The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-29
From the American I


the United States, with the object OF
attracting to the institutions OF learning
in France those American students. who.
after having completed their course Of
study at home, wish to become acauaint-
ed with the higher teaching that is to
be obtained on the continent Of Europe.
Now, it is but proper for US, who are in
terested in the welfare of the great Amer
lean republic, to inquire whether it is not
possible 10 affect a closer impeachment
between the seats Of learning of the two
sister republics. Such has been the object
in tho appointment OF the FrancO-Amer-
lean committees upon which the name Of
the American ambassador to France Mr.
Eustis, holds an honorable place. The
names of his French colleagues furnish
a guarantee Of the strong desire of rep
resentative Frenchmen to form stsl closer
ties with America The fault will not be
in France if young Americans do not find
their way in increasing numbers to the
great universities Of that country; for its
greatest men-men whose laurels are re-
cognized in every country where eminence
in all branches Of learning is valued
have consented to act upon these commit
tees, of which Michel Breal, and the cell
EDIdleu
ington, are the respective chairmen. We
may be certain that with their co-opera-
ton something will be done whereby
American students may be induced to avail
themselves of the undeniable advantages
offered by France.
1t is, indeed, an interesting coincidence
that the article by the great savant
Michel Breal* should have appeared in
these columns almost at the very time
when the most eminent representatives
e ant solo nd ffesse frnHp in Nre1rs
country in the. world were met together
in Paris to join their French brethren
in celebrating the centenary of the French
Institute. That celebration is remind
err, if reminder were needed, Of the great
services rendered by France in every de-
partment of civilization and progress. The
institute in its five divisions, has done
much for literature and science during
the past hundred years; but it should
be remembered that the pre-eminence of
France in every liberal pursuit can be
traced back, not for one century, merely,
but for many. This centenary, however,
serves to show the world that the nation
which, in former days, produced so many
men of towering greatness is still prolific
In noble achievements, and that the men
of the present are worthy of their pro-
The recent death Of Pasteur, while cast
ing a gloom upon ceremOnials in which,
had he been spared, he would have been
a striking figure, brought into prominent
relief the wonderful discoveries which at
tracted to mis- laboratories men of every
nation and every tongue. France, with
that catholicity that has always distin-
guished her, has given a warm welcome
to such visitors who came to study her
methods. In painting and sculpture no
one at the present day disputes her SUI
premacy. The question for us tosconsider
is this: Is there any reason why the great
work of French savants in the domain OF
literature and learning should not be as
well known to Americans as the achieve
ments of Englishmen and Germans2
The great universities of England, OK
ford and Cambridge, boast of their an
uquity; that is, perhaps, the principal
ground for the great consideration they
enjoy. But so far as antiquity is con-
cerned France need not fear to enter the
lists. Her Sorbonne with its 1900 stud
entS of all kinds, is at least 200 years old.
1t was an academy to which scholars and
philosophers resorted from every part
of Europe when the merits of the univers-
tiles by the Cam and the Isis were as
yet unacknowledged by the world, and
we have just seen that the traditions Of
the past have been wOrthily upheld. In
the case of oxford and Cambridge, we
find that some of the greatest men of
England who made there a temporary
stay acknowledge themselves as under
no obligations to those universities for
any higher inspirations. Narrow relig-
ious tests prevailed in England till a
period within the recollection of many
now living. The dissenters of England
of whom the Pilgrim Fathers were an
offshoot were, until quite recently, ex-
cluded from participation in the advant-
ages of universities of their native land.
The same rule was applied with, if possi-
BILE, even greater strictness, to the Cath
Olics. France, on the contrary, since the
great revolution, has offered with cordi-
ality her hospitality to men of every race
and every creed. Discrimination is not
known there. Universal liberation for
every variety Of religious thought has long
Let us now glance briefly at Germany
and inquire why so many American stu
dents are attracted thither. Is it because
of any early ties connecting American
and Germany? The connection of France
with our country was closer and more in
innate, and if gratitude for the past counts
for any thing, France has claims to the
sympathy and interest of Americans be-
yond those of any other country; for no
American should forget the services rem
dered by France and Frenchmen to the
cause of their national independence.
1t is on other grounds, however, that
France claims for herself the love of
America. Ideas are more potent than
men or money, and the ideas of liberty
and equality found earliest or most forci-
bic expression in France. The settlers of
New England had their own ideas of free
dom; but after all, these We're narrow
and limited; they never rose to the alti-
tude of full liberation for sects other than
their own. The great universal note of
freedom as every mans birthright, was
nrst pronounced in unfaltering accents by
the French encyclopedias; it is to the
praise of America that her sons made
those theories a living, actual reality. If
the Declaration of Independence is a sa-
cred document Of worldwide significance,
one that shall be studied by patriots and
statesmen of every country till the end of
time, we must not forget that Jefferson
was in no small degree indebted to France
Tor his ideas.
So far as race is concerned, the ties
which bind France and America are Of
indlsputable weight Many of the great
est Americans have been able to trace
pack their ancestry to France; and it is
admitted by every historian that the
French Huguenots had an influence out
OF all proportion to their numbers, in
shaping the early destinies of the United
states. They came here upon the revo-
cation of the edict of Nantes with notions
OF freedom no less high than those that
animated the Pilgrim Fathers when they
NED from the tyranny of the Stuarts. If
II IS highland it is, indeed, right and
Proper-for men in whose veins runs the
Fngr1m blood. or who are grateful to
those sturdy champions of American
rights and liberties, to erect monuments
70 their memory and to make pilgrimages
20 the land whence the Pilgrim fathers
came, surely it is altogether right for pa
Flotlc Americans to visit a land sancti-
teu Dy struggles no less lofty and inspir-
ing, 10 the heroes Of which many of our
Hoblest Americans trace their origin
40 not wish 10 be understood as under
Ys4mng the achievements. in the cause
OF our independence. Of french Catholics,