The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-07-16

MINNESOTA, THURSDAY, j
policy, honor stranger and patriot
ism a mockery; and in these prideless
creatures England found her only con-
tinental friends.
Of all her devoted sons America had
none more valuable on the CONT
nent than Franklin. His striking per-
sonality, simplicity of manner, plain
ness of diction coupled to his scien-
tific reputation and the popularity of
the cause he represented concurred in
advancing the success of his mission.
With a diplomatic astuteness, not sur
passed by Talleyrand, he made the
cause of America the cause of human
liberty. To kings he appealed to ma
tional interest and jealousy, to the
learned he conjured up the spirit of
the times and to the patriot masses he
pointed to America as the exemplifier
of the rights of man. Fortunate in
winning the favor of Marie Antoin-
cite, sympathy for America was made
the fashion at the court of Saint Louis.
Voltaire, then in his dotage, seconded
Franklin with tribute to "God and
liberty" With an enthusiasm, greater
than they now exhibit for Cuba Libra,
Europe took up the American Cause
and exerted every effort to promote its
welfare. In Germany, Emmanuel Kant,
the great philosopher, proclaimed its
Justice. Goethe declared it an inspira
tion of newborn love of freedom,
Schiller, with the ardor of youth, sang
it's praises and Frederick, by forbid
ding Hessians to pass through his do
minions, brought his name and infiu-
ence to bear in it's favor. The bluest
blood of France, the bravest exiles of
dismembered Poland, the most skilled
, of German warriors, every Irish refu-
: gee from Saxon oppression, every SOL
dier of fortune and every friend of hui
, manity aided or wished we'll for the
struggling colonists.
The surrender of Burgoyne demon.
strating the earnestness and soldierly
qualities of the Americans, followed
r by the French declaration of wal
: against England, began the European
' struggle that was to finally unite the
continent in crusade against the com
J, mon foe. The departure of the French
S fleets and armies for America was
: sanctioned by every court in Europe
t Catherine rose as the defender of thu
n rights of the neutral flag, and with thu
= aid of Gustavus III. of Sweden, en-
: rolled the northern nations under th'
2, principles of the armed neutrality, tn
l. most formidable coalition ever formed
against Great Britain. Spain, though
q refusing to acknowledge the independ
IS ence of the colonists, in June 1919 be
It gan war in their behalf. The Dutcl
l. republic to avenge the treacherou
# seizure and pillage of their West Indial
'e island of St. Eustatius by Rodney, fol
IS lowed Spain in joining the enemies o
'e England.
j. England, then as now mistress
j. the seas, with the spirit that has mad
e, her great, stood Indaunted before he
rs enemies. Despite the fearful odd
III against her she was everywhere triun
1e phant on the ocean. She drove tn
in French from India and crippled tn
K Spaniards in America. In Europe he
IN fleets were the terror of every allie
,ir power. Rodney's great victory in tn
g. West Indies over De Grasse and Ell
n otis gallant defense of Gibralts
ty against the attack of the combine
IS French and Spanish fleets disguste
of the Bourbon kings with the war an
H. made them anxious for peace. Englar
sh herself was exhausted and the capit
or lation of Cornwallis showed her the f
he tility of continuing the war in Anne
in lea. Her trade was ruined by the ra
ages of the American privateers, whi'
he every Englishman Joined in execrati1
sh as the greatest curse that ever fell {
to England. Wherever British CONNER
m unfolded sail, wherever it had
nix stronghold and wherever it had an i
to terest, there, like destroying ange
an hovered those dare-devils of the ocea
tes and the extent of their depredatio
s a brought the enemy to reluctant {