Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-03
FRANCE AND AMERICA.
FrnnLlin's Mission thu Resulted in
an AIIinncc Detweem the Countries.

an Alliance W the countries.
ii. A. Ogden writes of "A Great Repub-
lican at Court In the July st. Nicholas.
Mr.. Ogden tells of Franklin's mission to
France and its results. He says:
The court of France, while friendly and
willing to aid us as it could, was not as
yet ready to acknowledge our independence
and by so doing to provoke n conflict with
Great Britain. The war, thus far, had gone
against us; news of the one bright ray in
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS victory at Tren-
ton-had taken five months to reach France,
so difficult was it to escape from the British
cruisers watching our coasts.
Some muskets and a private loan of $780,
900 were secured and single volunteers
were plenty. To fight for America became
with the young French mobiles what now
adays we should call q fad" Franklin
was besieged by requests to be officers in
our army or for letters OF recommendation
to congress, and he was at his wits end to
refuse with kindness, so that he should not
make promises of rank that he could not
| fulfill.
In contrast to many of these requests at
this time stands Lafayette's generous offer
of money, arms and his life II need be, with
out promise of rank or reward; but the
French government still withheld its aid,
waiting for some decided victory to prove
W IN uullouS VI EulOpc luGI tHc uulleQ
colonies stood some chance of winning their
liberty.
During this winter of darkness for free
dom'B cause, Franklin must play his part in
the gay world of Paris. To make friends
for our country was his constant aim; her
enemies he defled and everywhere he ex-
pressed his certainty of the final triumph Of
America in the struggle.
We have all heard Of the phrase, "These
are the times that try mems souls" These
words were used at just this time by Thomas
Paine, who wrote a series of articles on the
American war. For, while it was dark in
deed on our side of the ocean, it seemed also
as if no nation abroad would help us. Frank
lin sent his associates, Lee and Deane. to
the courts of Spain and Prussia for aid, but
neither was disposed to take the first step.
Diplomacy among nations is often a tedious
and selfish proceeding. Meanwhile the doc
tor did what he could toward arming ships
and making easier the lot OF prisoners of
war abroad. AS to the ships, he was some-
what successful, and was gratiied by his
success, for he was eager to give England
some Of the treatment the colonies had re-
ceived from her men-of-war.
All of these matters kept the envoy very
busy-so much so that his grandson, Temple.
was obliged to act as his secretary and the
idea of his going to a university was given
up. At last came the sunshine through the
clouds, for the Wise Providence that guides
the affairs of nations as well as of men
brought about the surrender of Burgoyns
and his army in October, 1777, after the bat-
tie Of Saratoga.
The news was dispatched with all haste
to our representatives abroad. Massachu-
sets sent the glad tidings by special mes
senger, a young Mr.. Austin. Before his de-
parture a prayer was offered from the pulpit
of a church in Boston-the minister, it ID
said, being so absorbed in praying especially
hat the dispatches might be delivered that
he made no mention of the messenger!
+, In a little over a month, however, both
/, messenger and packet arrived in Paris, and
the scene when he drove into the courtyard
of the Hotel Valentinois was a memorable
one.
e Our representatives had received word of
! his landing, but knew nothing of the nature
= of his news. AS the chaise dashed up to the
u group around the door and the messenger
y alighted, DIR. Franklin grasped his hand, ex.
Il claiming:
"Sir. Is Philadelphia taken?"
Eyes, sir" was Austin's reply.
s Then the old statesman wrung his hands
e in disappointment and had begun to return
It in sadness to the house when the messenger
IS cried:
d but, sir, ! have greater news than that!
General Burgoyne and his whole army are
prisoners of war;"
e Temple carried the news to the French
n prime minister, the Comte de Vergennes
and a few days later a private interview
e took place at Versailles.
About a year from the landing OF FRANKLIN
on the coast of France his errand to tina
n nation was accomplished. She became tn
,t ally of the American colonies, and thus wal
Ie the first to welcome the United States int,
g, the circle of nations.
ID -