The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-11-12
In MEMORY OF THE FRENCRmAN
A Historical Grafton Which Makes
Interesting Reading.
REVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLE
Career of the Noble Foreigner
Eloquently Told.

The publication of the following mag
nificent Lafayette memorial address, de-
livcred on Oct 10, to the pupils of st.
Joscph's Academy. St. Paul, by Hon.
ID. w. Lawler. Of that city, has been
delayed to make room for biographiul
sketches of Democratic candidates for
Office. The address makes interesting
reading at any time. and We now take
much pleasure in placing it before orr
readers In full. 1t is as follows;
Early In the spring of LIT tho presi-
dent of the continental congress, then
sitting at Philadelphia, received a note
signed by young French officer. tend
cring his services as Il soldier in the
American army. The conditions imp0s-
cd by the writer we're two, that he
should serve without pay. and should act
as n volunteer. Inquiry being made, it
was asccrtained that the offer came from
the Marquis de Lafayette, recently az
rived from France Scarcely 70 wears
of age, the bearer of an nncicn, am, hon
fortune, happy in the love of wife and
friends. he had heard across the swelling
waters of the Atlantic The cry of duty
that called him to the assistance of the
cause of liberty Friends and relatives
demonstrated. but in vain Purchasing
!; ship with his own funds and escaping
from custody after arrest, he avoided
two British cruisers which we're detail
cd to capture him. and landed safely OF
American soil. The modcsty of the rc-
quest made by him to the president. the
sincerity and zeal of his patriotism. the
story OF his sacrifices and his youth and
rank recommended him to the conf
d"nrc or the revolutionary government
ana on July 81. l777. congress passed 81
resolution accepting his services and
comforting upon him the appointment nr
major general in the continental army.
We are told that on the following 1ay
he was introduced to George Washing
ton. cnmmandcr-in-chicf, and by him in
vittd to share his quarters and join his
military family. We have no details of
this first meeting, but we would fain
linger lovingly in imagination about the
scene. Washington was 4" Years Of age.
In the very prime and strength OF a
magnificent physical and mental man
hood. tall, muscular, tligniied, with !,
dignity which neither camps nor courts
could give or increase, HE very imurr-
t,,, ,,c
sober Judgment. tho cnlbohimrn ana
representation OF the n,w era which
America was to open for The sons OF
men. Lafayette was - slender in
physique. delicate in appvaranrc, i'm
pci'nuH and imaginative. the gildcl
flower Of an old civilization and n tot
tcIing rule Washington symbDlizrd
the new. Lafayette, the Old. Each was
tho peculiar product of his oHll land and
environments Different in external
characteristics, they wrfc animated bv
the same lofty spirit of patriotism ana
love or liberty, and the acquaintance
which began on that July day rjpcncd
into an affcclionatr friendship which
lasted unchanged by Il single cloud un-
til the eyes of the great pres i,ient closed
forever ON the scenes of earth. BE-
meath the trees of Mont Vernon.
sleeps the father of his country. no
his tomb with rcvcrcd heart as TO IL
sacred shrine, are wont TO travel all who
honor the mightiest and the purest
name in secular history. and as the pill.
grlms drop their laurcls on his grave
they breathe prayer of love and .rati-
tudc to the memory Of Lafayette
In order to fully appreciate the char
actcr of Lafayette it Is necessary to
east a backward glance al the events of
the decade which preceded the date Of
his commission. He was !; mere child
when Lord North secured the passage
of the stamp act in violation of tho
cardinal principle of the British con-
stitution that there shall be no taxa
ton without representation We can
easily imagine how the heart Of the inn
pctuous French boy went out to the
colonists struggling, not as yet for in
dependence, but for The birtll-rgnt
guaranteed them by English law. ito
was told, perhaps. that in that distant
land of America were men who prefer
red to die for an idea rather than sur
render to oppression. Doubtless were
repeated to him the burning words OF
Fox and Burke and Chatham. who is
their high places in parliament, pleaded
the Justice OF the American cause. He
drank in the sublime eloqueEce of Pat
rick Henry, Of Virginia, and Otis, Adams
and Hancock, of the colony of Massa-
rl,,i.ctls His henri. had beaten high