havre in
the packet-ship Cadmus, accompanied
by his son, George Washington Lafa-
yette, and arrived at New York on the
18th of August, 1924. His reception in
the city was all that his heart could de-
sire. He soon proceeded on tour
through the United States. Everywhere
he was received and honored as THE
national guest For more than a year
his journey was a complete ovation.
When the time of his departure drew
near, new frigate, the Brandywine,
named in honor of the gallant exploits
of Gen. Lafayette ut the battle of
Brandywinc, was provided by congress
to convey him to France. 1t was deem
ed appropriate that he should take final
leave of the nation at the seat of gov
eminent in Washington. President
Adams invited him to pass few weeks
in the presidential mansion. During
his sojourn at the capital he visited ex-
President Jefferson, Madison and Mon
roe at their several places of residence.
Having paid his respects to these ven
Grated sages, the nation S guest" pre-
pared to take his final departure from
the midst of grateful people. The
18th of Sept, 1925, was the day appointed
for taking leave. At y o'clock the Off
GERS of the general government, civil,
military, and naval, together with the
authorities of Washington, Georgetown
and Alexandria, with multitudes of citi-
zens and strangers, assembled in the
presidents house. Mr.. Adams then adj
dressed him in an appropriate speech.
copy single paragraph:
"You have traversed the twenty-four
states of the great confederacy; you
have been received with rapture by the
survivors of your earliest companions
in arms; you have been hailed, as a
long-absent parent, by their children
the men and women of the present age;
and rising generation, the hope of fu-
ture time, in numbers surprising the
whole population of that day when you
fought at the head and by the side of
their forefathers, have We'd with the
scanty remnants of that hour of trial in
acclamations of joy at beholding the
face of him whom they feel to be the
common benefactor of oil. You have
heard the mingled voices of the past,
the present, and the future age joining
in one universal chorus of delight at
your approach; and the shouts Of I'M
hidden thousands, which greeted your
landing on the soil of freedom, have
followed every step of your way. and
still rcsound like the rushing Of many
waters from every corner Of our land"
Gen. Lafayettc's happy reply closed
with these words:
God bless you. sir, and all who sur
round US. God bless the American peo-
pie, each of their states, and the federal
government. Accept this patriotic fare
we'll of an overlooking heart. Such
will be its last throb when it ceases to
beat
The moment of departure at length
arrived, and having once more pressed
the hand of Mr.. Adams, he entered the
barouchc, accompanied by the secretar-
les of state, of the treasury, and of the
navy, and passed from the capitol. An
immense procession accompanied him
to the banks of the Potomac, where the
steamboat Mount Vernon awaited to
carry him down the river to the frigate
Brandywine. The next morning this
boat anchored in safety near the Brandy
wine. Here Lafayette took leave of the
secretaries of state, the treasury, and
navy, and the guests who had accom-
panied him from Washington, together
with many military and naval officers,
and the eminent citizens who had as
sembled in various crafts near the frig-
ate to bid him farewell.